存起宝宝的干细胞---它会挽救宝宝的生命

宝宝的出生给了你一次为家庭收集宝宝脐血的机会。那是因为脐带血中含有干细胞，将来某一天它能够挽救孩子或是孩子兄弟姐妹的生命。与采集胚胎细胞不同，采集脐血细胞不会破坏胚胎。Harvesting stem cells from a baby's umbilical cord blood poses no risk to mother or the child.从宝宝的脐血中取出干细胞不会给母亲或宝宝造成任何威胁。Why are stem cells so amazing?干细胞为何如此神奇？Cell Stems are so powerful because they have the amazing ability to transform and grow into other types of cells - such as blood cells or bone cells. The breakthroughs in stem cell research are some of the most important in medical history and represent a real chance to fight diseases long thought untreatable. The list of diseases that stem cells are capable of fighting continues to grow. Diseases from leukemia, heart and cardiovascular disease to brain and nervous system damage from strokes can be treated and sometimes reversed with the help of stem cells. 干细胞具有如此强大的功效，原因在于干细胞拥有转化并成长为其他类型细胞---如血球或骨小体的神奇能力。在对干细胞的研究过程中取得的突破性进展，称得上是医学史上最重要的成就之一，而且代表有了一次真正的机会，可以战胜长久以来被认为无法治愈的病症。Transplant patients also have a much better chance of recovery when they receive stem cells taken from themselves or from a related donor.在接受病人自身或其亲属捐献的干细胞后，器官移植患者也更有可能康复了。Scientists are also very excited about advances in regenerative medicine which allows medicine to repair the body with the patient's own stem cells. When these advances are realized, children whose parents saved their cord blood will be in a much better position to benefit.鉴于再生医学使病人得以借助自己的干细胞修复身体，科学家们也对再生医学的技术进步倍感欣喜。实现了这些技术进步，孩子们就会更好得受益，这就多亏了那些保存宝宝干细胞的家长朋友。How Collection Works:脐血采集如何进行：Months prior to their due date, parents can contact a Cord Blood Bank and the bank will mail them a collection kit. The bank also sends collection instructions to the physician monitoring the pregnancy. After the birth, when the umbilical cord is cut, the blood left in the cord and placenta is drained into a storage bag. This process can also be performed in a c-section birth. A day or so later, the blood is sent via medical courier to the collecting bank and the stem cells are harvested and placed in a deep freeze for permanent storage until needed.预产期前几个月，父母就可以联系脐血站，血站会给他们寄发一个收集器。脐血站还会给助产医师寄发托收指示。宝宝出生后，在切下脐带时留在脐带和脐道中的血液就被收集到收纳袋里。破腹产也可以进行这个过程。大约一天后，血液就由相关医护人员送到脐血站，这时干细胞会被取出放进冷库长期保存以备需用。Choosing the Right Bank: Deciding to bank your baby's cord blood is a big decision and requires some research. There are multiple factors to consider when choosing a storage facility:选择合适的血站：为宝宝的脐血选择一家好的血站是非常重要的，有待研究考察。选择储存设施完善的血站需要考虑很多因素。Does the company have their own storage facility, or are they simply a middle man, collecting for another storage company?该公司是有独立储存设施的血站，还是一个仅为其他血站储存血液的中介机构？Have they had samples used? Surprisingly, many cord blood storage companies have never had a sample taken from their stock. Track record is important.他们是否用过样血？令人感到惊讶的是许多脐血存储公司从未从他们的血库中取过样本。公司的业务记录的很重要的。Is the facility public or private? 存储设施是共用的还是专用的？Public Banks - cord blood from anonymous donors goes to help unrelated patients共用血站---匿名捐献者的脐血帮助非亲属患者Private/Family Banks - the child whose cord blood is banked may use it for themselves or a close family member (usually a sibling)私人/家庭血站---孩子的脐带血专为自己或其近亲属用（通常是兄弟姐妹）Cord Blood banking is a safe, non-invasive way to provide these life-giving cells to your child, your family or those in need. It is like a powerful health insurance policy for your family.脐血存储是为您的孩子、家人或需要的人提供救命细胞的一种安全无创的方式，就像一张功效强大的家庭医疗保单 来源：http://article.yeeyan.org/bilingual/183683