PRESERVING THE UMBILICAL CORD

As Science and Technology become more and more advance, we can now store umbilical cords of newborn babies for future use.  In some countries there are facilities called cord blood banks which store Umbilical cord blood because of its potential in treating diseases of the blood and immune systems.
I have heard of a few Asian cultures having the tradition of keeping the stump of a baby's umbilical cord.  I don't really think this is for medical purposes but more for protection or beliefs. The Chinese would store a stump of the cord in a little red pouch while the Japanese package the Umbilical Cord Inside a Wooden Box.

Hospitals in Japan package the cords inside wooden boxes and present them to mothers upon their departure from the hospital. Inside the box there is sometimes a small doll representing a sleeping baby wearing a kimono. The kimono can be unfolded and the umbilical cord placed inside. It is believed that preserving the umbilical cord in this way ensures a positive relationship between the child and the mother. 

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