A Word about Stem Cells
A note about stem cell donation and storage
Everybody seems to be getting very excited about the possibility of donating their baby’s cord blood.
What the sites tell you is that the cord blood is waste blood when in reality, the blood isn’t a waste
product and belongs in the baby. Immediate Cord clamping prevents your baby receiving up to 40% of its
intended blood volume. This blood contains red blood cells (to carry iron, amongst other things) white
blood cells (to prevent infection) and stem cells (building blocks for the future, possibly even future
generations).
Research is showing that immediate/early cord clamping can cause iron deficiency anaemia which
adversely affects behaviour and development. There are many studies ongoing that show that early
immediate cord clamping can cause harm to babies. Top researchers are recommending 3-5 minutes
minimum before clamping the cord (Andersson 2018, Mercer 2018). The #waitforwhite campaign strongly
believes that we will look back on the period immediate/early cord clamping and wonder what on earth
we were thinking about.
The blood in the cord and placenta is your baby’s blood, please do not give it away and only store the
remnants left in the placenta. Store the blood where it is intended…..in your baby.
There are two types of umbilical stem cell banks. Private and Public.
Public banks
are cord blood banks which will request you to donate your babies cord blood. These banks
refer to the blood as a waste product which it isn’t. The private banks require a blood volume that is as
large as possible regardless of the condition or history of the baby. Delayed cord clamping will minimize
the chances of the sample being as large and midwives report that early clamping is used as standard
without the parents being fully informed of the benefits of delayed clamping and disbenefits of early cord
clamping. The public banks have been reported to have set up desks on labour wards and parents who
attend in labour are asked if they will donate their baby’s blood. It is routine to ask antenatally both in
community and hospital clinics.
Public banks in the UK are NHSBT and Anthony Nolan.
Private companies
are companies who widely advertise and encourage parents to pay to store their
baby’s blood from the cord and then pay a yearly subscription. The concept is that if any baby requires a
stem cell sample in future years to come they will have available stem cells at hand. Parents really need to
do their own research and make a fully informed decision in weighing up the risks of iron deficiency
anaemia and the very rare chance that their child may need a stem cell transplant in the future. Some
private companies will do delayed cord clamping on request but the samples are more likely to be
inadequate.
NHS hospitals are now allowing the companies to heavily advertise the cord blood
company’s services antenatally and intrapartum and the request may be included as
a tick box in your maternity notes. The NHS hospitals are receiving money from the
companies and an MP informed me that the government are happy to encourage this
as a means of generating income for the NHS. The lack of evidence surrounding this
practice and information
giving to parents raises the question of morality and ethics as
well as lack of informed consent. Parents are reporting that whilst they hear about stem
cell donation/storage, they are rarely
given information about delayed cord clamping
or #waitforwhite.
Midwives practicing with the cord blood companies also need to be aware that
the UK Code of Practice states that Midwives should always practice in line with
the best available evidence by making
sure that any information or advice given
is evidence-based, including information relating to using any health and care
products or services and maintaining the knowledge and skills they need for safe and effective practice.
Professor Susan Bewley, Kings College London
“Parents might ask themselves why take a definite risk with their baby’s health now for the sake of a speculative benefit in the future. Who benefits?”
I’m Lora Willshaw It’s not ‘cord blood’ it’s babies blood that is outside it’s body. It needs to go to the baby. Storing it for future use may cause the need for future use. Denying it at birth is causing problems.
I’m totally against it until the cord is white and it’s taken from the placenta. They can use stem cells from babies milk teeth when they fall out. Donate them. It makes perfect sense. A donation that isn’t detrimental to health. Easily available and an actual waste product. Not something presented as one. 11.07.2019
Georgia Wood I’m currently based in Jakarta, Indonesia and this topic comes up a lot with Expat families. These ‘cord blood’ companies very much prey on the insecurities and the ‘hope’ that one day they can use them. I’ve pretended to be pregnant and have spoken to a few companies myself. They told me they could not do any delayed cord clamping (why would you need to it’s a waste product) and that they could cure autism ?
They’re very unethical and very prevalent in south east Asia. They even pay obstetricians to promote their services. I asked an obstetrician I work with it he gets paid to advertise their leaflet and he said ‘of course not’. His office staff said he definitely does. 11.07.2019
Dr Rachel Reed – Midwife Thinking. Confessions of a Vampire Midwife. (Updated September 2019)
