Cord Blood Banking: Why You Should Store Your Baby's Cord Blood
Written by: Kristine Dayaras
If you’re like most parents, you want to do everything possible to protect your child. One way to help safeguard your child’s health is by banking their cord blood.
Cord blood is rich in stem cells, which can be used to treat a variety of diseases and conditions. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of cord blood banking and why you should consider storing your baby’s cord blood.
What is cord blood banking?
Cord blood banking is a process in which the baby’s cord blood, or blood from the umbilical cord and placenta, is collected and stored for future use.
Cord blood can be used to treat several diseases and disorders, including leukemia, anemia, cancer, and even diabetes. Cord blood used to be discarded at birth, but many parents now keep it for their child’s future health.
Your baby’s umbilical cord contains both cord blood and cord tissue, which are rich sources of unique stem cells that have healing potential.
Cord blood stem cells have been used in more than 40,000 transplants around the world to regenerate healthy blood and immune systems. Over 200 clinical trials have been conducted on the use of cord tissue stem cells to treat diseases like Parkinson’s, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
What are the benefits of cord blood banking?
There are many benefits to cord blood banking. Cord blood can be used in the treatment of a variety of ailments and disorders, including leukemia, cancer, anemia, immune system disorders, and even diabetes.
Cord blood is also a valuable resource for medical research. By storing your baby’s cord blood, you are helping to advance medical research and potentially save lives.
Cord blood remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Cord blood is high in hematopoietic stem cells (blood-forming), which can be used to regenerate healthy blood and immune systems.
Cord blood stem cells are currently used to treat nearly 80 diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, genetic disorders, neurologic disorders, and inherited metabolic disorders.
Where is cord blood stored?
Cord blood is stored in a cord blood bank. The cord blood bank may be a private, public, or direct donation bank.
Private cord blood banks charge a fee for storing a baby’s cord blood and can be used by the donor and family members only. They can be pricey.Â
Public cord blood banks do not charge a storage fee and can be used by anyone in need.
Direct donation banks accept donations of cord blood from healthy newborns and children. The cord blood is then made available to the child or family in need.
How cord blood is stored and who can use it?
Cord blood banking is a safe and simple procedure. Umbilical cord blood is collected after your baby is born and the cord has been cut. The collection does not hurt you or your baby. Cord blood is collected in a collection kit and then sent to a cord blood bank where it will be stored.
Cord blood can be used by anyone who matches your child’s HLA type. HLA type is determined by a simple blood test. If someone in your family, such as a sibling or cousin, needs a stem cell transplant, cord blood may be the perfect match.
Banking cord blood does not guarantee that treatment will work and only a doctor can determine when it can be used.
How much does cord blood banking cost?
Cord blood banking can be expensive. The initial fee to store the cord blood with a private company can range from $1000-$2000. There are also annual storage fees that typically range from $100-$250.
However, there are a few ways to offset the cost of cord blood banking. Some cord blood banks offer discounts if you store multiple babies’ cord blood, or if you refer a friend or family member. Storing your baby’s cord blood is a personal decision.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/baby/should-you-bank-your-babys-cord-blood