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Cord Blood

Cord Blood Banking or Donation

As of 2014, Cord Blood Banking is not required or encouraged except in the rarest of situations.

Public vs. Private

It is important to draw the distinction between private cord blood banking and public cord blood donation. Private banking is of slight benefit to the child, over a lifetime, and may potentially be of benefit to a family member. Public donation of cord blood can be of great importance to someone else in the community. Most of the reasons for using cord blood, and the successes from cord blood to date, are a result of Public Donation.

Private banking has at least two critical limitations: First, there are not enough stem cells in a single donor collection to achieve successful transplantation. Stem cell transplantation is done with combined cells from multiple donors, from public cord blood banks. Second, the most common conditions treated with cord blood stem cells are genetic, and thus a child can not use his/her own stored cord blood.

In 2008 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) published a statement regarding Cord Blood Banking. The statement was widely misquoted by cord blood companies as an endorsement of Private Cord Blood Banking. In fact, the ACOG statement made clear that Donation to public cord blood banks makes good sense. ACOG also explained that private cord blood banking is of little, or no value to either the family members or the newborn, over his/her lifetime…[read more]

That information notwithstanding, it is possible that we will find more uses for cord blood in the future. For now, the potential use of cord blood collected and saved on behalf of any individual is just that, potential. And it is expensive.

Delayed Cord Clamping

Since the 2008 ACOG statement we have learned more about the value of delayed cord clamping, and giving the baby a little extra blood from the placenta at the time of delivery.  Delayed cord clamping can decrease the number of stem cells available for cord blood collection. Based on this information, it’s possible to forgo the benefit of delayed cord clamping, only to collect and pay for cord blood banking that will never confer any benefit on the child or family.

The actual cord blood collection does not interfere with either vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Patients must register for and arrange the cord blood collection kit Before the day of delivery. While the delivering provider Does collect the cord blood, the rest of the process is the responsibility of the patient. The collected cord blood, and some vials of maternal blood are given to the patient. The packing and sending of the blood is the full responsibility of the patient and family.

Public Donation

Here are some cord companies and organizations, through whom Public Donation can be arranged.

Private Banking

Here are some cord companies and organizations, through whom Private Banking can be arranged.