20 per cent parents in Chennai save cord blood for future treatment

Banking umbilical cords, or rather the blood from it, may be a relatively new concept in Tamil Nadu, however, banks claim that there has been a significant rise in the number of expecting parents that have been showing interest in it and those who have already donated or stored it. 

Doctors and officials from placenta blood banks claimed that more than 20 per cent of parents who are about to have a child come forward to pledge the umbilical cord as compared to the five per cent that Chennai used to experience until a few years ago. 

While the umbilical cord, has for decades, been considered as medical waste in India, medical science has recently proved that the blood in the cord – known as cord blood – is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. 

It is known to help in treating Type I diabetes, brain and cardiac injuries, bone marrow failure syndromes, metabolic disorders and autoimmune diseases, including anaemia, leukaemia, and even cancer. Despite being extremely useful, many refrain from saving it due to the lack of awareness about banking options. 

“Private banks charge at least Rs 40,000 to store cord blood,” said Dr NS Kanimozhi, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Cloudiness Hospital in T Nagar. 

“It is almost like an insurance plan as the blood will help in case the child faces diseases or ailments in future. Hence, it is important for parents to be aware of the options available before they take a decision about this,” she added. 

Explaining the procedure, Dr Kanimozhi said, “Following childbirth, the placenta, and the attached umbilical cord contain traces of blood, known as the cord blood. It is collected right after birth and banked.” 

Even though the concept is growing in popularity, doctors advise parents to opt for public banking. “In private banks, only the parents who have banked the cord blood can retrieve it but in public banks, it can be shared among others who need it. That way, it benefits a larger number of people,” said Dr Kanimozhi. 

The medical director of Jeevan Stem Cell Foundation, which runs a public bank, Dr Saranya Narayan, said, “Expecting parents now have a number of options to choose from when it comes to storing cord blood and most of them look forward to fleecing their clients.” 

“But, when it comes to public banks, the parents do not have to pay any fee and are aware that their action will benefit others as well,” Dr Narayan added. There also exits a concept of community banking, which limits the use of the cord blood only to others who have banked it in private banks, thereby, limiting the number of people who can access it, said Dr Shaanthy Gunasingh, the director of Institute for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) in Egmore. 

Stating that not everyone is interested in banking cord blood, she said, “The state has been witnessing a slow and steady progress. Families are hopeful of using the cord blood for the siblings of their child or for their parents, if required. But, there are many who continue to remain unaware of this concept.” 

“While most expecting mothers are unaware of the available option, most hospitals too do not educate them about the advantages of saving cord blood,” said Dr Gunasingh. She added that apart from more awareness, we also need more research on the uses and benefits of cord blood. Encouraging this are parents who have come forward to donate cord blood for research. 

Dr Sheeba M, a city gynaecologist, said, “We have seen a couple of parents donating the cord blood of their children for research purposes. This gives hope for our country to fare better in stem cell donation.”