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01-03-2013 at 2:22 PM
sloturtle
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Banking cord blood

Over the New Years holiday, I went to visit my parents. My mom was telling me she will be willing to pay to have my babies cord blood saved.

Since coming home (yesterday) I have been looking up information about banking cord blood.  I would like to here from moms who have banked cord blood and their experience. Maybe some suggestions on what company to look into (or not get involved with).

TIA Smile

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01-03-2013 at 2:24 PM
CarolynL8
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Im interested in hearing about peoples experiences too! i want to do the whole cord banking thing as well. Im going to stalk your thread!
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01-03-2013 at 2:52 PM
nola78
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We did extensive research last time around, including talking to pediatricians and subspecialists to get their opinion on the usefulness of it.  The bottom line is we were told that it was a waste of money.  We heard that sometimes not enough cord blood is banked, so even if you wanted to use it, you couldn't.  Also, many of the 'treatments' they claim on the brochures are experimental and still under study.  I'm hoping ot have delayed cord clamping with this LO is born.
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01-03-2013 at 2:56 PM
CarolynL8
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nola78:

We did extensive research last time around, including talking to pediatricians and subspecialists to get their opinion on the usefulness of it.  The bottom line is we were told that it was a waste of money.  We heard that sometimes not enough cord blood is banked, so even if you wanted to use it, you couldn't.  Also, many of the 'treatments' they claim on the brochures are experimental and still under study.  I'm hoping ot have delayed cord clamping with this LO is born.

Really? I know that one of my friends was told at birth that she couldn't do it because her cord wasn't long enough. I didn't think that they'd actually save it for you, charge you and then turn around and say that you can't use it. That's effed up!

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01-03-2013 at 3:14 PM
llbta85
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I did with DS but only because his Paternal grandparents paid for the initial costs and I beleive his father pays the storage fees now.  This time around I don't plan on banking it.  Unless you have an immediate need for it, I'm not really buying what they are selling.  And its REALLY expensive.  That money is probably better suited for a 529 or some other savings account IMHO.
 
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01-03-2013 at 3:24 PM
nola78
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CarolynL8:
nola78:

We did extensive research last time around, including talking to pediatricians and subspecialists to get their opinion on the usefulness of it.  The bottom line is we were told that it was a waste of money.  We heard that sometimes not enough cord blood is banked, so even if you wanted to use it, you couldn't.  Also, many of the 'treatments' they claim on the brochures are experimental and still under study.  I'm hoping ot have delayed cord clamping with this LO is born.

Really? I know that one of my friends was told at birth that she couldn't do it because her cord wasn't long enough. I didn't think that they'd actually save it for you, charge you and then turn around and say that you can't use it. That's effed up!

My knowledge in this area is not great, but I believe you need a certain number of stem cells per body weight for a transplant (if that's what you need the cord blood for).  Therefore, but the time the child becomes a teenager / adult, the amount of cord blood banked is typically not sufficient.  I'm not sure exactly when the cutoff point occurs. 

http://parentsguidecordblood.org/faqs/17/
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BFP #1: 1/10/12; EDD: 9/20/12, born too early on 5/7/12 (20w4d) due to IC/PTL/chorioamnionitis.
BFP #2: 8/30/12; EDD: 5/9/13, emergency cerclage placed at 22w5d, dx cardiomyopathy, strict bed rest for 14 weeks. DD born at 39 weeks.


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01-03-2013 at 3:30 PM
CarolynL8
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I see what you're saying. Makes sense.

I havent really started much research on the topic yet but I plan to. I will have to weigh the pros and cons.

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01-03-2013 at 3:45 PM
J+MS
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If I remember correctly (and it's been a while since I was reading this stuff) you can't use the cord blood for your baby, but it could go to their siblings and other kids. You're better off DONATING, not storing it so other kids can use it. 
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01-03-2013 at 3:52 PM
meltoine
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Most diseases that can be helped by stem cells in the cord blood are genetic, so the child's own cord blood, with the same diseased DNA in the cells, is not useful. It can be useful for siblings or cousins, but even that is rare. Like PP mentioned, donating to a public bank can benefit other children. But paying to privately bank your own blood is almost certainly useless. And crazy expensive. 

Current research shows that almost all babies are better served by delayed cord clamping, which leaves all of the blood including the nutrients and stem cells and oxygen in the baby at birth. That way your child definitely gets benefits from it now, and you don't spend thousands of dollars on the off-off-off chance s/he MIGHT benefit from it down the road.  
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01-03-2013 at 4:23 PM
Bliss+Berr...
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meltoine:

Most diseases that can be helped by stem cells in the cord blood are genetic, so the child's own cord blood, with the same diseased DNA in the cells, is not useful. It can be useful for siblings or cousins, but even that is rare. Like PP mentioned, donating to a public bank can benefit other children. But paying to privately bank your own blood is almost certainly useless. And crazy expensive. 

Current research shows that almost all babies are better served by delayed cord clamping, which leaves all of the blood including the nutrients and stem cells and oxygen in the baby at birth. That way your child definitely gets benefits from it now, and you don't spend thousands of dollars on the off-off-off chance s/he MIGHT benefit from it down the road.  

This.  After discussing it with our future pediatrician, we decided against it. 
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01-03-2013 at 4:52 PM
Shel79
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My husband and I get really excited about geeky science stuff, and we have decided to bank the cord blood for our twins.  A lot of the research is fairly new, and there are still tons of studies going on.  We didn't choose to bank based on what is known today, but we expect them to find many more uses in the future.  It could (and very likely will) end up being a waste of money, but I'd rather have it and not need it than the other way around!  

We went with CBR, based on a referral from one of my co-workers.  I just set everything up last week, so all I can really say at this point is that the customer service seems good.   Good luck!  
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01-03-2013 at 5:48 PM
sloturtle
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Thank You all ladies!!! I have spent some time this afternoon looking up some information and even forwarded some information to my mom. After reading some of your comments, I do agree about it being a waste of money that could be better used somewhere else. I will be seeing my parents again here in a couple of weeks and I think we should have an in depth discussion about banking the cord blood.

I have also been thinking my mom may be feeling she has to be fair to me for the money she has spent on my brother, paying for his health insurance so he could get surgery to save his eye sight. It doesn't need to be fair, we each have different needs.  

I have seen some posters mention leaving the cord attached (not sure what the term is), it seems this could be more beneficial at the time. At this point, I am leaning towards not private banking the cord blood.

 
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01-03-2013 at 6:37 PM
CelticWife
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Have you considered donating it? We donated both of our childrens cord blood. DS's was actually used by someone, the bank calls to confirm medical history before they use it.

We initially thought about banking it ourselves, but the odds of being able to use it yourself is pretty low. I like that we were able to help someone instead of throwing it away.
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01-05-2013 at 2:33 PM
jill0211
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I noticed only one person replied who actually banked. We did as well and went with Viacord and I highly recommend this company. If someone is willing to pay for you I would suggest to not pass up the opportunity if you e decided this is something you want to do. There will always be those for no against it. My doctor said if we could afford to do it then do so, but not to overextend ourselves financially. Although the likelihood of needing to use the cord blood is slim, my husband and I agreed it was well worth the money "just in case". Who knows what it will be able to be used for in 5, 10, or 15 years. Could be a really good thing.
 
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01-05-2013 at 3:44 PM
JenS2203
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jill0211:
I noticed only one person replied who actually banked. We did as well and went with Viacord and I highly recommend this company. If someone is willing to pay for you I would suggest to not pass up the opportunity if you e decided this is something you want to do. There will always be those for no against it. My doctor said if we could afford to do it then do so, but not to overextend ourselves financially. Although the likelihood of needing to use the cord blood is slim, my husband and I agreed it was well worth the money "just in case". Who knows what it will be able to be used for in 5, 10, or 15 years. Could be a really good thing.

We banked ours with CBR for both girls and will for this LO as well. The start up fees are pretty expensive, but we felt it was the right thing to do for us. My family history is not the healthiest.

My friend's little boy had leukemia and they were able to use cord blood (donated) to help him. You may want to consider donating if you don't want to store it.

 

edit: didn't mean to quote

 
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01-05-2013 at 7:32 PM
diana.fili...
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nola78:

We did extensive research last time around, including talking to pediatricians and subspecialists to get their opinion on the usefulness of it.  The bottom line is we were told that it was a waste of money.  We heard that sometimes not enough cord blood is banked, so even if you wanted to use it, you couldn't.  Also, many of the 'treatments' they claim on the brochures are experimental and still under study.  I'm hoping ot have delayed cord clamping with this LO is born.

This exactly for us.  After talking to my doc, my OB, our MFM, doing research it just came out that it's a crock of malarky.  In theory there are lots of things they claim can be done but in reality even if some of the things they claim come to pass they may not be able to even use the blood because it would carry the same genetic code.  We chose not to save either of ours and won't this time either.

ETA: I would have happily donated the cord blood as I donated our extra fertilized eggs from IVF (to science) but our hospital isn't set up for it apparently.
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