What
Kinds of Advances Have Been Made & What Does the Future
Hold?
In 1988 the odds of being diagnosed by the age
of 50 with a disease currently treatable with cord blood
stem cells was 1 in 300,000 and the number of diseases treatable
with cord blood was one. Today, the calculated probability
of being diagnosed with a disease that is currently treatable
with cord blood stem cells could be as high 1 in 217 and
the number of treatable diseases is over 70.
Medical
researchers are exploring new uses for umbilical cord blood
stem cells, including diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Today, scientists are doing pre-clinical research using
cord blood stem cells to potentially treat various cancers
and heart disease. Breakthroughs in these early stage programs
could potentially increase the value of your family's cord
blood stem cells. Plus many scientist and doctors believe
stem cells may someday be used to help treat brain damage,
spinal cord injuries, nerve and tissue regeneration and
Alzheimer's disease.
This
Isn't Our First Baby...
If you did not bank for your older
children, you should certainly consider doing so for your
next baby. Not only will the baby have their cells available,
if they need them, but your older children are more likely
to find a match with their siblings than anyone else. Treatments
are twice as successful when the stem cells come from a
family member rather than from a non-relative (e.g., a public
bank).
If you did bank for your first child, all of the same reasons
are valid to bank for your new baby as well. While the first
child's cord blood may be a good match for other siblings,
it is not a guaranteed match. Why not provide this baby
with the same benefits as the last? Current research continues
to explore new uses for autologous treatment options (using
one's own cord blood), instead of a sibling's or donated
unit. Most private cord blood banks offer significant discounts
for banking additional children's cord blood.
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How
is Cord Blood Collected?
Once you enroll, you will receive
a collection kit with everything your medical staff needs
to collect your baby's cord blood. You'll keep the kit with
your pre-packed hospital luggage so it will be ready when
the big day arrives. When you check in to the hospital,
simply hand the kit to the nurse or doctor.
After your baby is born, and after the umbilical cord has
been clamped and cut, your obstetrician, nurse or midwife
will collect the cord blood. The blood will flow by gravity
into the bag until it stops. The actual collection typically
takes three to five minutes. After the cord blood has been
collected, the blood bag is clamped, sealed and labeled. Have
a family member or friend contact the cord blood company to let them know the cord blood was collected and to get indtructions for pick-up. ViaCord will send a private medical
courier to pick up the blood at the hospital and transfer
for processing and storage.
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What
is the Value of Private vs. Public Banking?
There are two options for storing your baby's cord
blood: private banking and public banking. I recommend privately
banking your baby's cord blood so that it is stored exclusively
for your baby and family. If a stem cell transplant is ever
necessary, with private cord blood banking, you have a guaranteed
match for your baby and a potential match for other family
members as well. Public banks on the other hand, store donated
cord blood, which is then available to anyone that needs
it (many are already on waiting lists), or it is used for
studies and research. Keep in mind that with public donation
there is no guarantee that it will be available if you need
it in the future and if you are having a cesarean (planned
or unplanned) or multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) you
will likely not be able to donate. The latest statistics
show that 30% of births are by c-section. My plan was to
have a vaginal birth, but complications caused me to have
a c-section. If I had not privately banked, my son's cord
blood would have been thrown away.
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How
Much Does it Cost?
Prices for private banking are
about $2000 for the initial delivery and processing, plus
a yearly storage fee of about $125. The company my family
banked with, ViaCord, offers payment plans as low as $64
per month, which is not due until after the birth of your
baby. They also offer an online gift registry where you
can invite your friends and family to help you pay for this
service as a truly unique baby gift -- one that lasts a
lifetime.
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Who
Should I Bank My Baby's Cord Blood With?
My husband and I chose ViaCord
and I cannot recommend them more highly. ViaCord is not
just a cord blood bank, they are the recognized industry
leaders in cord blood stem cell research. ViaCord's scientific
expertise is an important benefit to your family and ours.
They use the highest standards throughout the cord
blood's collection, processing and storage so that
if it is ever needed for transplant, it will be of the highest
quality. ViaCord co-developed an exclusive FDA-approved
cord blood collection bag, the ONLY FDA-approved cord
blood collection bag available in the industry. ViaCord's FDA-approved
cord blood collection bag is suitable for use in a sterile
field, which is important because over 30% of babies are
delivered by planned or unplanned cesarean sections. ViaCord
has a proven history of delivering safe and effective units
for transplant. From the first moment we called them,
until the private courier came to my bedside to pick up
the cord blood, and with every regular contact since, I
have only been impressed. They have well exceeded my expectations.
ViaCord does not require an upfront deposit to enroll and
they have many different payment plans... some starting
as low as $51 per month. They also offer a wonderful Baby
Registry program where your friends and family can go online
to contribute towards the costs and give a truly unique
baby gift that will last a lifetime.
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