Cord Blood Banking

Updated on September 07, 2011
C.L. asks from Redwood City, CA
8 answers

I'm just starting to research about cord blood banking and was wondering if you did it or if you considered it while you were pregnant? And what were the deciding factors? I am so torn and am not sure which way I'll fall on this decision.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.F.

answers from Stockton on

their is a company called cryo banking(pretty sure that is the name i will double check though and let you know), you have the option to have your babies blood banked or to donate it. i couldnt afford to bank it as blood banking is expensive, i donated my daughters cord blood for the soul purpose to help children that may need it one day. it is a great alternitive if you decide to not bank blood, not only is the cells going to save someones life one day but it is also better then it being thrown away. If you donate it, the company will send you all the stuff you need, just give it your ob with the instructions and they will take care of it from their, and best thing, their is no fee to you to donate it, it is completely free and your info will be confidential, the company will not sell your name to any 3rd party. if you dont bank the blood, i highly recommend you donate it. hope this helps and i will send you a pm on the exact name and if you like let me know if you are interested in their phone number and website and will get that to you as soon as i can. hope this helps

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi C.,

We banked our babies cord blood through Vicord. It is only really necessary if there has been a history of disease and illness in the family. But, if you want a safety net for you and your child then go ahead and do it anyways. I know that they are making great strides in using cord blood in helping out with Alzheimers patients. There are many different blood banks out there and you will need to look into each one to see what they offer. If you want more information on Viacord, I will be more then happy to speak with you. I did both my first sons, and now that I am pregnant with my third baby I will also be banking its blood. Again, if you have an questions please feel free to ask.

C.

P.S. I like your name. LOL

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.R.

answers from New York on

Hi C. ! I work for a cord blood bank and can give you the facts behind the over-promotion. See http://cordadvantage.com/cord-blood-blog/2011/5-straight-... to find 5 Straight Facts About Cord Blood ViaCord / ViaCell and Cord Blood Registry Won’t Tell You.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.L.

answers from Stockton on

Hi,
I did it with my first child and though it was expensive, I thought it was the best thing to do. With my second child, my doctor said that honestly it would do more good for my baby if I were to invest the money I would spend on banking his cord blood. She said that although banking the blood is a "good idea" its not practical unless you can afford to drop that kind of money without it taking a toll on your finances. She also told me she did not bank the blood of her own kids so that made me think twice about the whole thing.
Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.J.

answers from San Francisco on

i asked my ob when i was pregnant, and she said that she thought it was not a good use of money, and, similarly to the first response, that there was no real way to know whether there would be newer/better treatments, if, god forbid, anything happened. we did not bank. then i got pregnant again, and we did not bank. when my second baby was 17 months old, she had a lingering fever and i took her to the doctor, and we were immediately checked in to the hospital and she was diagnosed with leukemia. she is doing very very well, and is highly likely to survive. when she was first diagnosed, i told the doctors that i had not banked her cord, and that i felt terrible about that, and they said that they would not use her cord blood for any treatment ANYWAY, because it could be that the cancer was in that blood.

i was surprised -- it was the one circumstance where i thought the banking of the cord would be a definite advantage.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes! Do it. This child and your others might thank you in the future! Although we have two kids, we've saved the first child's blood and will use it for family emergencies. Better to have if you need then not and wish you had. We're using viacord. Reseach is constantly growing and opening doors to new opportunities.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.R.

answers from Visalia on

Hi C.-
I had my first baby last year in May and went back and forth on the cord blood issue. Finally, I asked my doctor. He said he would not have done it for his kids. He told me the odds of needing it were not only slim, but by the time it might be needed, hundreds of new treatments would most likely be available. He recommended taking the money and investing in a tax free college fund instead.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

When I asked my OB about it he was adamant that we should do it if we could afford it because our child is of a mixed ethnicity that could make finding a donor difficult and because he had personal experience with someone who was being treated for leukemia with her child's cord blood.

The cryobank we used had a payment plan (no interest over 6 months) that we used to get it paid for.

One other thing to keep in mind, the cord blood extraction isn't covered by your maternity insurance benefits so your doctor will bill you (it was about $200 I think). And this would be the case whether you donated or banked.
Congratulations!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches