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Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut. Although once considered medical waste and thrown away, scientists now know that cord blood is rich in stem cells.
Stem cells are very important because they make many different types of cells in the body including blood cells that carry oxygen, fight disease and help stop bleeding. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are collected after the baby has been born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut. For these reasons, the stem cells can be safely obtained without any risk or pain to the mother or baby. Once collected, the stem cells can then be preserved for future uses.
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