Cord Blood Awareness Month is observed in July and sponsored by the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation. Today, stem cells are mainly used in the treatment of disease and tissue regeneration. They typically come from one of three sources – cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood. Cord blood stem cells are found in the blood of the umbilical cord. With their instant availability at birth and demonstrated utility, cord blood is quickly becoming a well-known source of stem cells by transplant physicians.

Cord Blood Awareness Month makes parents aware that after a baby is born, and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the blood left in the umbilical cord can be collected and the stem cells extracted and stored for potential use in a future medical application. Today, there are nearly eighty conditions that can be treated with cord blood and experimental treatments using cord blood for cerebral palsy and Type 1 Diabetes are underway.