Should I Bank my Baby's Cord Blood?

Deciding to bank your baby’s cord blood is a personal choice that each family needs to make on its own. Discussing the medical benefits with a physician may help with the decision. Cord blood, which is rich in stem cells, can be used to treat a variety of serious illnesses. Costs associated with banking a baby’s cord blood can be found through individual cord blood banks and the National Cord Blood Program.

Understanding uses for baby’s cord blood is the first step in making the decision to bank it. After birth, blood from the baby’s umbilical cord is collected and stored for medical use at a later date if needed. The umbilical cord is full of stem cells, which can be used for a stem cell transplant to treat certain illnesses, such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease. The cells from the cord may be used by the baby, or a relative or stranger who is a match to receive the stem cells.

A family history of certain medical conditions or blood cancers, such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia, may increase a family's desire to bank the blood. A recipient of a cord blood transplant does not have to be a perfect match. This may increase the chances a sibling would be a match if a transplant is needed. Transplants using cord blood tend to have fewer complications, such as certain viral infections and rejection. When deciding whether to bank cord blood from a newborn's placenta and umbilical cord, keep in mind the procedure is harmless to mom and baby because the blood is taken after the birth.

It can be stored in a couple kinds of banking facilities. In a public cord bank, anyone can use the stem cells from the stored blood. The cells may also be used for stem cell research. In a private bank, the cord blood is only for family use. When using a public cord bank, there is no cost associated with donating the cord blood.

The main disadvantage to banking and storing baby's cord blood in a private cord blood bank may be the cost. Costs vary, but an initial fee for the collection kit and the testing may be as high as a couple thousand dollars. A yearly fee for storage is also usually charged.