Does anyone know anything about Cord Blood banking?

Question

Im considering banking my babys cord blood after birth but dont know too much info. Has anyone done this? Are there any cons other than the cost? What are some benefits?

Answer 1

If you decide not to privatly bank, please consider donating to the public bank.

http://www.marrow.org is the National Marrow Donors Program for the US.  If you are in a different country, search your countries marrow program or I can help you find it.

Privatly banking is very expensive.

While there are lots of possibilities for the future, currently the only thing cord blood can be used for in application is stem cell transplants, the medically correct term for a bone marrow transplant.  The transplant can be used to treat leukemias, lymphomas, myleomas, a few non cancerous blood diseases, is in trials to treat most auto immune diseases we have, can be used in conjunction with other organ transplants to give patients a chance to come off anti rejection meds, and is the possible future cure to aids.

Cord blood is used because while it still has to be matched, it doesnt have to be as close of a match.

One cord blood unit is only enough to transplant a small child.  An adult sized person needs two units currently.  So, if your child was older, they would still need to find a second unit from the public bank.  Which is possible, I did my transplant last year using 2 units both from the private bank.  Its only in trials, my transplant was a trial but it is possible.

That is just what there currently is.  We dont know what will happen with the future.

Answer 2

I saw an episode on Good Morning America and they said it wasn't necessary and it was very expensive.  I was considering it when my daughter was born but after seeing the show I changed my mind.

Its not even proven.  The companies just want to make $$ off of a new mothers fear.  

Answer 3

I don't much about it besides it's very expensive. check out this site though it was on some info they sent me

cordblood.com

Answer 4

Cord-blood banking is great in theory, it costs a lot of money and is no guarantee and remember stem-cells can be harvested from adult blood too. These companies freak out new parents thinking that stem cells are a once in a lifetime deal when they are not, stem cells are actually the basic building block of our blood. Our bodies produce them and then they turn into the cells that are needed at the time (white blood cells, red blood cells, etc.). Don't get caught up paying a ton of money for a possibility until you are well researched and sure of you decision.

Answer 5

The thing about cord blood is that it is only good for 24 years, so unless you have a family history of leukemia or the types of diseases that cord blood is good for at a young age, it's not really going to help your baby (that is what my doctor told me). Consider donating your cord blood instead.