| When it comes to having a new | | | | other trusted sources. |
| baby-whether the child is your family's | | | | According to the informative Web site |
| firstborn or tenth-there are many | | | | Should You Bank Cord Blood, regardless |
| decisions that must be made involving | | | | of the form of birth, the nurses and |
| their birth and health care. A major | | | | doctors in the room will be able to |
| choice that all expecting parents face | | | | easily collect your child's cord blood. |
| is whether or not to bank cord blood | | | | After the cord blood has been collected, |
| from their newborn for the future. With | | | | it is them cryogenically frozen in a |
| the advancement of technology and | | | | professional storage facility known as a |
| medicine, parents are finding there are | | | | cord blood bank. It is still unknown |
| more and more decisions that must be | | | | the lifespan of these cells once |
| made regarding their child's health for | | | | cryogenically frozen, but the first cord |
| today and tomorrow. | | | | blood was banked during the 1970s and is |
| Your child's umbilical cord blood | | | | still viable today. As the years and |
| contains special cells known as stem | | | | technology progress, there may be more |
| cells. While stem cell research is a | | | | medical issues that can be treated or |
| controversial topic, the controversy | | | | cured with cord blood. |
| relates to the use of cells from aborted | | | | Keep in mind that the need to bank cord |
| fetuses and not your own living child. | | | | blood may not be for everyone. The |
| The stem cells found in cord blood are | | | | American Association of Pediatrics has |
| proven to be precious when treating a | | | | gone so far as to recommend that |
| child or sibling for potentially deadly | | | | families not bank cord blood if there is |
| diseases and medical disorders. These | | | | no family history of diseases that can |
| stem cells have yet to have their use | | | | be treated with cord blood, although |
| determined, meaning they can become any | | | | every case is looked at on an individual |
| cell needed in the body, from blood | | | | basis. The sheer price of preserving |
| cells to bone cells. Since children | | | | and storing your child's umbilical cord |
| that come from the same mother and | | | | blood may be out of reach for many |
| father share genetic material, this cord | | | | parents, so these negatives must be |
| blood containing the stem cells can be | | | | weighed with the positive. If your |
| used to treat all children in a family | | | | child is showing signs of a disease or |
| for these diseases, including leukemia | | | | disorder that can be treated with cord |
| and sickle cell anemia. | | | | blood or you have another child that |
| With these technological and medical | | | | needs the life-saving cord blood, the |
| breakthroughs, and the promise of more | | | | price will be greatly warranted. |
| breakthroughs on the horizon, more and | | | | Generally speaking, cord blood is |
| more doctors are recommending that | | | | infrequently used with siblings, but is |
| parents bank cord blood as a lifelong | | | | priceless if it is ever needed. |
| from of insurance. When discussing al | | | | Furthermore, as technology advances, the |
| the other medical information and | | | | cord blood may be able to be used for |
| decisions involving your child's birth, | | | | more diseases, disorders, and medical |
| parents should be sure to inquire about | | | | conditions for your child today and |
| the need for banking umbilical cord | | | | tomorrow. Although today adults over |
| blood, since the decision needs to be | | | | about 115 pounds can be treated |
| made before the child is born in order | | | | successfully with cord blood, who knows |
| to preserve the previous blood inside | | | | what breakthroughs may take place |
| the umbilical cord. There is a great | | | | tomorrow? Speaking with your doctor |
| deal of evidence supporting arguments on | | | | will be able to aid you in making an |
| both sides of the fence, so it is | | | | informed decision about banking cord |
| imperative to get the professional | | | | blood that benefits your family. |
| opinion of your specific doctor and | | | | |