Cord Blood Banking

Why bank cord blood?

Saving your baby's cord blood can potentially help treat nearly 80 conditions including cancers, blood disorders, bone marrow failure syndromes, metabolic disorders, and immune disorders. It can also be used in therapies for autism and cerebral palsy (2). 

Your baby's cord blood can be used for their own needs and also for the needs of any child who is their biological match. A biological match includes but is not limited to siblings. (1)

Public or Private Banking

You can choose to bank your baby's cord blood in a public or private facility. Here are some differences to consider when making your choice:

• Public: This option is free. Your baby's blood is made available to anyone in the public to use, and may be used for research. Requires 1/2-1 cup of cord blood (1).
• Private: This option can cost up to $2,000 up front, and about $100 yearly. Your baby's cord blood would only be available to your family for use. Will accept any amount of cord blood.

Can I bank if I choose to delay cord clamping?

Delayed cord clamping has tremendous benefits to your baby (3), and should be considered when thinking about banking your baby's cord blood. The downside is that, if you're choosing to bank cord blood, your only option is to bank privately since you wouldn't get enough blood to qualify for public banking, and due to the low amount of stem cells there's less conditions that can be treated with it.

When Cord Blood Can't Be Used

Certain infections can make cord blood unsafe to bank. If your baby has a genetic disease, their own cord blood can not be used as a treatment.

Keep in mind...

It's important to check with your care provider regarding their procedure around cord blood banking, and to get all of the facts before making this choice. Research is ongoing, and hospitals don't always have the most current information. I've included the sources I used for this blog below if you'd like to dig more deeply into the research behind the facts given above.

Sources:

1. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/health-library/cord-blood-banking
2.https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cord-blood-testing-and-banking/
3. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/12/delayed-umbilical-cord-clamping-after-birth