Saving cord blood gives families a unique biological resource and is kind of like freezing a potential “self-repair kit” for the child (and other family members). That is why, saving cord blood is important to do.
Stem cells from cord blood have proven to restore a patient’s blood and immune system after treatment for a variety of cancers and blood diseases and may someday be able to repair other types of damage from events, like heart attacks and strokes. Recent discoveries suggest that stem cells from cord blood may also be used in a number of developing areas of medicine. If you are pregnant or have recently had a baby, you are likely at least a little familiar with the idea of saving cord blood.
Saving cord blood is done when a baby is born, cryogenically stored. Then, you can use the cord blood saving if your child later becomes sick and needs a bone marrow transplant. 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.
Indeed, it is not like there is a 100% chance that your child will not have a life saving treatment available if stem cells had not been saved. However, still, saving cord blood of your child does have benefits. Firstly, the cord blood is easily available if you ever do need it. Secondly, these stem cells will be a perfect match for your child, while there is only a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match.
By saving cord blood of your child, it is also possible for you to donate your child’s cord blood for free if you live near one of the National Marrow Donor Program Cord Blood Banks in 14 states in the United States, including Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington. These stem cells could then be used by unrelated children who need a transplant and search their registry.
For saving cord blood of your child, first of all, decide what you want done with the cord blood. If you are saving the cord blood from a birth, decide if you want to donate the blood or save it for your family’s future use.
You should also shop around for a reputable cord blood bank if you are saving cord blood. Ask for credentials and qualifications for storing blood and get second opinions. If you are donating, choose an institution whose philosophy for using the cord blood is similar to yours. Do you want the cord blood donated to patients suffering from a medical condition, or do you want the blood used for medical research?
Another thing you should do when saving cord blood is finding an institution early. The kits for collection have to be sent to you ahead of time. Take time to familiarize yourself with the institution’s process and fees. Finally, let your doctor or midwife review the procedure for collection prior to delivery. Ask any questions you might have or ask for referrals to reputable institutions or studies.
In conclusion, even though the price of saving cord blood is far too high for the average parent to afford, saving cord blood is a step parents can take to help their child in the future. The blood that flows through a newborn baby’s umbilical cord is a precious source of stem cells. Unfortunately, in most cases, this lifesaving blood is discarded because parents are not aware of the benefits of cord blood banking.
