Cord Blood Banking Basics
Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses shares some basics about cord blood banking:
“Although the debate over the value of preserving cord blood is not new, many of my expecting mom clients ask me for information on this topic. Here are some basics on cord blood collection that I share with them:
Cord blood (the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after the birth of the baby) contains stem cells that can be used to treat various disorders. While the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages public cord blood banking (i.e., donation), they do not recommend private cord blood collection for potential personal or family use as a general “insurance policy.” Indeed, I advise my clients to be wary of cord blood banks that urge banking just in case your baby needs a transplant someday. Medical experts say the chances of a child needing a transplant of his or her own cells are rare.
There are, however, many families for which cord blood banking makes sense. Certain issues, such as family history or genetic disease, factor into the decision. Private companies have sprung up to collect and store umbilical cord blood for future use. If you decide to bank your baby’s blood, make sure the company you choose is accredited by a reputable regulatory agency such as the American Association of Blood Banks. The average upfront fee for storage is approximately $1500 with a $100 yearly storage fee.
Storing your baby’s cord blood is a personal decision that only you can make. Think over your family’s health history and do some homework about cord blood banking during your pregnancy so you can make an informed decision in advance. If you’re still not sure whether to store your baby’s cord blood, discuss your concerns with your doctor and/or your baby’s pediatrician. Whatever you decide to do, your decision should be well thought out and not based on guilt marketing.
For more information on cord blood banking, see the AAP’s Cord Blood Banking FAQ.”
Image credit: Christine Koh
Comments
I have a birth story as warning:
We had written out a birth plan that included saving the cord and no chemical interventions. Then my water broke and contractions still hadn't started 3 days later. I went on Pitosine and after a couple hours agreed to an epidural. During the couple hours I received it, my son's heartrate went down. Once the epi stopped, his pulse went back up, and the med staff said that was normal. I was not expecting what happened when he was born; he was considered at risk because of the temporarily artificially lowered heart rate and they rushed him to the crash cart. His cord was cut and gone before I knew what was happening.
Posted by: jen | October 7, 2009 3:59 AM | Reply to this comment
My sister had leukemia, needed a bone marrow transplant, and had no matches in the national and international registry. She ended up having a successful transplant from a "mismatched" relative. When I had my son, we decided to bank his cord blood, due to this family history/experience. Hope we never need it.
Posted by: Maria | October 7, 2009 9:47 AM | Reply to this comment
I just need to tell you that securing your baby’s life is simply invaluable. Cord Blood stem cells are the blood forming cells of human body and are widely being used in transplants. These cells help in the production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, severe sickle cell anemia, immune deficiencies, and heart disease can be treated with cord blood stem cells. I have come to know about this topic by reading various magazines and websites. If you still have doubts about the, you can check it out on internet.
Posted by: Julia | November 9, 2009 7:48 AM | Reply to this comment