[Updated December 2025]

Storing your baby’s stem cells is something more and more expectant parents are choosing to explore, not only because of what these cells can do today, but because of the incredible promise they hold for the future of medicine. Umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which are already used in approved stem cell treatments for dozens of serious medical conditions, including blood cancers, immune deficiencies, and certain genetic disorders.

But the benefits extend far beyond today’s treatment list. With breakthroughs happening constantly in regenerative therapies, cell-based medicine, and clinical trials, storing your baby’s stem cells is increasingly viewed as a form of biological insurance, protecting your child’s health for decades to come. It’s incredible to imagine just what stem cells could do in the future!

So here are five reasons to consider storing your baby’s cord blood and cord tissue:

1. Stem cells offer powerful potential medical treatments, now and in the future

One of the biggest reasons families choose private cord blood banking is the wide range of life-threatening diseases and serious medical conditions cord blood can help treat.

Cord blood contains a high concentration of hematopoietic stem cells (also known as HSCs), the same type used in:

• Stem cell transplants
• Bone marrow transplants
• Cord blood transplants

These cells can transform into various blood and immune cell types including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This is why they are used to treat and manage:

• Leukaemia and other blood cancers
• Sickle cell disease and sickle cell anaemia
• Aplastic anaemia
• Lymphoma
• Inherited immune system disorders
• Certain metabolic and genetic conditions

In fact, there are more than 80 diseases that can be treated now using stem cells from cord blood!

Cord blood stem cells are also the preferred choice in some cases because they are considered more “naive” (less mature than adult stem cells), which means they are often easier to match and less likely to trigger complications like graft-versus-host disease.

Emerging research and clinical trials

Cord blood stem cells are being investigated for a growing number of conditions in clinical trials, including:

• Cerebral palsy
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Brain injury from lack of oxygen
• Type 1 diabetes
• Heart conditions and heart failure
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Although these uses are still experimental, early results in some areas are promising.

Cord tissue adds even more potential

If you store cord tissue as well, you also preserve mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a different type of stem cell which has shown potential in regenerating:

• Bone
• Cartilage
• Skin
• Connective tissues

This type of stem cell is widely studied in regenerative medicine and could play a major role in future therapies.

You can find out more about whether cord tissue or cord blood stem cell collection and storage is right for your family here.

2. It’s a long-term investment in your child’s health

​Cord blood can only be collected once — at birth. This is why many parents describe cord blood banking as an investment in their child’s future health and wellbeing.

Cord blood samples stored in liquid nitrogen remain preserved for decades, and studies have shown that cord blood stored for 25–29 years remains viable and effective. Smart Cells’ own guidance references scientific findings showing long-term stability when properly cryopreserved.

With rapid advancements in medical research, future use is one of the biggest reasons families choose private banking. Today’s clinical trials could become tomorrow’s standard treatments, and storing your baby’s stem cells ensures you’re not leaving future options down to chance.

Why “biological insurance” matters

Some families describe cord blood banking as insurance they hope they’ll never need, but are so grateful to have.

​“Of course, you’d hope that you never ever have to use these stem cells, but just to have them there, just in case, is so reassuring.”

– Vogue Williams, after storing her daughter Gigi’s stem cells with Smart Cells

It provides security knowing that if medical challenges arise, your child has access to:

• Their own cord blood (for autologous transplant)
• A potential match for a sibling or close family member, depending on compatibility

This can make a dramatic difference in time-critical treatment situations, particularly with conditions requiring immediate transplant.

3. Peace of mind for your whole family, not just your child

As we touched on above, your baby’s stem cells are not just useful for the child themselves.

While families initially store cord blood thinking of their baby’s future, these stem cells may also help treat immediate family members, especially siblings, depending on HLA match.

Children are far more likely to be a match for a sibling than for an unrelated donor found through a public registry. This is important when you consider that donor searches through:

• Public cord blood banks
• National marrow donor programs
• International registries

These searches can be time-consuming and may not result in a match.

If your baby’s cord blood is stored privately, the stem cells are guaranteed to be available if needed for your child or, in some cases, a sibling or another family member. This offers significant peace of mind, especially for families with a history of:

• Genetic conditions
• Immune deficiencies
• Blood disorders
• Certain cancers

Reducing the stress of donor searches

Finding a match in a public cord bank, while valuable, is never guaranteed. Many patients do not find a full or partial match, particularly in ethnically diverse families where donor representation is lower.

Private storage eliminates these concerns completely.

A perfect time to store

Your baby’s umbilical cord contains a unique, once-in-a-lifetime source of healthy stem cells. Once the cord is discarded as medical waste, the opportunity is gone forever.

4. Low-risk, safe, and simple (even with delayed cord clamping)

Cord blood collection is a straightforward and non-invasive procedure that happens immediately after birth. It does not interfere with your birthing plan, and it does not affect your baby or your delivery.

Key points parents often ask about:

• The procedure is safe for both mother and baby
• It requires only a few minutes right after delivery
• It is fully compatible with delayed cord clamping
• The process uses your collection kit which is supplied in plenty of time before birth
• Smart Cells uses trained phlebotomists and processes samples in an HTA-licensed lab

Once processed, the stem cells are cryopreserved using best-practice methods followed by liquid nitrogen storage, keeping the cord blood safe for decades.

What happens if Smart Cells ever faced an issue?

Parents often ask what would happen to their baby’s stem cells if Smart Cells experienced an unexpected issue, and the reassuring answer is that there are multiple layers of protection in place.

First, Smart Cells operates its own purpose-built, state-of-the-art laboratory near London Heathrow. This facility is fully licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), designed specifically for the processing and preservation of cord blood and cord tissue. It uses internationally recognised equipment and standards for cell therapy products, with strict quality control, 24/7 monitoring, and robust back-up systems to ensure uninterrupted sample safety.In other words, your baby’s stem cells are stored in a dedicated clinical environment that is built to stay operational under a wide range of circumstances.

Secondly, Smart Cells is part of the wider FamiCord Group, Europe’s largest cord blood banking network. This offers an additional layer of security, because if an extreme or unforeseen situation ever affected Smart Cells’ own facility, your baby’s stem cells would be fully supported by FamiCord’s infrastructure. This ensures long-term continuity and protection, even in the rarest of scenarios.

Together, Smart Cells’ in-house laboratory and the wider support of FamiCord mean your child’s stem cells remain safe, traceable, and protected, no matter what.

5. Flexible and affordable banking options

Private cord blood banking used to be considered costly, but Smart Cells is committed to making private storage accessible for more families. We offer:

• Competitive pricing
• Payment plans
• Options to store cord blood, cord tissue, or both
• Packs suited for single pregnancies or multiples
• Low annual storage fees after the initial term

With prices starting at around £1,050 for cord blood and tissue collection, many families are surprised by how affordable it can be. And when you weigh this against the potential cost of private medical treatment or emergency transplants, the value becomes even clearer.

You can find out more about our pricing here.

Public vs private cord blood banks – what’s the difference?

Public cord banks are an incredible resource and support thousands of transplants worldwide. However:

Public banks serve the wider community, but private banks like Smart Cells offer guaranteed access and long-term security, something our families value deeply.

A One-Time Opportunity With Lifelong Benefits

Storing your baby’s cord blood stem cells is a decision that can offer unmatched peace of mind and protect your child’s long-term health in ways no other service can.

The umbilical cord is rich in immature cells capable of transforming into different cell types, a resource that is otherwise discarded as medical waste. With treatments evolving rapidly in the fields of:

• Stem cell therapy
• Cell-based treatments
• Regenerative medicine
• Gene-related research
• And future clinical applications

This once-in-a-lifetime resource could one day play a vital role in supporting your child’s health.

By banking your baby’s stem cells, you’re not just storing cells, you’re preserving future choices, future treatments, and future possibilities.

Want to learn more or request your collection kit?

You can contact the Smart Cells team here: https://www.smartcells.com/contact/