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