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