Things to Know About Cord Blood Banking for Twins

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Getting ready to have twins? Its going to be
double the joy and also double the work. You
might have already spoken to your doctor about
the various complications you may encounter in
your pregnancy. You may have also discussed the
care you need to take. However, have you asked
your doctor about cord blood banking? If you
havent, then this article will help you
understand how cord blood banking can help your
twins in the future.
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Why is cord blood banking important? The blood
from your babys umbilical cord is a rich source
of hematopoietic stem cells. These potentially
life-saving stem cells have the ability to
transform into red or white blood cells or even
platelets. Therefore, it is widely used in
treating patients suffering from disorders of the
blood, immune system, metabolism, etc. Currently,
there are over 80 diseases that are being treated
using cord blood cells, including certain forms
of cancer. With the advancement of medical
technology and knowledge, researchers believe
that the number of treatable diseases will only
increase. Another fantastic fact about cord blood
cells is that they can be used to treat the
donors immediate family members. Since these
umbilical cord blood cells are at a nascent
stage, there is a lesser chance of
Graft-Versus-Host-Disease where the recipients
body rejects the newly infused stem cells. This
opens up a plethora of opportunities for treating
any future illness your baby or his/her twin may
develop.
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Can cord blood banking be done for all kinds of
twins?
It doesnt matter whether your twins are
Fraternal (where the fetuses grow from two
separate eggs) or Identical (where the fetuses
grow from one egg and split into two at a later
stage). You can still do cord blood banking for
both and safeguard them against any health issue
that may arise in the future.
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Why bank the umbilical cord blood of both the
babies?
Since fraternal twins dont share an identical
genetic build, there is a possibility that one
can inherit a genetic disorder while the other
doesnt. In such cases, the healthy twins cord
blood cells can be used to treat the other as
its the closest possible match. Although
identical twins start with identical genomes,
certain environmental factors can influence and
change how these genes shape up. Hence, one of
your identical twins may grow up to develop a
genetic disease while the other may not.
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Your body naturally produces enough blood to
nourish and nurture both babies, even when they
share a placenta. However, since twins generally
tend to be smaller in size and share the space in
a womb, the volume of blood available for
collection is relatively lower. Dont be
disheartened! As each baby has an individual
umbilical cord attached to them, there is enough
cord blood collected from each and cryopreserved
at a private cord blood bank. Public cord blood
banks operate similarly to public blood banks and
hence, cannot be retrieved as and when
required. Simply put, when you bank the stem
cells of both your babies, you maximise the
treatment opportunities for themselves and their
sibling for years to come. So, dont let this
golden chance go to waste..
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To Know more About Stem Cell Banking visit
cordlifeindia.com or Toll Free Hotline [phone]
6200
Source https//www.cordlifeindia.com/blog/things-
to-know-about-cord-blood-banking-for-twins/