Banking Cord Blood?

Wetoneses · February 2013

Anyone here bank or plan on banking cord blood? Did you do it for each of your twins or just one?

I can't seem to find direction on this from my doc or anyone. Your stories would be helpful!

BabyCarryingVessel · February 2013

I chose not to bank because I've heard the expense rarely pays off. I wanted to donate, but our hospital policy would not accept from twins. Not sure the exact reason why, but I think this is common policy.

Lil Kate · February 2013

We banked for our 1st 2 children and plan on banking the twins blood. We are doing both babies because they are fraternal and the chance of being able to use each others cells is just as likely as siblings. We see it as an insurance policy. We hope we never need to use it but have it if we do. We use viacord.

LottaLattes · February 2013

You should check with your hospital. Mine wouldn't bank twin cord blood for whatever reason we were going to donate.

Mrs.Paws · February 2013

The coordinator at my hospital said they won't accept from twins because there is rarely enough blood to make it effective if needed for some sort of treatment. She explained that twins have shorter cords. She also editorialized that private banks commit highway robbery when accepting from twins for this reason.

Ruthie04 · February 2013

We had no plans to use a private bank, but our hospital was a public collection site, so we said we would do it. They asked me at delivery, but never mentioned it again. I suppose they didn't have enough for the donation, as I've heard that can be an issue with twins.

AmyJoy728 · February 2013

we were undecided abt doing it, but my hosp said no to twins.

E&RMommy · February 2013

The blood can never be used for the same child. So twins (unless ID) are built-in donors.

Um I just got a newsletter from one of the banks and they were so proud that in 10 years they've used less than 100. Um that's it??!?!?! How many thousands of Americans spend $$ on it and never use it. The use rate is exceedingly low.

I have collected a few hundred cord blood samples and even for full term singleton babies only about 10-15% of the time was there enough blood to even make a collection. Our hospital donor bank rep told me the same as above - only 1 out of 7 or 8 samples actually gets banked.

So it made zero sense to bank with twins. They will be alive to donate for each other and if not the public banks actually have a higher match rate.

MuseumMaven · February 2013

We tried to donate but the local bank would not accept donations from multiples.

Wetoneses · February 2013

Wow thank you all for your responses! This has been enlightening. First step - call hospital!

anakah · February 2013

Maybe we're getting ripped off and the bank lied to us about having collected enough, but we banked with Cord Blood Registry for our twins. We looked at it like insurance, you pay for it but hope you never have to use it.

mdjperez · March 2013

Hi there, As a Cord Blood Registry employee I'd like to shed some light on this topic. It is important to save cord blood for each child as it is extremely difficult to determine if twins are indeed identical. Each child's cord blood is banked separately. I recommend you go through Cord Banking Basics, https://www.cordblood.com/cord-banking-basics.

Best to you,

Maria

CBR employee

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