Saving your baby’s umbilical cord blood allows it to be cryogenically stored, and then available if your child later becomes sick and needs a bone marrow transplant. Umbilical cord blood was discarded until the 1970’s, when researchers discovered that umbilical cord blood could save lives under certain circumstances.How do you decide on cord blood banking? Many soon-to-be parents ask this very question. Here are some things to consider when deciding on whether or not to bank your baby’s umbilical cord blood.
This type of transplant would be ‘autologous’ and is different than the more common ‘allogenic’ transplants that might be done from a sibling or other relative or an unrelated donor. Our own blood is the best choice for a transplant.
Often times, cord blood banking can save a baby’s life. But still, there are many other factors to consider. Price seems to be the number one roadblock, with the complete cost being around $3,000. So, you should certainly not feel guilty if you cannot bank your child’s cord blood. Should you even consider cord blood banking? That part will be up to you.
However, if you...