Save a baby’s life by donating trash during pregnancy!
If I asked you today to help save a baby’s life by donating something from the trash, what would you say?
Yes?
Sure you would! It would take a seriously hardened individual to say no to giving up something out of their trash can to save a life, but every day, thousands of new moms are letting life saving “waste” get thrown away because they have no idea that it could be used to save a baby’s life.
I’m talking about cord blood banking. Cord blood banking is not something that has been widely discussed before now because of the strict rules on stem cell research but now it is widely accepted in the medical world that cord blood is a precious resource that is vital in treating immune related disorders.
Cord blood is the blood cotained in the umbilical cord, which is normally thrown away as waste. Cord blood is special because it contains hematopoietic stem cells which can form any type of cell in the human body. Cord blood cells can be used in a similar way to bone marrow to treat immune system related genetic disorders, blood disorders and cancer, but unlike bone marrow, cord blood is very easy and painless to obtain.
Normally once the umbilical cord has been cut and the placenta delivered, all of this matter is thrown away and incinerated as waste, destroying the life saving stem cells that could one day save your baby’s life. But now all over the world, Cord Blood Banks are available for you to either privately store your childs cord blood or for you to donate cord blood for public use.
How Cord Blood is collected?
Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord after it is cut and clamped, so there is absolutely no risk to you or your baby and can be collected after both vaginal and caesarean births. It takes less than 5 minutes to collect and the specialised collection kit is then transported to a cord blood banking unit where it is processed and stored until needed.
When can Cord Blood be Collected?
Cord blood can only be collected within minutes of your baby’s birth. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to potentially save a life.
Public or Private Cord Blood Banks?
There are some ethical aruguments over whether private banking should be allowed because of the nature of making profit out of a life threatening situation, but for now private banking is legal and an an accessible option, should you choose this way to go.
Private cord blood banks will store your childs cord blood solely for his use (or use by another family member of your choice), for a fee.
Survival rates using a family member’s cord blood cells are twice that of using unrelated cells froma public bank.
One point to make on cord blood banking – it is unclear whether it is a good idea to use your own childs cord blood to treat his own genetic defect. If it is genetic, then the cord blood cells may carry the same genetic defect.
Public Cord Blood Banks
Public cord blood banks will collect and store your childs cord blood but it is not kept soley for your childs use. The cord blood bank works the same way as a normal public blood bank and the cord blood can be used to treat anyone that needs it. This service is completely free of charge.
Does it cost to Bank Cord Blood?
For private banking most companies charge around $1500-1900 for collection and around $125 p.a for storage, but public donations are free of charge.
So what are your thoughts? I’d love to know!
Did you already know about cord blood banking?
Did your midwife / OBGYN discuss it with you?
Will you be banking your childs blood?
I didn’t bank River’s simply because I didn’t know anything about it at the time, but come the next one I’ll definitely be banking his cord blood. Public or private? Well I honestly don’t know right now, that’s something I’ll decide at the time.
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