Why Stem Cell Therapy Matters for Your Baby’s Future: A Parent’s Guide to Newborn Stem Cell Banking
As expectant parents, you’re likely already thinking about your child’s future health and well-being. One of the most powerful tools we have today for more natural healing and recovery is stem cell therapy – a form of regenerative medicine that uses stem cells or their derivatives to potentially repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues or organs in the body. Whether it’s for injuries, chronic conditions, joint pain, or even age-related health issues, stem cells have the potential to help today and in the future.
In this post, we’ll explore how stem cell therapy works, and the types of stem cells used in this innovative medical space.
What Type of Stem Cell is Used for Personal Stem Cell Therapy?
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs): These stem cells come from umbilical cord tissue and blood, adult adipose fat and bone marrow. Regardless of the source they come from, they are designed for personal use, also known as autologous. They are remarkably versatile, capable of self-replication, and able to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including bone, cartilage, neural tissue, blood vessels and muscle. Their ability to potentially repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and promote healing has placed MSCs at the forefront of regenerative medicine
How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?
When stem cells are introduced into the body, they work by regenerating the body from within. The process is simple yet powerful:
- Regenerating Damaged Tissues: Typically, practitioners injecting the personal stem cells directly into the area of injury. This is typically done under guided imaging. These cells have the capability to potentially differentiate into the necessary cell type. For instance, if your child needs therapy for cartilage damage, the stem cells can develop into new cartilage cells, helping to regenerate the tissue and improve function.
- Reducing Inflammation: Stem cells are known for their ability to reduce inflammation, which can provide relief for conditions like arthritis, other joint problems, and auto-immune conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
- Promoting Healing: Stem cells also release growth factors that signal the body’s cells to begin healing, speeding up the recovery process and restoring normal function.
- Cell to Cell Signaling: When stem cells are introduced into the body via IV, cell-to-cell signaling plays a critical role in regenerative medicine by facilitating communication between cells to repair, regenerate, or replace damaged tissues.
How Long Does Stem Cell Therapy Take to Work?
- The duration depends on the individual and the type of therapy being used, the quality of the cells and the severity of the condition. Please always seek advice from a medical practitioner in evaluating timelines and protocols.
- Immediate Benefits: People can experience a reduction in pain and inflammation almost immediately after the procedure, as stem cells work to heal damaged tissue and reduce swelling.
- Longer-Term Benefits: People have also reported that it could take 3 to 6 months for the full regenerative effects to take place. It takes time when stem cells have the opportunity to repair tissue, regenerate cells, and restore function.
Can My Child Use Their Newborn Stem Cells that Are Stored in a Cord Blood Bank or Stem Cell Bank for Stem Cell Therapy?
If Stored at a Cord Blood Bank?
Traditional cord blood banks have stuck to the same methods for years and store the blood from the umbilical cord at birth. The blood contains a very limited amount of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These cells are primarily used for donor medicine, such as blood-related conditions. These limited HSCs are not as useful for stem cell therapies in regenerative purposes like joint healing or tissue regeneration. Furthermore, these banks lack the technology to process and grow mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord. As a result, the stored cord is not ready for immediate use in stem cell therapy, and additional costs may apply in the future with no guarantee of usable cells.
If Stored at a Stem Cell Bank?
In contrast, VitalCells is a newborn stem cell bank that offers much more than just storing cord blood and the umbilical cord. VitalCells culture-expands (grows) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from both the cord blood and the cord tissue, ensuring that these cells are ready for personal stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine. These stem cells are available for personal use of the client that stored the sample versus cord blood banking that is for donor use. VitalCells provides a guaranteed LIVE stem cell count with proprietary technology that allows for continued growth of cells throughout the child’s life. At VitalCells, you’re not just storing the umbilical cord for a hopeful future; you’re ensuring that your child has access to viable, live stem cells that can be potentially utilized in therapies for conditions like cartilage repair, concussions, playground injuries, joint healing, and even age-related degeneration in the future.
Conclusion: Why Stem Cell Therapy Matters for Your Baby’s Future
As expectant parents, choosing to bank your baby’s stem cells is an investment in their future health. Stem cell therapy is being used today for a variety of conditions, and it holds incredible potential for regenerative healing in the future. Whether it’s for sports injuries in adolescence or managing arthritis in adulthood, stem cells have the potential to make a significant impact.
The key difference between traditional cord blood banks and advanced newborn stem cell banks like VitalCells is that we do not just store blood and tissue—we culture-expand and cryopreserve stem cells to ensure they are viable and ready for use in regenerative therapy. While traditional banks may seem less expensive, they store samples, not stem cells that have not been grown and are not guaranteed to be available for use.
By banking your baby’s stem cells with VitalCells, you are securing live, viable stem cells that will be available for future regenerative therapies, helping your child thrive for years to come.
