If you are pregnant, you probably have received information about cord blood banking. This is an opportunity for you to bank your child's umbilical cord blood. When cord blood is banked, it is stored so that at a later time, it can be used when needed. There are several key reasons why anyone should consider cord blood banking.
Cord blood contains very important cells that can help to grow a healthy immune system for someone who has fallen ill. Not only can this cord blood be used for your child, but for others that have the same type of blood and tissue. Although cord blood banking is expensive when done privately, it can be life saving and this is often the reason to consider it.
Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat diseases and conditions such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, anemia, sickle cell disease, inherited red cell abnormality, lymphoma, plasma cell disorder, neuroblastoma and myeloma. Today, there are over 75 different diseases, immune deficiencies and other conditions that are treated with cord blood successfully. With the advancement of stem cell research, there is likely to be more uses for cord blood in the future.
If there is a family medical history or your child has a predisposition to any of these diseases, you should seriously consider cord blood banking. Parents of children of ethnic or racial minorities and children conceived through in vitro fetilization are encouraged to bank cord blood as it is more difficult to find bone marrow match in these cases. Only 50% of people that need a bone marrow or stem cell transplant are likely to find a suitable donor to provide it.
There are two ways to store your baby's cord blood. If you choose public cord blood banking, your baby's blood is taken from the umbilical cord, stored cryogenically and can be used by anyone that is in need of it. However, cord blood that is stored in a private bank can only be used for your child or other family members when required.
The cord blood banking process can be costly for a private storage facility, starting at $2000 but the protection that it offers far outweighs the costs. In addition, many families find that this is an ideal way to protect the child as well as other family members from potentially fatal diseases or conditions. The ongoing stem cell research for treatment of diseases is promising. Cord blood stem cells offer great potential for treating more auto-immune and degenerative diseases. Banking cord blood can provide medical insurance for your child or other family members now and in the future.
There are still not enough cord blood donations taking place that will provide for the necessary help needed to cure conditions like cancer and leukemia. Yet, with more people considering cord blood banking, whether privately or publicly, it is likely that more miracles can happen. Through better education, more parents will see the true benefits of cord blood banking.
Copyright 2006 Alvin Toh
If you are expecting a new addition to your family, then you have probably gotten some information regarding cord blood banking. While this procedure is not mainstream now, it is gaining in popularity. This is due to the benefits that scientists claim can be gained from this type of blood. While the benefits may be numerous, some other things need to be considered before you sign up. The following information is meant to be a starting point in your research into blood banking.
If you are planning to save the cord blood from your newborn, it is very important that you do your research. You need to know the processing procedures, how many subscribers they currently have, if anyone has actually needed to use the cord blood that was stored, and if so, was it still viable? Ask also if the blood bank is a member of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), this will help to ensure that they are a legitimate blood bank that is concerned with your personal situation.
If you are not interested in saving and, therefore paying for the cord blood banking, you may consider its donation. The procedures for collection are the same and pose no danger or pain to either you or to your child. However, this form of donation is a little different that a normal blood donation. This type of blood has the potential to unlock the mysteries of diseases and can be an important research tool. Before it can be used for that reason, you will need to sign a form stating that they have your permission to use the blood for research purposes.
However, it is important to note also, that the costs associated with cord blood banking can be very high. One popular blood bank charges around $1500.00 for the initial storage and processing fees and $80.00 a month for storage after that. The blood is generally kept in storage until the donor (the newborn baby) is 21 years old. This is a significant investment, and needs to be given careful consideration.
You can also donate the cord blood to a person that is suffering from a medical condition such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia. If your child is a match for a bone marrow transfer, this cord blood could indeed save someone's life.
The proponents of cord blood banking state that this particular type of blood is needed to cure future diseases that the child or their close relatives may developed in the future. Diseases such as leukemia sickle cell anemia anything that may need a bone marrow transplant. The reason is that the cord blood will be a 100% match for the child, and at least a 25% match for siblings.
As you can see, there are different options that are available to you for the use of your child's cord blood. However, the costs can add up, if you are ever in a position where you cannot pay the storage fees, then the blood may go to waste, therefore, the costs need to be weighed against the potential gains.
Both Alvin Toh & Peter Wallander are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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