Did you store your cord blood?

[MooMum]

Hi all:wave:,

Was just wondering how many of you stored your cord blood? I find this quite interesting and was wondering what others experiences and thoughts were.

:hugs:

[BreithCuidiu]

I did and would do it again. My only issue was choosing a company. I went with my gut and chose the one that had the nicest people. I get newsletters about the research they're doing, and I can call any time I have a question.

It is weird to know that the cord blood is there if needed, and I do hope we don't. It is however, very reassuring.

[Seacretsquirrel]

We looked into donating DD's cord blood but were put off by the fact that we were going to ge charged a few hundred dollars for the hospital to collect the cord blood so it could be donated. We felt that this cost was prohibative for us at that time, however if the hospital where we are having #2 donates and we are not required to pay we would deffinately do it. Just as we are both organ donors I would like to hope that bubs cord blood would go to help somone else.

[MooMum]

We did it and we got more than enough blood from one cord donation. We spent a little bit however when you think about what you spend to insure your home or your car its really not much when you think of it as possible insurance for ill health in you or your children's life.

I was also swayed when I saw an interview with a family who had stored their DD's CB then had a DS a few years later. Sadly at 6wks he was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer and fortunately his sister was a match and the managed to cure him.

I think whatever you decide we are very blessed to live in a time where this kind of technology is readily available to us and our children etc. I also think if you are donating you shouldn't face any costs and hopefully this will not happen for much longer.

[RedPanda]

I stored it, and I would do it again. In terms of the money, big deal. People waste money on worse stuff than storing cord blood. It's amazing how many people poo-poo cord blood storage, when it costs the public nothing. It's a personal decision that has zero impact on other mothers and babies. My son has his blood stored, and while the technology may not be there now, it may be in the future. It's a decision I made for my son, after reading the facts. Most cord blood storage companies are actually really honest about the fact that at the moment, the technology isn't there.

I stored this baby's blood, and I'll store any future baby's cord blood. If at the end it was a massive waste of money, then I'll just chalk it up to one of those things.

[BreithCuidiu]

Well i thought the Baby Bonus (was only $700 back then) was better invested in something that my child may be able to use someday, than a new tv or other material "want".

There is enough evidence that this science is advancing, so why miss the boat? Just because there are no answers now does not mean that there won't be breathroughs in the future.

I'm glad that I did it.

[AM]

I feel very strongly that while the cord is still pulsating it should be completely uninterfered with, as that blood is meant to go into the baby, and help it to get established in this life, not to be banked. I only allow the cord to be cut long after the birth when it is pale and flaccid, empty of blood.

There are loads of immediate benefits to delayed cord clamping, which to me totally outweigh the very slim chance of needing the cord blood sometime down the track.

The baby needs it when they are born, and I feel it is their birthright to have it there and then.

[BreithCuidiu]

As a Doula, I feel that way too. But we have a strong family history of Cystic Fibrosis, and as it turned out - my son has it. It is better for us to have some hope than none at all. The cord was going to be cut immediately anyway because it was a c/s, so we thought it was better to store it than to throw it away.

[AM]

Can you tell me how cord blood can help with CF?

I don't know a heap about cord banking (just that i don't want to do it, pretty much ;)) but it is my simplistic understanding that if your child has some genetic condition, then the cord blood will also contain the 'faulty cells/blood' so is actually not terribly useful, in many cases, you need 'clean' cells/blood...

[MooMum]

Can you tell me how cord blood can help with CF?

I don't know a heap about cord banking (just that i don't want to do it, pretty much ;)) but it is my simplistic understanding that if your child has some genetic condition, then the cord blood will also contain the 'faulty cells/blood' so is actually not terribly useful, in many cases, you need 'clean' cells/blood...

AM - thank you for being so honest about knowing little about CB. After reading your first post I went and did a little research of my own as I had never heard of delaying the cutting of the cord. I found it very interesting and am baffled as to why this is not more commonly know. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, definite food for thought!

I can't tell you anything about how CB would help CF. I do however know that they are doing research into using stem cells for diabetes and heart conditions. Personally I have a family member who was diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune condition that attacks his muscles. He is very young. It can be genetic but as it is rare there is very little research being done on it at the moment. I've watched him end up in a wheel chair completely dependent on others and it may be a long time coming but if our CB can one day help our child then I want that little piece of hope.

[Pina Colada]

I'll just go ahead and agree with everything Moomum has said :iagree: You have said pretty much everything I would have said ;)