Cord blood banking

hiketheworld · July 2014

I wasn't going to do cord blood banking, but just found out a relative has been diagnosed with a rare cancer and one of the only treatment options involves stem cells. Now, I'm really considering it. DHs family has so much lethal cancer that tends to develop at a fairly young age. I worry our baby or my DH may get cancer and be able to benefit from the cord blood. It's just so expensive. What are you all doing or thinking?

mb314 · July 2014

Personally, I don't think that private cord blood banking is worth the money, and I have concerns about the accountability of the companies (see this Wall Street Journal article from the spring https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303887804579501500366071342). I feel like the companies prey on women and families when they're pregnant. Maybe I would feel differently if I knew people who had needed their babies' cord blood, though.

For DS1, we did delayed cord clamping so that he got all of the blood right after birth - I believe this is more likely to be useful to him to give him a good start outside the womb rather than some remote possibility we may need his cord blood in the future. We will do the same for DS2.

absolutelymaybe · July 2014

We aren't doing it.

uncharted01 · July 2014

mb314 said:

For DS1, we did delayed cord clamping so that he got all of the blood right after birth - I believe this is more likely to be useful to him to give him a good start outside the womb rather than some remote possibility we may need his cord blood in the future. We will do the same for DS2.

We would also like to do delayed cord clamping, so that would rule out cord banking. Every situation is different though, and it seems like maybe it would be worth while in your case. I hope everything turns out okay for the relative with cancer.

missnacholover · July 2014

I'd like to do delayed clamping. If that's not possible, I may donate the cord blood to a public cord blood bank. I will not be doing private banking.

MollMoll4 · July 2014

We are hoping to delay too. Otherwise would likely donate. Private banking is expensive, and often times you don't need the blood or it can't be used anyway (for genetic issues).

abbyful · July 2014

Another vote here for delayed clamping. We did it with DS and will again with this baby. I'd rather do something I *know* will benefit baby, rather than something that has a very small chance of happening. And as others have said, a lot of times the cord blood can't be used for the same person that it's from.

hiketheworld · July 2014

I feel/felt the same way. I wanted to do delayed clamping, didn't think the possible benefit was worth the cost. But ugh I really don't know what to do anymore. Stem cells are basically the only treatment for this cancer and even then the prognosis is bad. My family only has cancer for those who smoked, otherwise everyone has lived long healthy lives. DH has had every blood relative aunt, uncle and grandparent die from cancer on both sides of the family except the one who just got diagnosed and one grandparent. None of whom were smokers. His parents, so far, are healthy thank god. Given those genetics, maybe I should bank it. I don't know how to decide.

MollMoll4 · July 2014

hiketheworld said:
I feel/felt the same way. I wanted to do delayed clamping, didn't think the possible benefit was worth the cost. But ugh I really don't know what to do anymore. Stem cells are basically the only treatment for this cancer and even then the prognosis is bad. My family only has cancer for those who smoked, otherwise everyone has lived long healthy lives. DH has had every blood relative aunt, uncle and grandparent die from cancer on both sides of the family except the one who just got diagnosed and one grandparent. None of whom were smokers. His parents, so far, are healthy thank god. Given those genetics, maybe I should bank it. I don't know how to decide.

Sounds like it may be best for you to talk with your doctor about it. Perhaps they can suggest a consult with an oncologist? That way you have a medical professional's opinion on whether or not cord blood would even be beneficial for the type of cancer you are taking about. It sounds like it may be genetic, and therefore cord blood likely wouldn't be able to help anyway.

runningmama14 · July 2014

Delayed clamping doesn't rule out the possibility of banking. There's lots of info out there in regards to doing both. Don't have any links handy, but it was info I found easily when I was thinking about it.

In the end, I decided not to bank due to cost/benefit analysis. I wanted to donate, but none of the hospitals in my area participate in the Be the Match program.

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