Stem cell collection is something that until recently, I knew very little about. I know when I was pregnant with Benjamin I had emails and leaflets given to me about collecting stem cells, but I have to admit to not paying a great deal of attention to it. If I knew what I knew now about stem cell collection, I would have certainly looked into it further.

What are stem cells?

Basically, stem cells are cells which can be harvested from the umbilical cord, hence it being something to consider when you are pregnant. These cells can help to maintain and repair other cells in the body. They can constantly divide and multiply and can become skin, bone, tissue and organ cells – pretty amazing, huh?

Why stem cell collection?

The blood collected from the placenta and umbilical cord can be stored away by a company such as Smart Cells – it’s not available on the NHS as yet – and if, god forbid, your child became ill in the future, they may be able to use the stem cells to treat them. Some of the illnesses that can be helped with stem cells include leukaemia, sickle cell disease, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries. Research is ongoing to see whether stem cells will be able to help treat diabetes, strokes and multiple sclerosis, so hopefully one day soon, more people will be helped. It’s a process we all hope we will never have to make use of, but knowing it is there as an option should it be needed is comforting.

There is lots of misinformation and a lack of understanding around stem cell collection, so in order to raise awareness of what it is and how it can help, Smart Cells, a stem cell collection and storage company who have stored cells for more than 40, 000 customers, have released this infographic.

*Information provided in a press release by Smart Cells