Umbilical Cord Blood, Million Benefits!

In umbilical cord blood of newborns is not just any blood. Since the 1970s, medical research found that the umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells (stem cells).

What is a stem cell? Stem cells are master of all the cells in the body. These cells are undifferentiated and have a very high potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. For example, can be triggered to grow into blood-forming cells, heart muscle cells, nerve cells, immune system, skin tissue, bones, endocrine organs and so forth.

Source of stem cells

There are two types of stem cells. First, embryonic stem cells (embryonic stem cell) taken from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst (an embryo consisting of 50-150 cells, approximately 5 th day post-fertilization), which are usually obtained from the remaining embryos not used in IVF (in vitro fertilization).

Secondly, adult stem cells which is a set of cells such as within the tissue, blood, bone marrow, brain, liver, pancreas.

Umbilical Cord Blood

Well, one source of stem cells is umbilical cord blood. There are a total of 40-120 mL of blood from the veins (venous). Then, cord blood was isolated and further processed to produce adult stem cell types.

Terms of Decision

There are several prerequisites that must be met while taking a mother's umbilical cord blood stem cells, among other pregnancies, did not have certain diseases, is also not a difficult childbirth. There are blood banks that do not allow clients to have HIV-AIDS.

Making way

To get this umbilical cord blood cells, there are two ways:

In Utero. Umbilical cord blood sampling by the placenta (placenta) is still in the womb. That is, after the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. Then, the umbilical cord is still attached to the placenta and uterus stretched out his blood is passed through a sterile needle. Once the process is complete, the placenta is expelled.

Ex. Utero. Performed on the placenta that is expelled from the uterus. That is, after the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped and cut. A moment later, the placenta is expelled from the uterus and placed in a special table. Then, cord blood flowed into a sterile bag through a sterile needle. This collection process is generally short-lived.

Umbilical cord blood is about to be taken is cleaned with antiseptic. Then, the umbilical cord was inserted to drain blood sterile needle into the blood bag.

Safe, painless, quick procedure and has no risk to mother and baby. Blood sampling is usually as much as 2 units of blood (blood bag)

Storage

Once the cord blood collected, amounted to about 40-120 mL of blood was taken to the laboratory and performed the isolation of stem cells resulting in a 2 mL only. The result was then stored in a cord blood bank.

Stem Cord send it securely in blood bag - packed the room temperature - to a laboratory in Singapore, sent less than 36 hours. After that, processed in stringent conditions. Then, frozen in liquid nitrogen with a temperature - 180 degrees Celsius.

Apparently, the cord blood stem cells during storage in liquid nitrogen temperature can be stored for a long time is not unlimited, cord blood stem cells can be stored up to 17 years.

Usage

How do I use it? If the cord blood stem cells is necessary, then do the process of melting (thawing). Prior to thawing, beginning the process of a request from the physician who will perform the transplant. First matched between donor and recipient stem cells, also held a test of the content of the stored stem cells, and so forth,

Benefit

Until now, blood stem cells have been used to restore blood diseases such as hematology-oncology (blood cancer), cancer of white blood cells (leukemia), aplastic anemia, eg thalassemia,

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Disease and Abnormalities In The placenta & Cord Blodd

Normal placenta spherical or round shape weighing approximately 500 grams and an average diameter of 15-20 cm with a thickness of about 2.5 cm

First: severe deformity and placenta

If the placenta is found to have excess weight, usually found in women with diabetes mellitus or a mother who suffered from syphilis

If less, or nearly 1/9 weight infants, usually found in women with heart disease or kidney

For the deformity can be divided into;

1. With multiple lobes, can occur in the placenta and placental tripartite duplex

2. Placenta fenestrata, which has a hole or window

3. Horse shoe placenta, shaped like a horse shoe

4. Membranasea placenta, with a very thin and wide form

5. Anularis placenta, placental ring-shaped

6. Suksenturiata placenta, if the main placenta contained a smaller placenta in addition to or separated by membranes

7. Spuria placenta, if there are two placentas are not related by blood vessels

8. Sirkumvalat placenta, which has a white ring on the edge of the placenta, decidua from entering between the membranes

Second: the disease in the placenta

1. Placental infarction, a placenta that has a small hard white tissue up to several centimeters on the surface of the maternal and fetal

2. Placental calcification, occurs when the placenta is too old, then there calcium accumulation in the basal layer of decidua, especially in places around the embedded villi and place terjedi fibrin degeneration

3. Tumor of the placenta, the placenta is divided again into cysts, fibromata, miksifibromata, hemangioma and korioangioma

4. Plasentitis or chorioamnionitis, which is an infection of the placenta, chorion, and amnion caused by the examination in which repeated

5. Placental insufficiency, the inability of the placenta in sufficient oxygenation, nutrients, excretion, and hormones to the fetus

Third: Abnormalities of the Umbilical Cord

Abnormalities of the umbilical cord insertion
Normal insertion (planting) the umbilical cord in the middle of the placenta

Bailedore placenta: umbilical cord insertion at the edge of the placenta

Velamentous insertion: insertion of the umbilical cord is located on the membranes lining

Length of the umbilical cord abnormalities
The length of the average umbilical cord is 55 cm, if the bias is too short causing placental abruption, whereas if too long can cause the coil cord to cause the death of the fetus.

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Definition of Placenta and Cord Blood Functions

The placenta is a very remarkable organ, and only a few women who've seen it. They know of its existence but only a small part of a collection notice asking or major support networks in the lives of babies in the womb.

The placenta consists of over 200 vessels and subtle veins,shaped like a lump of raw liver. Surface attached to the maternal womb, looked coarse and hollow. Deep red color and is divided into 15-20 bulge cotyledon, which is the villi or finger-shaped protrusions. Surface of the fetus is very soft, with the umbilical cord is usually found in the middle.

When the umbilical cord at the edge of the so-called battledore placenta. The placenta is fully grown, shaped like a flat disc. It weighs about 500 grams, diameter 20 cm (8 inches)thick, the middle 2.5 cm (1 inch). The size and weight adjusted to the size of the fetal placenta. The placenta is usually located at the top of the uterus, but when it is at the bottom, it is called Placenta Previa (Read: Placenta previa).

The placenta has four functions:

1. Function to sends nutrients and oxygen from maternal blood to the fetus.
2. Carrying carbon dioxide and disposal of fetal remains back to the mother's blood.
3. Forming of detention for infections and certain drugs. But the rubella virus and high-dose aspirin can penetrate the defenses of the placenta. Antibodies from the mother's blood can also cross the placenta and provides immunity to certain diseases shortly after childbirth.
4. Secrete hormones, particularly human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), progesterone and estrogen (See: The hormones of pregnancy).

All are very essential for the survival of the uterine wall, uterine and breast growth.

Cord Blood

Umbilical cord looks shiny and bluish in color, look inside the blood vessels are protected and supported. Large venous umbilical cord blood contains a charge of carrying nutrients and oxygen from the placenta, umbilical cord arteries and two veins that carry blood around that it was too deoxidation and the remnants of etus to the placenta.

All surrounded by a jelly-like material called Wharton jelly.Tali started twisting on its own navel, and at birth was about 40 circles. Are not uncommon when a baby's umbilical cord twist. The umbilical cord will remain rigid, due to blood flow in it. The average length of 50cm, although varying between 7.5 cm to 200cm. Thickness of about 12mm, but it is uneven due to the presence of small bumps called false knots. It may have with him no blood vessels or Wharton jelly blobs rising.

True knots can also occur due to movement of the fetus, but as long as no interest is too strong there will be no effect on the circulation. The umbilical cord is too short to complicate the birth of a baby, on the contrary, if too long to fall "into the genitals precedes the baby's head. A long rope wrapped around the body tend to the baby, but the danger will arise when the windings are too tight.

So head out, the baby's neck is generally checked to ensure that the umbilical cord is not convolute it. If it does, then it will be parsed through the umbilical cord is clamped and cut through its head. Although ultrasound is difficult to detect the umbilical cord, but the position of the placenta is more easily seen and if necessary do a cesarean section.

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Recognizing How to care for Umbilical Cord

A few moments after birth, the umbilical cord that connected with the placenta will be cut. So that the umbilical cord is attached at the center of all the remaining infants less than three centimeters.

Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord will disappear by itself within five to seven days.

It's important to care for newborns with precision. Terutuma if not off the umbilical cord that needs to be maintained to avoid infection and other complications.

According to the University of Virginia Health System, there are a few caveats to keep in mind that parents have an infection or complications, namely:

* If the end of the umbilical cord that is closest to the skin looks bloody.
* The umbilical cord changes color to yellow or pale white.
* The area around the navel visible swelling or redness.
* Your baby is signaling he felt pain and tenderness in the belly

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Umbilical Cord Care Tips

A few seconds after birth, the umbilical cord that connects to the umbilical cord will be cut, so that the umbilical cord attached at the center of all the remaining infants less than three centimeters.

Under normal circumstances, the umbilical cord will disappear by itself within five to seven days. But in some cases up to two weeks.

Well, as long as has not vanished, the umbilical cord should be cared for properly. Otherwise, the cord will become infected, wet, pus, and odor. This situation is clearly dangerous for the baby.

Here are some tips for caring for the umbilical cord:

1) Clean the baby's umbilical cord with soap when bathing baby.

2) Dry with a soft towel.

3) Spread with 70% alcohol. Do not use betadine, because they contain betadine iodine can enter the baby's blood circulation and cause the growth of the thyroid gland. (update: Do not apply any)

4) Leave it open, do not need to be wrapped. Be covered with sterile gauze, clean and dry if there is infection.

5) Do not smear the umbilical cord with herbs or sprinkle the powder, as it can be a good medium for the growth of germs, including tetanus germs.

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