Umbilical cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born and the cord is cut.

It is rich in blood-forming stem cells that can be used to treat serious illnesses that include various types of blood cancers, disorders and immunodeficiencies. These powerful cells can help patients rebuild their blood and immune systems, allowing them to live on.

Once considered a medical waste, parents can now make the decision to donate cord blood to the public cord blood bank or banked exclusively for the baby or the baby's siblings.