World Cord Blood Day – Why It Matters for Your Family’s Future

Every year on 17 November, we mark World Cord Blood Day (WCBD) — a global awareness day focused on the life-saving potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells.
As the UK’s first private cord-blood and stem cell storage company, Smart Cells is proud to join the conversation and help families understand how banking cord blood and cord tissue could be a gift for tomorrow.

What is World Cord Blood Day?

World Cord Blood Day is organised by the Save the Cord Foundation and held annually to raise awareness about the benefits of cord-blood stem cells:

• It highlights that cord blood stem cells are already used to treat 80+ life-threatening diseases, including leukaemia, lymphoma and thalassaemia.
• It promotes new research – for example, trials looking at using cord blood for conditions such as cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders.
• It encourages conversations between parents, health-professionals and the public about the options for cord-blood banking, donation and therapy.

By recognising WCBD, we invite expectant parents to ask: Could preserving cord blood for my baby make a difference?

Why cord blood matters for your baby (and family)?

Here’s why cord blood banking has real relevance:

• As advances continue in regenerative medicine and clinical trials, banking cord blood (and cord tissue) offers a form of biological “insurance” for future health challenges.
• The umbilical cord & placenta contain haematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells, which can be used in transplants in place of or alongside bone marrow stem cells.
• Many of the therapies performed today lean on cord blood stem cells because they are easier to match and may pose less risk of graft-versus-host disease.
• For parents pre-registering with Smart Cells, the process is streamlined and designed to be compatible with your birth plans (vaginal, C-section or even at home). Learn more: https://www.smartcells.com/stem-cells/stem-cell-collection/

Our role at Smart Cells

At Smart Cells we specialise in private cord blood and cord tissue banking, and here’s how we support families:

• Over two decades’ experience, being the UK’s first private stem-cell bank.
• Full licensing: our UK laboratory is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and meets ISO standards.
• Transparent process: from ordering your kit, through birth collection, processing (using well-validated methods) and decades of storage.
• Story-telling and education: We believe in helping parents understand the why, how, and what-if of cord-blood banking.

If you’d like to learn how to bank cord blood (and tissue), you can visit our “Why Smart Cells?” page and our process overview.

How to mark World Cord Blood Day with your family

Here are some simple ways you can engage with WCBD:

• Link up with us at Smart Cells – whether you’re expecting, thinking ahead, or simply exploring options, we’re here to guide you. Contact us at uk@smartcells.com
• Talk to your birth-team (midwife, obstetrician, birthing centre) ahead of 17th November about cord blood banking or donation.
• Share your story or decision on social media with hashtags #WorldCordBloodDay and #WCBD25.
• Download our free guide and share them with your partner, friends or antenatal group.

Why your decision matters

Choosing to bank cord blood is a decision with long-term implications. Because:

• If a transplant or therapy is needed years from now, having a stored, matched unit may change outcomes.
• Banking cord tissue (in addition to blood) broadens the potential future uses, especially as regenerative medicine evolves.
• Even if your child doesn’t use their unit, siblings or other family members may benefit.
• And importantly, by observing World Cord Blood Day you keep the conversation active — increasing awareness means more options become available to all families.

Key facts & take-aways

• World Cord Blood Day is 17th November 2025. WORLD CORD BLOOD DAY – OFFICIAL SITE
• Cord blood stem cells are already used in the treatment of 80+ serious diseases.
• Smart Cells has processed and stored stem cell units for thousands of families and is part of the Europe’s largest family cord blood bank FamiCord.
• And importantly, by observing World Cord Blood Day you keep the conversation active — increasing awareness means more options become available to all families.

Next steps

If you’re expecting a baby soon, or planning for the future, please download our free guide and book a consultation with Smart Cells.
We’ll walk you through how cord blood and cord tissue banking works and help you decide your best path.

Let’s mark World Cord Blood Day together — and help secure a healthier future for your child.

We’d love to hear your questions, stories or comments below. Share this post on social media, tag us, and let’s spread the awareness.