no it wont necessarily prevent diseases BUT if you do cord banking they cut the cord straight away and your baby looses up to 40% of their oxygen and blood which is alot to loose and as you can imagine its really better off in your baby :)
So the delayed clamping can help prevent diseases? I'll have to look into it.
I felt bad because I couldn't afford it either so I was looking online about stuff and I found a link about delaying cord clamping (which someone above me just mentioned). They won't cut the cord until the baby had received all the blood that the cord will give your baby, so all the good stuff that you would be saving you go directly to the baby before they cut it. Google it and you'll find all kinds of stuff about it.
I wouldnt worry about it, do delayed cord clamping (which you cant do if you bank it) If you delay the clamping of the cord until it has stopped pulsing your baby will get up to 40% more blood and oxygen at the time of birth than what the babies do who have the cord clamped straight after birth, thats alot so if you do this your being a wonderful mum :)
Sehale: my family isn't known for having the best of luck. So I just know if I don't do it, I'll need it. If I bank it, then I wont need it. Its a twisted theory but alas its probably true.
I am using stemcyte which was one of the three suggested by my dr. and it is cheaper then viacord and cbr. Also u can get major coupons,financing and also place it on your gift registry. I hope this helps.
How do you know one day one of your children will need it? If you can bank it, why don't you donate it?