April 2016 Moms

Has anyone considered cord blood banking?

edited November 2015 in April 2016 Moms
I've been reading a lot about stem cell research the past couple of days and the benefits of cord blood banking. DH and I definitely believe stem cell treatment could be the future and I see huge potential in it. So I was curious if any of you had any experience with this and if it's worth the money? I researched what it would cost in Denmark, and it's quite a lot of money. So I want to hear some thoughts about it before we decide to go for it :)


    

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Re: Has anyone considered cord blood banking?

  • We are considering it as well, but haven't done it. It does seem quite expensive! But possibly worth it, I'm not sure.
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  • @iamrandom That was very informative, will discuss this with le husband.


        

  • I'm glad my sanctimony was helpful!  
  • iamrandom said:
    We're going to be doing a public cord blood donation for ethical reasons.*  I don't know if Denmark does public donations (though I would assume so), but this link pretty much sums up why we've chosen this option over private banking: https://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/donation/public_vs_private_donation.html

    *Sometimes I hear myself and realize that I have become *that* sanctimonious liberal asshole.  It's some real rough stuff.  
    I have the same reasons and will also donate to a public bank.
  • @iamrandom I've considered doing the donation as well, depending on the cost. The last I read on it, it was still a bit pricey but I want to discuss it with my midwife when I'm closer to delivery.
  • We just registered to do cord blood banking with CBR. There are so many things that it can help in the future if needed.
  • We did cord blood banking with CBR for both DS and DD, and will do it again with this LO.  
  • @iamrandom I've considered doing the donation as well, depending on the cost. The last I read on it, it was still a bit pricey but I want to discuss it with my midwife when I'm closer to delivery.
    Depending on where your midwife delivers you might be able to do it for free or for a seriously reduced rate.  My hospital is currently letting women donate without incurring a cost, but I know that's not always the case.  Fingers crossed it's reasonably priced where you are!
  • edited November 2015
    I feel VERY strongly (anybody surprised I feel strongly about something?) that unless you have known genetic conditions or are carriers etc or God forbid have a sick older sibling in which they will need that cord blood, to NOT bank, but donate. The more people who donate, the fewer people will feel the need to pay to bank their cord blood, because hopefully a match will be available. It is very unlikely that a child who needs cord blood will be able to use their own cord blood.

    Not every hospital has a donation bank, and not every state has a donation bank. BUT, there are private, for profit organizations that will send a collection person to you in the hospital within a few hours and pick it up. Yes it's for profit, but its still available to the general public to those who 100% need it NOW, instead of an extremely slim chance (like minuscule) that your child or a sibling may need it in the future. Plus as I said, usually if an individual needs cord blood for any reason, they can't use their own. (Why don't they put THAT in the pamphlets?)

    My hospital and my dr waived the cord blood collection fee since we were donating it. If you decide to donate I suggest you bring that up to your doc. I also informed my Drs entire office of who we went through, they'd never heard of it and we're so glad to know about it.

    The organization we used was lifebank USA. However, if donation is something you're consider, please check with your hospital and state first to see if they have a government funded bank. Also feel free to tag or message me with any questions. My sister is a dr and sent me some peer reviewed literature that helped us decide it was a waste for us to bank, and I can share that as well. We did have to register I believe 8 weeks before due date (just a time frame to keep in mind).





    Edited for spelling. I have got to start proofing my responses, especially while mobile.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
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  • @AmadorRose ours was free to donate and the dr even waived the collection fee since it was a donation.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
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    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • So here's the thing with stem cell treatments right now. There is really no good way to keep them in the body where they are needed for injury repair. They only hang around for a few days if your lucky. A lot of research is using gel to keep them at the site of repair for longer, but most of the repair benefits are from the matrix and not the stem cells. For disease treatment, your child would have to use donor cells anyway. Private banks make it sound like this super amazing thing you have to do if you love your child, but they are companies and need to make a profit. If you can public bank, really consider going with that. There is a far greater chance of saving someone else's life then ever needing or being able to use your own banked sample. In the past, I worked in various genetics labs for close to a decade and listen to a lot of stem cell research project updates nowadays so I do know a bit about the good bad and ugly with this stuff. Ok, getting off my soapbox now.

    I'm in love with you.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
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    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • edited November 2015
    I definitely appreciate all the input! Honestly when DH and I were talking about this it did not occur to me to donate the cord blood, which we definitely will consider doing now if it's possible in Denmark. As far as I know, Denmark does not have a public cord blood bank yet (you'd think they would have invested in one by now, Sweden got one in like 2008 I think), but if I end up choosing to give birth in Sweden I will definitely do it!

    @NachosAndPeaches I'd love to read the literature so I can show it to my husband as well! Thanks a lot!


        

  • Private message me your email!
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • I'm about 95% sure the hospital I will deliver at does not do cord blood banking or donating, and I dont think the other hospital in my town does either. But I had no idea that there are other organizations that can come and pick it up. Thanks @NachosAndPeaches I'll have to look into that, I didn't even think it would be an option.
  • Yeah I wish more obgyn offices had pamphlets for those companies so patients who choose not to bank can know they can donate it!! What a waste to just do nothing with it.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • Question about this. Would you still donate cord blood if you wait until it stops pulsing to do the cut? I think it's called the tick tock method... I had no idea you could donate, but we may bank anyway, since fiancé's older sister died of cancer at 13 and it's something his mom wishes they had done to help with it. (Don't ask me how...)
  • Yes you can still bank if you do delayed cord blood banking, but you won't get nearly as much, and the medical literature shows that there aren't as many stem cells in cord blood as the pamphlets let you believe, so a small amount may not be worth the cost of banking.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • Yes you can still bank if you do delayed cord blood banking, but you won't get nearly as much, and the medical literature shows that there aren't as many stem cells in cord blood as the pamphlets let you believe, so a small amount may not be worth the cost of banking.

    OK thank you.
  • @NachosAndPeaches I hadn't even read your response because I took forever to type mine while wrangling dogs and toddler. It's nice to see another person as passionate about this stuff as I am. I have a degree in genetics and stem cells is the one topic that can always get me riled up because of how misinformed the public has become.
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  • Yes you can still bank if you do delayed cord blood banking, but you won't get nearly as much, and the medical literature shows that there aren't as many stem cells in cord blood as the pamphlets let you believe, so a small amount may not be worth the cost of banking.

    This. We did a lot of research on the topic with Dd and talked extensively with our OB. He had mentioned waiting to cut the cord for the benefits it would give our baby but it would reduce what we could donate and he said most likely it wold be a small amount the center couldn't take. In the end we went with the delayed cord cutting and were not able to donate.
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  • @sprocketsngadgets can you touch on how the public is misinformed? I've read the peer reviewed studies etc, but it's hard for me to understand and explain in laymens terms since I don't have the background.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
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    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • Also just want to point out that delayed clamping is mostly recommended for preterm babies, or if you know your baby will be born with a medical condition. In my opinion being able to donate that blood and knowing you can save a life trumped delayed clamping, since statistically, millions of newborns turn out healthy and fine without delayed clamping. But if you have no plans to bank or donate, there is no reason not to delay, and there are benefits (though not necessarily significant for healthy newborns). But if you're considering banking or donating, while you can still delay clamp, it may affect if you can, like @Ready4theParty experienced.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • @sprocketsngadgets can you touch on how the public is misinformed? I've read the peer reviewed studies etc, but it's hard for me to understand and explain in laymens terms since I don't have the background.
    The public is misinformed by the marketing. The companies promote their bu$ine$$ and they catch people at their most vulnerable time - we are all so worried about the health and well being of our babies, of course I would do anything for his health!!! If someone comes and tells me that there is this amazing medical advance that will allow me to grow my baby's stem cells into any cell he ever needs in the future if he gets sick, yeah take all of my money to save my baby!!!

    (Of course the example above is not me… :) But just to illustrate how a person with no knowledge of the current status of stem cell research and clinical applications could potentially be led by all of the money-making propaganda).
  • Yeah, reading the material and brochures from the cord blood bank did give the impression that current stem cell research can help you save your child with his own stem cells and therefore making the choice obvious for you if you care about your child. On top of this, they show interviews with parents saying "We love our son, of course we decided to go for cord blood banking. It was a no brainer."
    After reading the literature from @NachosAndPeaches (thank you by the way!) and various websites I can see that is not the case.


        

  • Yeah, reading the material and brochures from the cord blood bank did give the impression that current stem cell research can help you save your child with his own stem cells and therefore making the choice obvious for you if you care about your child. On top of this, they show interviews with parents saying "We love our son, of course we decided to go for cord blood banking. It was a no brainer."
    After reading the literature from @NachosAndPeaches (thank you by the way!) and various websites I can see that is not the case.

    Let me guess: that was a for-profit bank, wasn't it?
  • thaisac1 said:
    Yeah, reading the material and brochures from the cord blood bank did give the impression that current stem cell research can help you save your child with his own stem cells and therefore making the choice obvious for you if you care about your child. On top of this, they show interviews with parents saying "We love our son, of course we decided to go for cord blood banking. It was a no brainer."
    After reading the literature from @NachosAndPeaches (thank you by the way!) and various websites I can see that is not the case.
    Let me guess: that was a for-profit bank, wasn't it?
    Yup, the only one I could find in Denmark. Not going to pay them 2700 $ for their own profit.


        


  • thaisac1 said:

    Yeah, reading the material and brochures from the cord blood bank did give the impression that current stem cell research can help you save your child with his own stem cells and therefore making the choice obvious for you if you care about your child. On top of this, they show interviews with parents saying "We love our son, of course we decided to go for cord blood banking. It was a no brainer."
    After reading the literature from @NachosAndPeaches (thank you by the way!) and various websites I can see that is not the case.

    Let me guess: that was a for-profit bank, wasn't it?

    Yup, the only one I could find in Denmark. Not going to pay them 2700 $ for their own profit.


    See, it proves my point above. It's the money-making marketing.
  • We looked into banking with DD, and opted against it. My husband is a type 1 diabetic so our children have a higher chance of developing it (not a huge chance, but much higher than an average child). Lots of the literature we received from the banking companies insinuated that we could potentially use these cells to regrow dying pancreas cells if she were to start developing it (which is a technique that is being studied but is far from common/proven). We talked with hubby's endocrinologist and our pediatritian about it and both told us that this was a ridiculous claim to be making since this has not even been proven to be effective or even possible with cord blood cells. We are looking into donating, but need to call and check with the hospital.
  • thaisac1 said:



    @sprocketsngadgets can you touch on how the public is misinformed? I've read the peer reviewed studies etc, but it's hard for me to understand and explain in laymens terms since I don't have the background.

    The public is misinformed by the marketing. The companies promote their bu$ine$$ and they catch people at their most vulnerable time - we are all so worried about the health and well being of our babies, of course I would do anything for his health!!! If someone comes and tells me that there is this amazing medical advance that will allow me to grow my baby's stem cells into any cell he ever needs in the future if he gets sick, yeah take all of my money to save my baby!!!

    (Of course the example above is not me… :) But just to illustrate how a person with no knowledge of the current status of stem cell research and clinical applications could potentially be led by all of the money-making propaganda).


    This. Most people aren't reading/have access to peer reviewed journal articles (yay pay walls!). The general public hears about crazy science like growing a human ear on the back of a rat or say turning stems cells into functioning heart cells. What they don't hear is that it worked a handful out of hundreds of tries or that yes stem cells can be differentiated, but there are any number of things that are being researched to work out in order to make them a truly viable therapy option for a multitude of problems. If you think about it, you don't hear too much about stem cell breakthroughs today. 10-15 years ago they were a pretty hot topic. That should tell you something about what everyone thought they were going to be able to accomplish and what they can.

    Marketing is key for research funding. As someone who's salary is paid off of grants, it's a necessity to keep research going. Whenever we start thinking about a new project it always comes down to is anything patentable and is anything clinically relevant.

    That all being said, I am in no way discounting the benefits of stem cell therapy. That goes with the pro public banking. I just think there are a lot of people that need to understand that regrowing an organ from your own stem cells or curing all the diseases is not something we or our children are likely to see happen.
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  • Thank you ladies! I've been pondering whether to donate cord blood or not, but based upon this thread I'm going to talk to my OB about donation.
  • We donated with DS and will do the same with this little guy. Also, if you're considering it, there are lots of papers to fill out. So if you can get them ahead of time, fill them out and have them in your hospital bag, it makes it much easier once you get there.
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  • Best thread I've read on the bump thus far!  Thanks for all of the info ladies!  Def looking into donating as we did nothing with DD1.  
  • AEG84AEG84 member
    edited November 2015
    @NachosAndPeaches are there multiple organizations that collect donations? I know Be The Match collects at one of the hospitals my OB delivers at, but I can't seem to find anything for the other hospital I was leaning toward.
    image
  • @AEG84 I'm sure there are. Unfortunately a public option wasn't available for us so we went with a private, for prophet company. I just went with the first Google hit that was a easy process.
    First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
    Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
    Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
    Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Proud SAHM to our little monkey H. 
    Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
  • Ahhh, gotcha. I'll have to ask at my next appt and see if the OB knows.
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  • We have been considering it due to my nephew being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in June and his need for 2 rounds of stem cell treatment starting in 2 weeks. While he is able to use his stem cells that were harvested at the beginning of chemo, his doctors indicated that if they had banked his cord blood those cells would have a better chance of success. Anyone know much about this process? I have not taken the time yet to do much research but in this case it seems like it would have been a benefit? In hindsight of course.
  • thaisac1thaisac1 member
    edited November 2015

    We have been considering it due to my nephew being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in June and his need for 2 rounds of stem cell treatment starting in 2 weeks. While he is able to use his stem cells that were harvested at the beginning of chemo, his doctors indicated that if they had banked his cord blood those cells would have a better chance of success. Anyone know much about this process? I have not taken the time yet to do much research but in this case it seems like it would have been a benefit? In hindsight of course.

    The truth is, as of today there are VERY FEW diseases where stem cells are used... A few types of blood cancers like some types of leukemia/ lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as well as amyloidosis and neuroblastoma, but I am unaware of clinical use in any other diseases (also mind this is not my field of specialty).

    Research in this field for other diseases is ongoing and promising, but still SO far from clinical applications. Stem cells can over proliferate and become tumors too, so a lot of the research nowadays is about how not only to make a stem cell become the cell you want, but also how to control their proliferation so it causes regeneration and doesn't cause a tumor. This is why I say that the far, far, far majority of ppl won't need their own stem cells In their lifetime.

    If you donate to a bank, however, someone else can benefit, and perhaps even your child. But the private storage of stem cells is more of a business than a medical utility right now.

    I actually don't know whether chord stem cells are any better than new bone marrow stem cells. My instinct tells me they would behave similarly, but I do not know the answer.
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