This post is sponsored by Salveo – Stem cell storage.
4 months ago, I did the stem cell storage procedure in theater during my emergency C-Section. This procedure was very important for my husband and I because it was the last opportunity that we had to store our baby’s stem cells.
You can read more about why we chose to do it here.
To be honest, I was really scared that nothing would go as planned. After all – I went into labor and started having contractions a day before my scheduled C-Section date – so everything was extremely rushed and a little dramatic.
I didn’t even think that Christiene (Quality manager at the Cryo-Save laboratory where the umbilical cord blood and tissue stem cells are processed and stored for Salveo) would make it on time to get everything ready for the procedure, partly because she lived a distance away from the hospital.
To add to the drama, my husband ended up forgetting my stem cell storage kit in the car so he had to run down quickly to retrieve it – minutes before we went into the theater!
It was a crazy day! Everyone felt like they were running the amazing race.
I did not know what to expect with regards to the stem cell storage procedure… I admit, I was nervous at first but the nurse kept on reassuring me that everything was going as planned.
Many people assume that the stem cell storage procedure is painful for both mom and baby but it isn’t. Everything happens so fast that you don’t even realize when it is over – perhaps because you are too busy bonding with your baby!
There are 2 different procedures that happen in theater – mainly to ensure that the doctor and nurse try their best to get enough blood for storage.
The options are to collect in-utero, ex-utero, or to combine both methods for in+ex utero collection of umbilical cord blood.
Your doctor only has one chance to get this right!
What happens in theater when you do Stem Cell Storage:
In-utero: extraction occurs immediately after the baby separation and before the expulsion of the placenta. This extraction mode requires about 10 minutes and is faster because uterine contractions allow cord blood to flow more easily.
Ex-utero: the extraction takes place after the expulsion of the placenta. In these cases, the extraction is carried out elsewhere and takes about 25 minutes to complete.
How the ex-utero collection is done:
- The placenta is elevated and the collection bag is lowered to enable gravity to drain the blood into the collection bag.
- When cord blood collection slows or stops, the nurse will “milk” the cord upward (toward the placenta), for approximately 6 to 10 inches, re-clamp the cord, clean, then re-stick allowing the cord blood to drain into the collection bag. This can be done 2 or 3 times and results in an increased collection volume.
- The cord blood is kept at room temperature to ensure viability. Refrigeration will damage the cells.
- WATCH: cord blood collection ex-utero video – https://youtu.be/Mwm6gvubLrY
My gynae did the in-utero procedure and Christiene did the ex-utero procedure after the extraction of the placenta.
It is important that your doctor fully supports your decision for stem cell storage because you will be relying on him/her to collect enough blood so that the procedure can be successful. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned – even though your doctor tries his best.
They don’t get enough of the blood that is needed… which is exactly what happened in my case.
“A small volume of blood was collected from your baby’s umbilical cord. This has resulted in a low number of stem cells in the sample that has been stored. The number of stem cells in the collection is related to the amount of blood collected. There needs to be an adequate number of stem cells in the collection to enable a successful transplant (should the need arise).”
17ml of umbilical cord blood was submitted but we needed 20ml… In a case like this, Salveo would ask you if you would want to continue with the storage or not.
Even though it wasn’t enough, we decided to store it anyway. There are already technologies available to expand stem cell populations, which means that although we don’t have the optimum number of cells today, what we have could be expanded to adequate volumes in future.
Umbilical cord blood contains potentially lifesaving hematopoietic (blood) stem cells. When used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the umbilical cord blood offers several distinct advantages over bone marrow or peripheral stem cells.
It is also important for the doctor to collect high-quality cord blood units (CBU) because the Total Nucleated Cell Counts (TNC) and CD34+ cell dose of a CBU correlates with transplant outcomes.
I was a bit shattered when we got the results back because I felt as if enough was done in the theater to make sure that we collected the amount that we needed. I later decided to stop thinking so much and instead pray that I will never need this in the future.
Stem cells storage is a lot like an insurance policy. You know that it is the right thing to do but you also pray that you would never have to use it.
I don’t have any regrets but I do have lots of advice for moms that are interested in storing their baby’s stem cells.
28 comments
Scrap copper recycling Copper scrap sustainability practices Copper wire scrap yard
Copper scrap trading platform Copper scrap export permit Scrap Copper reuse
Copper scrap recycling companies Copper coil recycling Copper scrap merchants
Industrial aluminium recycling services Scrap aluminium circular supply chain Aluminium recycling audit processes
Scrap aluminium trading hub Aluminum scrap segregation Aluminum scrap sorting process
Scrap metal repurposing yard Ferrous material recycling Iron scrap reusing
Ferrous metal remarketing, Iron material recycling, Metal waste recovery yard
Metal repurposing facility Aluminium recycling chain of custody Aluminum scrap export market
Metal waste reclamation yard, Aluminum cable recycling companies, Metal scrap transportation logistics
Scrap metal waste reduction Ferrous material recycling guidelines Iron scraps reclamation
Ferrous material recycling technologies, Iron scrap reclaiming and reprocessing, Metal waste repurposing
Scrap metal reutilization and recycling Recycling technology for aluminum scrap Mixed aluminium scrap
Scrap metal recapturing, Aluminum electrical cable, Metal scrap market research
Metal recycling depot Aluminium scrap trading strategies Aluminum recycling systems
Scrap metal reclamation facility, Scrap aluminum cable value, Ethical metal sourcing
Scrap collection network Aluminium recycling innovation Scrap aluminium quality inspection
Scrap metal prices, Aluminum cable scrap exporters, Metal waste reclaiming
Metal recovery yard collection Aluminium scrap industry collaboration Scrap aluminium volume reduction
Metal recycling and reclamation, Recycled aluminum products from cable scrap, Scrap metal procurement
Scrap metal reclaiming and recycling Ferrous material environmental impact Iron scrap reclamation facilities
Ferrous material recycling process improvements, Iron reclamation and utilization solutions, Scrap metal recycling and recovery
Metal scrap transportation logistics Casting aluminum scrap Aluminium scrap yard management
Metal waste recycling depots, Recycling methods for aluminum cable scrap, Environmental compliance in scrap metal industry
Scrap metal repurposing yard Ferrous material environmental stewardship Scrap iron recycling center
Ferrous material ecosystem preservation, Iron scrap preparation, Scrap metal handling
Scrap metal insurance Aluminium scrap revenue maximization Scrap aluminium lifecycle
Metal reclamation and recycling solutions, Aluminum copper cable scrap, Scrap metal reclamation site
Metal scrap baling Ferrous material recycling quote Iron waste disposal
Ferrous material processing efficiency, Iron scrap regain, Scrap metal reclamation yard collection
Scrap metal utilization Shredding aluminum scrap Aluminum scrap recycling industry
Scrap metal reclaiming operations, Aluminum cable scrap import, Metal waste separation
Metal reclamation solutions Ferrous material refurbishment Iron scrap utilization and reclamation
Ferrous metal sales, Iron reclamation and reuse, Metal reclamation
Metal reclamation facility services Ferrous material recycling innovation Scrap iron resale
Ferrous material melting, Iron scrap pricing, Scrap metal sorting
Copper refining process Copper scrap prices today Copper extrusion recycling
Scrap metal volume estimation, Copper scrap life cycle assessment, Scrap metal brokerage
Copper scrap packaging techniques Copper has played a significant role throughout human history, thanks to its numerous beneficial properties. Its use dates back to ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, where it was used for tools, weapons, and artistic works. Over time, copper became an essential metal for the production of currency, due to its anti-bacterial properties that slowed the spread of disease. In modern times, copper continues to be a vital commodity, used in a vast array of products, including electrical wiring, plumbing, construction materials, and more. Its ability to conduct heat and electricity makes it an essential component in many devices, from smartphones to electric cars. Copper is also known for its role in alternative medicine and healing. For centuries, people have used copper for treating arthritis, headaches, and other health conditions. The metal is believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce pain and promote healing. Today, copper is being used for sustainable living initiatives. It is recyclable and can be repurposed easily, reducing the amount of waste produced. Copper surfaces can also be treated with anti-microbial coatings that kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi on contact, helping to prevent the spread of disease. In conclusion, copper has been a valuable resource throughout human history, from ancient civilizations to modern times. Its positive properties have made it a versatile and widely-used commodity in various industries, and it continues to play a vital role in sustainable living practices Scrap metal utili Reception of Copper scrap Industrial Copper scrap Copper scrap industry regulations Copper scrap regulations Metal waste refurbishing center
Environmental copper recycling Copper recycling innovations Scrap metal inventory
Copper cable pricing, Scrap metal inventory tracking, Economic benefits of Copper scrap recycling
Metal scrap recovery and reclamation, Scrap Copper recycling rates, Copper cable scrap, Metal recycling solutions yard
Scrap metal reforming Scrap yard services Iron scrap brokerage services
Ferrous material recycling operational challenges, Iron and steel scrapping services, Regulatory compliance for metal recycling
Efficient metal shredding Ferrous scrap accident prevention Iron recyclable waste management
Ferrous material recycling capacity, Iron scrap reuse, Metal recycle yard
Metal wastage Ferrous material recycling handling Iron recycling and reprocessing
Ferrous waste recovery, Iron scrap recovery and reclamation, Precious metal market dynamics
Metal reclaim Ferrous material client retention Scrap iron repurposing
Ferrous material material restoration, Iron reprocessing and repurposing, Scrap metal refining
Metal reclamation Ferrous scrap recycling processes Iron scrap inventory
Ferrous material recycling capabilities, Iron recycling and reuse, Metal recyclable waste management