Should You Bank Cord Blood?

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