Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

First time mom with a question about cord blood/cord tissue banking. If you've done it (or even if you haven't) what was your reasoning behind your decision? I'd like to hear the good and the bad.

If you did bank, was it just the cord blood or also the tissue?

Thanks!

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

We did both the cord and tissue for dd1 and will do the same for dd2. Cancer runs in my family and if down the road Gd forbid we needed it I would want it.

If you can financially do it, I would. Fm me for any details. We have a great contact at CBR, they were the first ones to do it.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

i did it with my first 2 so it was important for me to do it for this baby now too.

I know they say the science isn't there yet for cord blood, but who knows what the future will bring.

If it could possibly help in any way, I felt it was impt to do it and financially we can handle it, so we did it.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

we did it (the blood only)but i should have done both!

all i kept thinking was if i dont save this and god forbid i ever need it..i couldn't live with myself...but you shouldn't go broke if you cant afford it kind of a thing ya know


bottom line is you just never know if you will ever need it

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

I did both for my DD. Just having the slightest chance that God forbid anything happens to her in the future and having a potential life saver was enough for me to do it. I hope we will never need it but if we do and its the saving grace its worth every penny.

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

I'm in the minority and decided not to do it. The list of illnesses that they tell you it can help are not 100%. They are the illnesses that the banking MAY POSSIBLY help. We decided to donate the cord instead. The informed us that if Gd forbid we needed it one day, and it was still available, we would be the first to get it.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

We didn't do it with either of our children. Though with DD I did donate hers. Reason we didn't bank it, aside from financial reasons are because there are only a very limited number of reasons cord blood *could possibly* be used for your own child at this point, and it's not a guarantee. And many blood diseases, unfortunately, may already have been present in the cord blood, or are genetic, so it wouldn't be viable to use anyway.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

I decided not to do it as well. My reasons were that there are some diseases that you wouldn't even be able to use your own stem cells. If you did get a disease that you could have used your own stem cells, you could have them collect your own bone marrow prior to treatment.

That was the treatment my dad received for his cancer. They collected his bone marrow, did his chemo and then he got his bone marrow transplant.

However if I had someone in the family that was currently sick then I would have saved it for them.

I wanted to donate, but the hospital that I delivered at wasn't participating in the program.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-baby/cord-blood-banking/the-cord-blood-controversy/

We didn't do it: didn't feel like there was enough science behind it.

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

I have done extensive research on the topic and I am comfortable with my decision not to privately bank cord blood.

I discussed this at length with my Ob/Gyn and she noted that there is not enough research or evidence that frozen cord blood is effective 5- 10 years from now.

Also, the chances of your child needing cord blood are 1 in 200,000. And finally, using stem cells and/or cord blood is a "last resort" meaning all other avenues are exhausted before they consider using it. Once they use the cord blood, no other treatment is used.

There simply is not enough science for me to justify banking privately.

THis article also mentions that for genetic diseases, you can't use that child's cord blood.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/private-cord-blood-banking-worth-price/story?id=10568271

While the cord banking companies cited the diseases cord blood can be used for it is important to read the fine print. Many don't realize that the cord blood taken from the child can't be used for genetic disorders. It's in the fine print.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/private-cord-blood-banking-worth-price/story?id=10568271


This article mentions a Hicksville woman that banked her DS's blood and couldn't use it.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

We decided not to do it for reasons that previous posters stated.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

We didn't as well for all the reasons stated plus I asked my OB and he also felt there wasn't enough to science yet. He said if it was him he would take the money and put in a college fund for them.

He said maybe by the time my children have kids, it might be worth justifying doing. The science is just not there yet.

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Why save it for the future? Why not let your child have it NOW?

We did delayed cord clamping. If you have a vaginal birth basically you hold the baby immediately for around an hour. The umbilical cord is NOT clamped or cut. All those wonderful stem cells continue to pump into the baby. And best yet it's free!

When I told my doctor he was so saw excited and says he tries to get all women to do it too. So I got one on one bonding with skin to skin. And all the while they were getting the placenta out and stitching me up and all the cord blood was flowing into the baby.

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Didn't do it per my OBs and Pediatrician's and Doctor friend's advice. Plus, didn't like the terms of the contract the companies offered. Basically you lock into a contract for 20 years. After 20 years, who knows what happens. But it's not outrageously expensive. If it gives you peace of mind it's worth it. I think you're best bet is to talk to your PCP or family doctor, your OB and child's pediatrician. They should be able to help you make the right decision based on your situation.

Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?

Re: Pros and cons of cord blood/cord tissue banking?