To explain why cord blood banking is so expensive in the United States, we wrote an article with the CEO of a public cord blood bank that lists the steps in cord blood banking and itemizes the cost of each one. Another contributor to cord blood banking costs is the quality of the collection kit. Cord blood banking is an option available to most any parent after the birth of their child.
There are proven benefits to the stem cells you can easily collect and store through the birthing process, although this is generally not common knowledge. While the cost of storing cord blood can often be more than parents want to pay, it might be a good idea to know what your options are before you decide. This article will provide you with answers to some of the key questions about cord blood banking and stem cells in general.
Read ahead to better understand why you might want to consider cord blood banking. Before you can fully understand cord blood, you must first have a grasp on stem cells. Stem cells have been a controversial buzzword for quite a while, but the reality behind them is not often understood. The science of stem cells, their acquisition, and the benefits they provide, is at least worth understanding.
Stem cells are an especially useful type of cell found in the human body. Unlike most other types of cells that can only ever be one type of cell, stem cells are capable of developing into many types of cells. When introduced into the body, stem cells divide and can either remain a stem cell or change into a more specific, needed cell.
For example, a stem cell can be introduced into the body, and depending on what is needed and where it is placed, it will divide and become a red blood cell, a muscle cell, or even a brain cell. Because they are also able to replenish other cells, they are very useful for internal repairs. Stem cells can also be introduced to the body to help treat diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They are also more frequently being used to regrow muscle tissue to heal physical injury and speed recovery processes.
Other diseases and injuries that stem cells may potentially help cure or alleviate include:. The science behind stem cells is continually increasing, and each year brings new understanding of stem cell potential. New understanding brings further application and more ways to acquire stem cells. Cord blood is a great example of a relatively easy way to acquire valuable stem cells.
Cord blood, while very common, is only available at a very specific moment. It is the blood found in the umbilical cord of a newborn child. Physicians can easily collect this blood by draining it from the umbilical cord just after the baby is born.
Cord blood is full of vital cell types, one of which is hematopoietic stem cells HSCs. HSCs are known as blood progenitor cells, which means they are capable of dividing to create other blood cells. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. I should bank my baby's cord blood in case my baby gets an illness that can be treated with stem cells.
I have to arrange ahead of the birth to have my baby's umbilical cord blood banked or donated. I may be able to donate my baby's cord blood to a public blood bank for use in research or to help other children.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations.
For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico. Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Overview Medicare Coverage Options. Broker Resources. Individuals and Families. Health and Wellness. Wellness Library. Get the facts. Your options Have your baby's cord blood collected and sent to a private cord blood bank or a public cord blood bank.
Do not bank or donate your baby's cord blood. Key points to remember Doctors do not recommend that you bank cord blood on the slight chance that your baby will need stem cells someday. If your baby were to need stem cells, he or she would probably need stem cells from someone else rather than his or her own stem cells. Although privately banked cord blood is not likely to help your baby, it may help a sibling who has an illness that could be treated with a stem cell transplant.
These include leukemia , sickle cell disease , Hodgkin's lymphoma, and thalassemia. Doctors recommend that you bank your baby's cord blood only if a family member already has one of these illnesses. You might consider donating the cord blood to a public bank instead.
You probably won't be able to use the blood, but it could be used for research or for another child. Private cord blood banking is expensive. If you want to save the cord blood, you must arrange for it ahead of time. It is not a decision you can make at the last minute.
Collecting the cord blood does not cause pain. What is umbilical cord blood? What is cord blood banking? How much does it cost? Some private blood banks will waive their fees for families who need the stem cells right away. What other things should you consider? It is very unlikely that anyone in your family will ever need your baby's cord blood. Learning that your child is likely to develop a serious disease can be scary or depressing. This information may also affect your relationships with other family members.
For patients, the chances of finding a match among donations is high. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that, depending on a patient's ethnic background, 66 percent to 97 percent can find a suitable match among donated umbilical cord-blood units or live bone-marrow donors in the National Marrow Donor Program's Be the Match Registry. The best case for private banking is if there's already a family history of one of the diseases currently treatable with cord blood, said Giralt, who is also chief attending physician of the adult bone marrow transplant service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
A baby might be a match for an afflicted family member, now or in the future. Talk with your doctor about those possibilities. Banks say parents should also consider potential future applications. Researchers are assessing whether the stem cells from cord blood could be useful in treating conditions including cerebral palsy and autism, Bruursema said.
Advancements could make banking a better bet down the line but may hold less sway for those currently expecting. The valuable work benefit dads are missing out on. It's also smart to assess the bank, whether you're donating publicly or storing the blood privately. Samples must be handled properly to remain viable, said Shearer. Ask about procedures for collection, transport and storage, and whether blood is screened for defects before storage.
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