Hi everyone,
I’m a little annoyed at some recent findings and hope you will help give me some additional
perspective…
I went to a pregnancy event (pregsense) last week and spoke to some people from a stem cell bank
called Stemology Cord Freezing.
Now I’m not one to make a fuss in general but I’m shocked that I hadn’t heard about umbilical cord
stem cells from my GP or midwife. I’m wondering if I didn’t know about this then who else is missing
out on this vital information?
Now I can understand that many of you may be in the same boat I was in when I was speaking to
stemology (clueless in case you were wondering!) – but they really helped me understand the nature
of the cells, the process and answered all the questions I could think of! So ideally I’d say if you have
any questions on the service itself, contact Stemology as I have only just learnt about it and don’t
want to give out any wrong advice. You can find them by searching “Stemology Freezing” on Google.
The more I read into it, the more set I am on storing with them.
I guess the main question of my post/rant is: How many of you knew about it when you gave birth?
What really got me was that it’s been happening around the world for years and happens in loads of
European countries but not here. And for no reason that I can think of…. Its risk free so why
wouldn’t the NHS be doing this as standard practice rather than throwing umbilical cords away??
With a little research I found that there are 2 avenues to do this publicly (NHSBT and Anthony Nolan
Trust) – but more than 70% of public samples are used for medical research, not treating someone
else. Also they only collect in a handful of hospitals, nowhere near where I plan to give birth.
From the sounds of things there are a few options:
1. Cord gets thrown away – same as what has been happening for generations and is like
throwing medicine down the drain
2. Cord gets Donated – where apparently over 70% goes to medical research and the
remainder to a sort of public storage facility where it can be used worldwide to treat other
people – only available in a few places in London
3. Cord is stored privately – this is the route I’m going down. Wasn’t too keen on the idea of
medical research rather than being used to help people. Plus I figure after 25 years I can
always donate it if I haven’t used it.
I have already decided on a water birth and delayed cord clamping and am happy that everything
can be done together and I’m not having to change a thing. So that’s another plus point for saving
my stem cells!
I’m a little annoyed at some recent findings and hope you will help give me some additional
perspective…
I went to a pregnancy event (pregsense) last week and spoke to some people from a stem cell bank
called Stemology Cord Freezing.
Now I’m not one to make a fuss in general but I’m shocked that I hadn’t heard about umbilical cord
stem cells from my GP or midwife. I’m wondering if I didn’t know about this then who else is missing
out on this vital information?
Now I can understand that many of you may be in the same boat I was in when I was speaking to
stemology (clueless in case you were wondering!) – but they really helped me understand the nature
of the cells, the process and answered all the questions I could think of! So ideally I’d say if you have
any questions on the service itself, contact Stemology as I have only just learnt about it and don’t
want to give out any wrong advice. You can find them by searching “Stemology Freezing” on Google.
The more I read into it, the more set I am on storing with them.
I guess the main question of my post/rant is: How many of you knew about it when you gave birth?
What really got me was that it’s been happening around the world for years and happens in loads of
European countries but not here. And for no reason that I can think of…. Its risk free so why
wouldn’t the NHS be doing this as standard practice rather than throwing umbilical cords away??
With a little research I found that there are 2 avenues to do this publicly (NHSBT and Anthony Nolan
Trust) – but more than 70% of public samples are used for medical research, not treating someone
else. Also they only collect in a handful of hospitals, nowhere near where I plan to give birth.
From the sounds of things there are a few options:
1. Cord gets thrown away – same as what has been happening for generations and is like
throwing medicine down the drain
2. Cord gets Donated – where apparently over 70% goes to medical research and the
remainder to a sort of public storage facility where it can be used worldwide to treat other
people – only available in a few places in London
3. Cord is stored privately – this is the route I’m going down. Wasn’t too keen on the idea of
medical research rather than being used to help people. Plus I figure after 25 years I can
always donate it if I haven’t used it.
I have already decided on a water birth and delayed cord clamping and am happy that everything
can be done together and I’m not having to change a thing. So that’s another plus point for saving
my stem cells!
