Anyone know anything about cord blood banking?

Morning All!  I've head a lot about cord blood banking lately.  I don't know much about it.  Has anyone done it or thinking about doing it?  Do you all think its something I should seriously consider looking into?  : ) Thanks in advance!

[chantal21]

I have really thought about it. I hear it is great to do, but right now, on top of all the other bills we have, I don't think I can afford it! From what I saw, it was pretty expensive, and you pay like every month to store it. I may do it eventually because I really want to. But probably not with this pregnancy.

[filbert143]

I looked ino it quite a bit when my kids were born.  There are two routes that you can take.  The first is probably the one that you've heard about.  You store the cord for your family's own future use.  This is expensive.  The other option is to donate it to a more universal bank.  It isn't for your exclusive use though.  It could be used for research or to help other families.  The opposite holds true - if you were to need something, you could use someone else's.  Not all facilities are capable of doing the cord blood banking, so you'll have to look into and inquire where you are going to deliver.

I hope this helps a little bit.

[Me2mommy2b]

I stored DD's blood only b/c DH's family has a history of different types of cancer.  It's still researched greatly and the cord blood cannot be used for many diseases but there is a great potential.  Like filbert mentioned, you CAN donate your baby's cord blood to a public bank and it's free but it won't be available for your use anymore.  Someone will most likely use it who's a good match and if, G-d forbid, your baby needs it, they'll do just that...try to find a good match for him/her.  Keep in mind, your baby's and only your baby's cord blood is the perfect match for him/her.  They'll be able to find something similar but never a 100%.  Unless you have a family history of certain diseases, I wouldn't recommend it (unless you can afford it).  Good luck.

[jjerzeegirl]

My dh and I decided to do this for my dd. If she is ever sick in the future (knock on wood) it gives us comfort in knowing we saved her cord blood.
We are expecting our 2nd dd in 2 months. I 'thought' siblings could use the cord blood as well...BUT only if they have the same blood type. Sooooo....that being said, we are choosing to do it for our 2nd child as well.
It is very expencive, but can you really put a price tag on your child's life? ( i know...it makes us feel guilty as well...that's why we're doing it again)

Do you know anyone that works in pharmaceuticals?  If so, you can get a few hundred dollars off.

We chose to go with...... http://www.lifebank.com/

When the time comes...there is a lot of pressure on your dh.. as he'll have to call the company within a few hrs (or maybe one hr) after the baby is born. The directions are easy to follow...all step by step for you/hubby to follow....

Good luck with your decision.
I'm glad we chose to do this.

[SeeingSpots]

We were going to do it with my ds, because we felt pressured to do it by my family and people making us feel like we weren't good parents if we didn't do it.  However, right before my ds was born, the company my sister had banked all of her kids' cord blood with went bankrupt.  They had to then repay a fee to another bigger known company to have their cord blood transferred and stored by them, or else it would've just been discarded.  So, if you are going to do it, make sure you research the company and are positive it's legit and well-established.

We felt that there wasn't any guarantee that a company, any company, would still be around 10-20-or more years down the road when the cord blood might actually be needed... and that by that point, science would probably have alternative means for treating diseases, so we would've spent all that money for nothing.  And, like others have mentioned, it is costly per month (with no guarantee that when they raised monthly rates that we'd still be able to afford it) and we felt we'd be better off putting that money aside for college funds or other needs.

We asked my ObGyn for his honest opinion as well as my Rheumatologist (I have RA) and general pract., and all three gave us the same answer-- unless you have a family history of a known treatable with cord blood disease (and there are many that are not), they wouldn't spend the money.  Cord blood is still an experimental treatment with on going research.  They said that someday cord blood banking might automatically be done, but at this point it's just a new buisness venture.  My drs recommended going the donation route if anything, because even siblings can't automatically share the cord blood (1 in 4 chance), even if they have the same blood type-- it's the tissue types that are inherited from the chromosomes that make the difference (and if you used it on a sibling, then you'd be taking away the oportunity for the donor child's future use).  Lots of little compications!

Anyway, good luck with your decision!  If you have the finances and feel it's worth the gamble, then go for it.  But if not, don't feel pressured or guilty for chosing not to do it.  Afterall, there's new technology and cures being created every day for diseases!

[Mom2be530]

Wow, a wealth of information!  Thank you ladies.  I have a better understanding of the process and what its used for.  I'll check into it, weigh the options, and try to go from there.  : ) Now I know what to look for.  Thanks to all who shared their stories!

[cutiemama]

I did it with both my daughters and I'm so thankful that I did do it. I look at it this way: we insure our homes, our cars and even our jewellery so aren't our kids' lives worth whatever the cost of banking and storing the cord blood if ever-god forbid- they need it? Well that's the way I looked at it. Yes, it's very expensive but I'd rather do without in other areas than not to have banked my babies' cord blood.

[AndiJ78]

It is so wishy washy, most illnesses cannot be treated with it and those that could have impacted the cord blood anyway so it may not be able to be used. I don't know that I have actually heard of anyone using their cord blood, maybe once a sibling used it. It certainly is a money maker for those banks though.

If given the chance, I would have donated it. We weren't in an area that could collect and store it. Had I driven to Seattle to give birth, i could have.

[babywillowmae]

The best thing to do would be to donate it.  It is free, and it can help in so many ways.  We were going to do that, but i waited to long, you have to have all your info in by 35 weeks, I believe.  

[Mom2be530]

Who do you contact or where can I research the donate thing?

[AndiJ78]

If you google "cord blood donation" you should find a wealth of information. Generally University medical centers accept it and will come to collect it.

[babywillowmae]

I called one of the banking places, and they gave me a number to call, for donation.

[Alrod]

This  is one of the best sources for information on the pros and cons of cord blood banking I have found so far. Hope this helps. ”

[Alrod]

This  is one of the best sources for information on the pros and cons of cord blood banking I have found so far. Hope this helps. ”