Saving your baby’s cord blood allows it to be cryogenically stored and then available if your child later becomes ill and needs a bone marrow transplant. Cord blood was discarded until the 1970s, when researchers discovered that cord blood could save lives under certain circumstances. Many parents-to-be ask this very question. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to bank your baby’s cord blood.
This type of transplant would be ‘autologous’ and is different from the more common ‘allogeneic’ transplants that can be done from a sibling or other relative or from an unrelated donor. Our own blood is the best option for a transplant.
Many times, storing cord blood can save a baby’s life. But still, there are many other factors to consider. Price seems to be the number one hurdle, with a total cost of around $3,000. So you certainly shouldn’t feel guilty if you can’t bank your child’s cord blood. Should I even consider cord blood banking? That part will depend on you.
However, if you already have a child or a family member who has a condition that can be treated with a stem cell transplant (such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, leukemia, metabolic storage disorders, and certain genetic immunodeficiencies), then definitely You should consider banking your child’s cord blood. However, the average baby with no risk factors has a very low chance of needing cord blood.
On the other hand, some clinicians and researchers support saving cord blood as a source of blood-forming stem cells at every delivery. This is mainly due to the promise that stem cell research holds for the future. Most people would have little use for stem cells now, but research into using stem cells to treat disease is ongoing, and the future looks bright.
You can also donate your baby’s cord blood. This is possible through nonprofit cord blood banks that use cord blood for research or to save another child’s life.
In general, cord blood banks appear to have a promising future. It is definitely an option you should consider. After you have studied the facts and history of your family, you should be able to make a much more informed decision about what is best for you.
