anyone bank their baby's cord blood?

[laurajetter]

So I'm 7 months pregnant with my second (and last) child and the decision of whether we should bank the cord blood or not is looming over our heads. Of course we would love to, but the cost is what is so prohibitive for us. I hate that it comes down to cost, because if God-forbid a time came where we'd actually need cord blood I'd feel horrible that I could've provided a cure but we were too worried about the cost and decided not to.

What makes it so hard for us is that I was laid off almost a year ago and although since then they've hired me back part-time, we are not nearly in a position to be adding additional costs into our living expenses. But who knows what will come down the road and even if we come into a better financial situation it will be too late to decide we want to bank the baby's blood.

The initial cost for the first year which includes the actual processing of the cord blood, a courier fee, and the annual storage fee comes to $2,150, with an annual storage fee for 18 years of $125. These are the prices for the company Cord Blood Registry; they admitted they were the most expensive but they were the first company to offer this service and have a much higher stem cell retrieval rate than anyone else. I haven't looked into the prices of other companies yet.

Has anyone banked their baby's cord blood? The thing it really gives you is peace of mind but there's also a high chance you'll never need it. Under CBR's FAQ it says over 300,000 babies have their cord blood banked with them; it also says they've facilitated 119 transplants. As you can see, it's a very small percentage that will actually need to use the blood but I'm sure if you're part of that percentage you'd be glad you banked.

Anyway, I just wanted to see if others have banked and what went into your decision; I know it's a really personal one.

Laura

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'd like to suggest donating your baby's cord blood. It doesn't get banked only for your child's specific use, but you just might save the life of someone else's child. I looked at it as 'prepaying it forward'.

It won't cost you a dime generally. (Some doctors charge a small fee for the collection, most will waive it if you ask and they know you're donating.) You need to request a kit ASAP, though, so it gets to you before you deliver. And then discuss it with your doctor. Our plan was to donate but, unfortunately, I delivered 6 weeks early and our kit hadn't arrived.

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

If your hospital is not listed, read this:

http://www.marrow.org/HELP/Donate_Cord_Blood_Share_Life/Cord_Blood_Donation_FAQs/index.html#list

Here is another site that has a great description of the reasons for donating cord blood and the process:

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

You can also contact Cryobanks Intl. at 800-869-8608, they take donations of cord blood.

If you don't have a specific need for the cord blood at this time (i.e. an older child who is ill, and I sincerely hope that's not the case!) then donating is a wonderful, loving gift your baby and you can give on his/her birth day. Good luck, and enjoy your new little one!

 

[CF'er]

At the time I had my kids this wasn't available and I would have been in the same position as you cost wise.

I used to work in a red cross blood center that had started processing cord bloods for donation not personal use. One of my co-workers at that time said something that has stuck with me regarding saving it for personal use later. (I hope I can say this right.)

If Johnny developes a need for cord blood down the road do you really want to use Johnny's cord blood. Who's to say that it's not going to reoccur or that the problem wasn't in the stem cells originally?

It's hard to explain. But I think that if it's not in the budget then you opt out and do what you need to for your family at this time.

 

[freckles and boo]

I second donating. This was not widely done when my children were born but I would have done it had it been an option. I just read an article about this the other day. The majority of doctors who have an opinion on this say that banking for personal use is a waste of money unless you have a very specific need. They were quite critical of the advertising to new parents.

 

[mickeyboat]

I have always felt guilty that we did not bank our DDs' cord blood. Then I read a thread here a little while back which really made me feel better. I don't remember if someone posted a link, but what I remember from the thread is that the chance that your child will contract a disease that cord blood will actually help is miniscule.

 

[daisax]

I think the medical community's consensus is that more lives will be saved if people donate the cord blood now for the use of someone who needs it now. With the cord banks, a private business makes money and people spend money, the majority of the stored samples are never used, and in the meantime, people die who might have been saved.