If you are looking into cord blood banking and whether it is worth it for you, we are guessing there is a good chance you are pregnant. Congratulations! We hope that everything is going well.
So, what is cord blood banking? Private vs public? Is it worth it? All these questions that we hope to answer all by the end of this blog. If you are curious, keep reading.
What is cord blood and why collect it?
Cord blood is the blood left over in the umbilical cord once a baby has been born and the placenta has been delivered. This blood is a rich source of stem cells. These stem cells can be used in the treatment of over 80 conditions worldwide including leukaemia, type of anaemia and certain metabolic diseases.
Collecting this blood is 100% safe for mum and baby, is non-invasive and compatible with almost every birth plan. Collecting the blood is also compatible with Delayed and Optimal cord cutting.
This valuable resource, if not stored, is thrown away as medical waste.
What is a stem cell?
A quick guide to what stem cells are. They are the building blocks of other cells in the body. They have the unique ability to become specialised turning into red and white blood cells or brain cells.
Of the multiple places you can find stem cells, (including bone marrow and embryonic stem cells) cord blood stem cells have no ethical issues attached to them. Collecting them does no harm to the mother or baby as they are collected after birth.
Unlike those found in bone marrow, Storing stem cells is literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing as they are only available moments after birth.
How do I store my baby’s cord blood?
In the UK there are two ways to store your baby’s cord blood. You can go private, or you can store it publicly. There are different benefits to both.
Public cord blood banking is a completely free service, and the stem cells are put into public storage to be used in transplants. It is a little like donating blood, anyone in need on the donation list could potentially use these cells. The downside of this service is that there is only a limited number of hospitals that can offer it. If you are considering this chat with your hospital or birth centre and see what’s possible.
Private stem cell storage costs money. However, what you end up with is a lifelong safety net for you and your family. When you privately store you have exclusive access to those stem cells. Your baby has a 100% genetic match ready for use and for siblings, there is a good chance of a potential partial match which can still be used for treatment. In the UK this service can be done at almost any hospital. All you need is someone licensed to do the procedure and a private bank can provide the phlebotomist for you.
Conclusion
The choice to store is entirely up to you but your family or someone on the donation list may be able to benefit from those stem cells. Whether it is worth it is something for you and perhaps your partner to think about.
This is a collaborative post.
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