Cord Blood Banking

freeatlast2014

My friend that just delivered gave my name for a referral and so I just got off the phone with the company. I kind of looked into it with DS1 and decided against it because of the money. But knowing that this baby will likely be my last I'm torn.

Are you banking your cord blood? 

blindvictory

Nope, but only because it's so expensive. If we have more of a budget with future babies, I'd definitely consider it. 

LyndseylovesHugh

I am not because the research I have done shows that you can very rarely use the cord blood for the child it comes from.  It may be something a sibling could use, but it just seems like a lot of money for us to spend for a small possibility for a sibling that is not here yet.  I am looking into donating it, the chance of someone else out there being able to use it is significantly higher and if donating became standard practice no one would need to privately bank their cord blood. 

Another concern of mine when it comes to private banking is what happens to my investment when/if the company goes out of business/goes bankrupt.  From what I understand most of these companies have yet to see a profit because it is to expensive for the general population, so I am assuming that many of them will go out of business at some point.  Just another thing that played into my decision.  If money was no issue or if it was more reasonably priced I would probably do it.

BakerMommy

LyndseylovesHugh:

I am not because the research I have done shows that you can very rarely use the cord blood for the child it comes from.  It may be something a sibling could use, but it just seems like a lot of money for us to spend for a small possibility for a sibling that is not here yet.  I am looking into donating it, the chance of someone else out there being able to use it is significantly higher and if donating became standard practice no one would need to privately bank their cord blood. 

Exactly.  Donating it is free, and it's more likely to be used.  Plus, on the off chance someone in your family needs it, it will be at the bank.

ETA:  I suppose there is an infinitesimal chance that someone else would have used it first--but I'm willing to take that chance.

MrsAB1316

We are opting for Public Donation as well.   Barring any complications, they will delay clamping for 2 minutes (if the donation company says that's possible) and then the remaining blood will be donated.  If we can't delay clamping for 2 minutes, then we'll do immediate clamping.  

We feel that we would like to have the chance to help a family who desperately needs it, rather than keep it for ourselves and potentially (hopefully) never use it.  

Boots&Bows

We're donating ours. After researching it, we decided this was a better option for us.  Also, it's rare that the sick child can use their own cord blood since it's likely to also be diseased.  

Spiralfry

We are donating ours. For us it is the best solution.

melody921

We're not. When we looked into it with DS, we simply found it too expensive.

terri_doula2010

LyndseylovesHugh:

I am not because the research I have done shows that you can very rarely use the cord blood for the child it comes from.  It may be something a sibling could use, but it just seems like a lot of money for us to spend for a small possibility for a sibling that is not here yet. 

This. However, I'm planning on delaying cord clamping so my baby gets all the blood.

freeatlast2014

Donating is a great idea! 

I've also never heard of delayed clamping (adds to list of questions for OB). 

daymisty84

blindvictory:

Nope, but only because it's so expensive. If we have more of a budget with future babies, I'd definitely consider it. 

This.

sjp

We have with our two LOs --and will with this one.

We use a reputable company that has sucessfully used the cells for transplants and has been in business for a long time (we used them first with DS almost 8 years ago)--

Our rationale is that even if there is a very small chance one of our kids could benefit in the future --with all of the advances in science-- and it wouldnt break then bank then we would definately do it.

Plus my husband is a cancer survivor and while cord blood wouldnt have helped his type of cancer--it defiantely made us think of all the possibilities more closely.