Can Cord Blood Stem Cells Be Used To Treat Your Premature Baby?

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When a baby is born before the 37 weeks of
pregnancy, it is a premature birth. Such mothers
might go into labor early and the causes of
premature birth manifold placental abruption,
thinning and dilating of cervix, fluctuations in
the hormones and infection causing bacteria and
virus, during pregnancy. Inspite of these
problems, the baby can still be born healthy and
without any complications.
In other cases, depending on the cause of
premature birth, it may lead to complications
that can endanger both mommy and babys lives.
Remember, the earlier your baby is born, the
higher the risk of health problems.
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Current research is investigating whether stem
cells of a newborn can be used to overcome common
medical conditions associated with prematurity
from perinatal sources such as umbilical cord
blood and cord tissue. Cord blood banking for
pre-term birth gives them the greatest chance of
resolving any significant health issues if they
arrive prematurely. Lets take a closer look at
specific health conditions and how stem cell
banking can benefit them.
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Cerebral Palsy Babies that are born early are at
higher risk of developing cerebral palsy, a
neurological condition that affects the brain and
causes a lack of full control of physical
movement. It leads to difficulty in walking,
balance, eating, swallowing, speech, and
coordination of eye movements due to bleeding in
the brain and the accumulation of fluid. In
2017, a study successfully used out-of-storage
infusions of cord blood stem cells to enhance
mobility in children with cerebral palsy by
enhancing the bodys repair mechanisms. The stem
cells move to damaged areas in the brain and
replace the dead or impaired cells. Thus, it
makes sense to consider cord blood banking as a
lifeline for your infant, should they be born
early, to combat cerebral palsy, knowing that the
risk increases drastically for premature babies.
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Under-Developed Lungs Newborn respiratory
distress syndrome (NRDS) happens when the lungs
of a baby are not fully formed and do not supply
adequate oxygen, resulting in trouble breathing.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is another concern
affecting preterm babies with under-developed
lungs (BPD). It contributes to fluid
accumulation, scarring and lung damage resulting
in asthma-like symptoms in some babies. The
umbilical cord of your baby is a rich source of
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) recognized for
their superior healing qualities. Clinical
studies are ongoing to assess how these cord
blood cells can restore the structure of the lung
and treat acute lung injuries. In a 2017 study,
researchers noticed that when nine very preterm
infants at high risk of developing this chronic
lung disease were successfully administered with
these cells, the magnitude of the illness endured
was significantly lower. Theres a real chance
of developing lung problems for premature babies.
When they are born, collecting and preserving
their stem cells offers peace of mind that
support is on hand if required.
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Eye Problems Premature babies have areas on the
retina that do not receive enough oxygen and are
affected by Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). To
provide oxygen, the retina in the eye requires a
continuous blood supply. If a child is born
early, the formation of these blood vessels is
incomplete. The retina is pushed out of place,
impacting the ability of your baby to see
properly. Several studies show that not only can
cord blood stem cells regenerate and replace
damaged cells, but they also facilitate eye
repair. The stem cells also have the extra
capacity to modify surrounding cells promoting
the formation of normal, healthy blood vessels
and capillaries. The incidence of preterm birth
and its associated retinal prematurity are
unavoidable. The emergence of stem cells therapy
provides a potential alternative treatment. To
Conclude A premature arrival of your baby can
throw your world upside down. But whatever health
challenges you and your newborn may face, cord
blood therapy in pre-mature babies are emerging
as a potentially paradigm-shifting approach and
provides an invaluable resource to help you
overcome them.
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Thank you
Source https//www.cordlifeindia.com/blog/can-cor
d-blood-stem-cells-be-used-to-treat-your-premature
-baby/