After giving birth to your child..

[C.Ann]

Did any of you bank the cord blood? Yesterday I was watching a show (kind of absentmindedly while packing) and it was about water births; other forms of natural childbirth; etc. and one couple was talking about how they had banked their babies cord blood.. The next commercial was for exactly that - a place where you bank the cord blood..

This wasn't available when I had my children - and I don't think my DD was really aware of it when she gave birth to my DGD - but it sounded like it might be a good thing..

I figured if anyone had done it, it might be someone here on the DIS..

Just curious - no real reason for asking.. (Well - except that it's not a political thread..)

 

[tonilea]

No. Though I would have donated it, if it had been an option.

 

[freckles and boo]

I didn't. My kids are six and eight. If I were to have another child rotfl: ) I might donate to a communal blood bank but I would NOT pay fees to have it stored exclusively for my child.

 

[Jenvenza]

We wanted to. But it is not cheap and we didnt have to money - but we did donate it.

 

[C.Ann]

I had no idea you could donate it! What a wonderful thing to do..

 

[SydSim]

It wasn't available when i had DD, but I see more and more of my patients doing it. Not a great amount, but increasing.

 

[C.Ann]

We wanted to. But it is not cheap and we didnt have to money - but we did donate it.

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If you don't mind my asking, what was the cost involved? (Feel free not to answer if you would rather not..)

 

[NY Disney fan]

We wanted to. But it is not cheap.

That was the reason I didn't bank mine. At the time, for me, the cost was like $1300 a year.

 

[HelenePA]

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If you don't mind my asking, what was the cost involved? (Feel free not to answer if you would rather not..)

its around 1500$ for the initial freezing then a few hundred dollars a year to store it... I wish I could have donated mine but my hospital does not participate in that. I don't think most "local" hospitals do.

 

[JessicaR]

It wasnt a known about option when I gave birth. I would have done it for sure! My Sister gave birth this pay May and she did it. It was $2000 plus $125 a year there after for storage. They even had payment plans.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay - I'm putting on my dunce cap here.. I understand that it would be beneficial to the baby involved - should that child ever be stricken with certain medical conditions - because it is "specific" to that child..

But if you have donated it, what are the uses derived from that?

Obviously this is new territory to me.. Sorry..

 

[mefordis]

Yes, we banked both our daughter's cord blood.

Did any of you bank the cord blood? Yesterday I was watching a show (kind of absentmindedly while packing) and it was about water births; other forms of natural childbirth; etc. and one couple was talking about how they had banked their babies cord blood.. The next commercial was for exactly that - a place where you bank the cord blood..

This wasn't available when I had my children - and I don't think my DD was really aware of it when she gave birth to my DGD - but it sounded like it might be a good thing..

I figured if anyone had done it, it might be someone here on the DIS..

Just curious - no real reason for asking.. (Well - except that it's not a political thread..)

 

[mefordis]

They use donated cord blood for research. Also, if you bank it for your child you can also use it for a sibling or close family member.

Okay - I'm putting on my dunce cap here.. I understand that it would be beneficial to the baby involved - should that child ever be stricken with certain medical conditions - because it is "specific" to that child..

But if you have donated it, what are the uses derived from that?

Obviously this is new territory to me.. Sorry..

 

[JessicaR]

http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/cord-blood-donation.htm

Umbilical cord blood donation can save critically-ill patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, and more than 70 other diseases.

 

[C.Ann]

http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/cord-blood-donation.htm

Umbilical cord blood donation can save critically-ill patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, and more than 70 other diseases.

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Oh wow! That is such a great thing!! I wish it was available back when I had my children..

 

[freckles and boo]

Okay - I'm putting on my dunce cap here.. I understand that it would be beneficial to the baby involved - should that child ever be stricken with certain medical conditions - because it is "specific" to that child..

But if you have donated it, what are the uses derived from that?

Obviously this is new territory to me.. Sorry..

It can be used in stem cell research. It is also similiar to donating marrow for transplants.

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Donate_Cord_Blood_Share_Life/Cord_Blood_Is_Changing_Lives/index.html

 

[clgwli]

No I donated it to research at the hospital I gave birth. I do not believe in banking for myself. I would rather let someone have it now and try for life. People get cord blood transplants in hope of saving their lives much like other transplants. Pay it forward I always say.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, I donated last year. I wanted to donate it when DS was born 11 years ago, but they were only doing the private cord blood banking in those days, and I didn't want to invest in that. Apparently my body made up for not doing it last time; we were able to completely fill two bags for the donation, which was much more than usual, my OB said.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, we banked both our daughter's cord blood.

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May I ask (and again, feel free not to answer) why you banked both of your daughter's cord blood? According to what I'm reading here, wouldn't the cord blood from only one of your DD's be a suitable match for both?

Gotta say I love the DIS.. I learn so much here - seems like something new every day..

 

[HelenePA]

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May I ask (and again, feel free not to answer) why you banked both of your daughter's cord blood? According to what I'm reading here, wouldn't the cord blood from only one of your DD's be a suitable match for both?

Gotta say I love the DIS.. I learn so much here - seems like something new every day..

I would guess it would depend on if both girls has the same blood type.