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Scientists have discovered the benefits of umbilical cord donation. This post-partum waste, instead of being thrown out, can potentially cure diseases like leukemia and save lives.

For quite some time, people have heard about the positive health benefits of umbilical cord blood. However, there was no clear picture painted for the layman thus many women still let their cord blood get thrown in the waste bin.

Saving Umbilical Cord Blood

Scientists have studied further about umbilical cord stem cells, and what they found is exceptional. Apparently, these stem cells are "hematopoietic," which means the cells found in the umbilical cord blood are blood-forming.

With that, the transplant of the umbilical cord blood shows great potential in curing leukemia and other blood-related diseases. In fact, it has 10 times more stem cells than bone marrow which is usually used in getting blood-forming cells to increase various types of blood cells.

Moreover, the umbilical cord blood can be stored for future use in liquid nitrogen making it even more remarkably useful. The stem cells have also been used for treating dermatological conditions such as cerebral palsy and degenerative diseases, according to Romper.

However, 95 percent of the post-partum waste is being thrown away despite the benefits of umbilical cord blood donation. Out of all the births in the US, only five percent has saved their cord blood.

Some parents, meanwhile, save the cord blood for the future use of their children just in case the need arises. But it appears transplanting one's own cord blood into their system is ineffective as it contains the person's genetic predisposition.

With that, only cord blood from another source can be used for the treatment. Ultimately, the benefits of umbilical cord blood donation are too valuable to be ignored especially when the cord blood will only be thrown otherwise.