Something you may or may not know about is cord blood banking. An amazing service that has a lot of misconceptions surrounding it. Fret not dear reader for whether you have researched it or know nothing about what this is, we have some info for you.
Curious? Read on.
What is Cord Blood Banking?
Cord Blood banking is the process by which the blood left in the umbilical cord once your baby is born, the cord is cut, and the placenta is collected for storage. Companies like Cells4Life collect and store this blood alongside things like the cord tissue and the placenta itself to harvest the precious stem cells contained within.
These stem cells are amazing little things. They can be used to treat over 80 conditions worldwide including things like leukaemia and anaemia. There are also continuous clinical trials being done to further unlock the potential of stem cells.
What is the Process?
Firstly, discuss this with the company you choose to store with and check its availability according to your birth plan. Chat with your midwife and doctor too, just to ensure everyone is on the same page. Stem cell collection is compatible with delayed and optimal cord clamping so if that is in your birth plan you can absolutely do both.
The most important thing to be aware of is that this is a non-invasive process. The only part you need to be involved in is a small blood sample that the phlebotomist doing your cord collection will do at the same time.
Speaking of phlebotomists, the collection is carried out by a specially trained phlebotomist who, unless you have one, will be provided for you by your storage company. They will wait in another room during delivery and do the collection in a separate room too so they will not interrupt any part of the big day.
Other than this, you as the parent/s just need to bring your collection kit with you on the day and then once the collection is complete contact the courier to get it back to the lab. Easy peasy.
Is it the Same as a Donation?
The quick answer is no.
The more explanative answer is it is different to donation as it is private storage for your child and family alone to access.
Donated placental and cord blood stem cells are accessible to the public and used by individuals on donation lists. A great thing to do of course.
There are benefits to both but private storage means that your baby has access to a 100% match to their body meaning, should they need treatment, they won’t need to wait on a list or have to take drugs to prevent rejection. Other family members will also potentially benefit from siblings having a good chance of being a full or partial match.
Is it worth it?
The process for cord blood collection and storage is pricey so it is an entirely personal choice as to whether it is worth it. The biggest thing to keep in mind is the safety net it provides your child for the rest of their life.
As with anything medical always do your research, talk to the professionals and never be afraid to ask questions no matter how small it is.
*This is a collaborative post
