Should you keep your kid's umbilical cord blood?

by Jonathon Morgan (Subscribe to Jonathon Morgan's posts) Feb 20th 2007 1:03PM

Should you bank your baby's umbilical cord blood in case of future illness? It's apparently all the rage amongst high-class clientele -- who can expect to pay upwards of $2,000 to get started.

In short, the answer is "probably not." According to pediatricians, it's unlikely that you'll need this kind of biological insurance (the odds are estimated between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200,000), and by donating your baby's cord blood, you could save someone else's life.

Umbilical cord blood is sought after because it's full of stem cells. These are useful in a similar way to bone-marrow -- the transplanting of which can help people fight cancer, and other diseases. However, because stem cells from cord blood are younger, they're easier to transplant into non-relatives, and can be thawed more quickly than bone-marrow.

On the other hand, guidelines published last month by the American Academy of Pediatrics say that parents should consider privately banking their child's cord blood if an older sibling has cancer, or certain genetic diseases that cord blood has been proven to treat.

I didn't even know about this when my daughter was born. Is this something any of you have come across? Any readers who have privately banked their baby's cord blood?

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Comments (12)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sandyone 2-20-2007 @ 1:30PM

My brother wanted to, but I don't know if they could afford it. I think I recently read about someone who was saved by his/her own cord blood. I guess if you're that 1 in 200,000 where it paid off, it'd be worth every penny. It's like insurance...sometimes you wonder why you're shelling out so much money and then, when you need it, you're sure glad you have it!

We don't bank our babies' blood...we just let it all get pumped back into their tiny bodies before cutting the cord.

Jenny 2-20-2007 @ 2:18PM

We donated our younger child's cord blood. We didn't have the option with our older child.

AndreAnna 2-20-2007 @ 1:48PM

When my daughter was born last May, banking her cord blood was NOT not an option. As soon as I got pregnant, my husband and I decided it was a definite. We researched a number of private companies and decided on one. They were friendly, prompt, and thorough and I was pleased with the process. Though expensive, the thought of living my life with the "what ifs" if I could have done something, anything, to help my sick child, or any subsequent children, is worth far more than the $2,000 out of pocket. There are financing options and monthly payment plans for those who can't afford it all at once. In my opinion, whether you bank it or donate it, why on earth would you waste it?

Jeanette 2-20-2007 @ 1:52PM

AndreAnn you are so right! Either banked or donated, it can save a life.

For those worried about the expense, $2,000 is cheap compared to the financial stress any parent is faced with when a child is (G-d forbid) sick.

MamaChristy 2-20-2007 @ 3:16PM

We banked my son's cord blood because I had a brother who died of childhood leukemia. For us, it was important because we knew there was family history. My husband isn't sure he wants to spend the money to do it for our next child, but I have told him I certainly want to do it again. How would I explain to my younger child why we saved his brother's blood but not his? I know many people feel strongly that this is a waste of money, but it's my money to waste, right?

Amy 2-20-2007 @ 3:39PM

I'm donating mine for Huntington's disease research. Tried to do it last time, but the baby came too fast. The collection kit stayed in the car, along with everything else.

I think banking is silly, but real good could be done if everyone donated.

Jenny 2-20-2007 @ 3:45PM

MamaChristy -- sorry for your loss and totally understand your strategy. But I just wanted to mention that actually with leukemia they don't recommend that a person get his or her own cord blood back. So your banking of the first child's blood is for the benefit of the second child, and vice-versa, if you do it. http://l3.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_mat_toc.adp?item_id=9622

Tara 2-20-2007 @ 4:39PM

We banked the cord blood for our twins nearly two and a half years ago. Now we pay an annual storage fee of about $200 (I think) and that's for both babies, and I believe the fee never increases. The initial cost for us was about $2,500, because we received a twin discount. Worth the insurance cost if you have the funds. I don't see any reason we'll need it...but "what if".

Jamie 2-20-2007 @ 10:37PM

My babies cord blood was donated. It was my son's first contribution to the world. I saved the thank you card from the Saint Louis Blood Bank for his baby book.

Randy 2-21-2007 @ 7:15AM

We banked it. And we hope it turns out to be a complete waste of money.

miss lilywhite 2-21-2007 @ 8:16AM

I live in Canada, and I donated my daughter's cord blood... Unlike Jamie who commented above, my experience with donating was not as nice. The public bank where we donated was very poor with their communication. After we sent in the cord blood, we never heard from them - I had no idea if the blood got to them. It would have been nice to get a little thank you note.

I wrote to the bank a couple of months ago because I am pregnnat again and was thinking of donating. In my email I provided some constructive feedback (i.e., as a past donor, it would have been really nice to receive a little thank you note...) The director basically told me that if I'm not happy with their donor communication, to go find another place to donate. Obviously I won't be donating there again. I was really dissapointed.

becca 2-23-2007 @ 1:38PM

There's a third option, other than banking or donating: let your newborn use it, the way nature intended!

Cord blood is full of vital minerals that can help boost a newborn's immune system and prevent jaundice in the first few days of life. Just letting the umbilical cord lie uncut until all the blood is finished pumping (usually just 1-2 minutes) gives a baby a great head-start on a healthy life.