Should I bank cord blood?

Should I bank cord blood

At every doctor’s appointment, there seems to be a new, big decision to be made. When those appointments start coming every two weeks instead of every month, you may feel like you’re constantly facing potentially life-altering choices. Should I undergo early stage pregnancy screenings? What is my ideal birth plan? Will I breastfeed or bottle feed? Who will I choose for a pediatrician? Should I bank cord blood?

Should I bank cord blood?

In your second trimester, your doctor may ask if you want to bank your baby’s umbilical cord blood and/or tissue. If you are not familiar with what is involved in cord blood banking or why this may be a good option for you, you will probably have a long list of questions.  Here’s a list of important things to consider when determining whether or not cord blood banking is right for you.

 

Family History

Some health conditions are genetic, and based on our family’s health history, some of us may have higher dispositions to acquiring certain diseases. If you’re not familiar with your family’s health history, now is as good of a time as ever to learn. The decision to bank your newborn’s cord blood could end up saving a life.

Budget

While the cost of banking cord blood on our 20 year plan is affordable (less than fifty cents a day!), it is still a cost to consider among other important costs before and after pregnancy.

Delayed Cord Clamping

Are you planning to delay the clamping of the umbilical cord? First, it’s important to know that you are able to bank cord blood while also delaying cord clamping. Learn more about delayed cord clamping here and here.

Treatable Diseases and Conditions

Cord blood stem cells are currently approved for use in therapy to treat over 80 diseases, and are being researched continuously as potential therapeutic agents in the fight against even more health issues.