Parents of children born in Bermuda are starting to send blood from their newborns? umbilical cords for storage overseas to possibly treat diseases such as leukaemia in the future.

Medical companies in the United States offer to store the cord blood to possibly help the child in later life if it gets ill.

Cord blood, which is extracted from the umbilical cord after the baby is born, is a richer source of stem cells than bone marrow.

According to US company Viacord, which some Island mothers have been using recently, cord blood stem cells are used in treating some cancers including leukaemia.

The numbers sending off their cord blood for storage are very small, and professional obstetric bodies in the US and Britain have not endorsed the practice yet, because they are uncertain how the science will develop.

Each year Bermuda?s five obstetricians deliver around 850 babies.

Dr. Ian Fulton said between four and six of his patients each year choose to have their cord blood sent to the US for storage, and Dr. Wendy Woods said only six patients in the past two years have opted to do so.

Both obstetricians said they only counselled women on the potential benefits of this development if the patients raised the subject themselves.

Dr. Fulton told : ?It?s a little early to say what the full potential of this may be.

?It is only being determined just now and the (obstetric) colleges don?t fully endorse it because it is not clear how it is going to work out.

?It is all up in the air, but the potential is quite significant. But, a lot of these disorders like leukaemia are so rare that the chances of a child getting it are extremely rare.

?Usually if the woman raises it (I will inform them), but I don?t offer it because the colleges are not advocating its use at the moment.?

Dr. Wendy Woods, who has delivered 80 babies since last November, said only a small number of women are sending of their cord blood for storage.

?I?ve not had a great many, six patients in the last two years,? she said.

?I had one patient who had two deliveries and each time she did it. I have not generally raised it in terms of my overall counselling, but I have done it if they have brought it up themselves.

?Whether we should routinely make patients aware of that is certainly something to think about because the potential benefits are really quite great. The blood in the umbilical chord is a rich source of stem cells, an even better source than bone marrow.

?In terms of future possibilities for treatment for leukaemia, it is definitely excellent.?

Viacord, of Boston, Massachusetts, describes itself as the leading company involved in this technology which is recommended by many doctors.

The blood from the umbilical cord is removed by a doctor after the birth and stored in a bag provided by the company which is transported to the US for storage. The stem cells are stored in multi-compartmental cryo-bags for use later.

The company?s website does not state how much the service costs, but it says it can be bought for as little as $45 per month. It also states financing is available for minimal purchases of $1,500.

?Cord blood is used in the treatment of nearly 40 life-threatening diseases,? says the website.

?Cord blood is currently being used in the treatment of a wide range of cancers, genetic diseases and blood disorders. Cord blood is being used in the treatment of more and more diseases.?

In the future, cord blood may be used to treat strokes, diabetes, Lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscular/cartilage disease, and heart disease, according to Viacord.