Banking at the Cord Blood Bank

Some people have heard of cord blood but aren’t entirely sure what it is.  Put simply, it’s the blood which remains in a baby’s umbilical cord as well as in the placenta after a child’s birth.  This cord blood is normally discarded.

At a cord blood bank, external facilities are used to preserve and store the baby’s cord blood. If you’re considering storing your child’s cord blood, be certain you use a bank accredited by the AABB – American Association of Blood Banks.

One of the best known and most highly regarded blood banks is Via Cord. You can reach them by calling toll-free 866-384-1476.

But why exactly would you want to store your baby’s cord blood? Because it is a great source of stem cells. These cells will be genetically unique to your child and family. The stem cells are dominant since they contribute to development of all organs, tissues and systems in a person’s body.

Significantly, stem cells have the ability to transform into other kinds of cells. They can create new development and growth, and as such, are considered the main building block within the immune system.

Through this transformation of cells, physicians are provided with a helpful way of treating inherited disorders such as leukemia and others. Indeed, stem cells from cord blood have the same potential for treating disease as bone marrow, but with less rejection.

When you bank your baby’s cord blood and stem cells, you’re assured of having the cells’ health benefit should you or your child ever need it.  They give you a certain peace of mind knowing that you have a valuable resource when and if it’s ever needed.

The collection of cord blood is safe, simple and painless. It usually takes no longer than five minutes when done by a qualified health professional.  Collection will in no way impact the delivery of your child, and it’s even possible with cesarean deliveries.

The health professional will collect the cord blood in one of two ways through the syringe or bag method.  With the syringe method, after the umbilical cord is cut, the health professional draws the blood into a syringe. It’s nearly identical to drawing blood during a standard blood test.

The bag method is slightly different.  The health professional elevates the umbilical cord, allowing the blood to drain freely into a bag.

The medical facility will then label the bag or syringe with a unique number representing your child.  Cord blood can only be collected in the first fifteen minutes after you’ve delivered the baby; it must then be processed in the lab in less than 48 hours.

Once the cord blood is processed, it will be stored in a lab facility called a blood bank. No known health risks have been attributed to the collection of cord blood. What’s more, because it’s collected from the cord after it’s been cut, there is little or no pain or discomfort.

There are normally two fees in storing your baby’s cord blood. The first fee is the initial fee. It includes your child’s enrollment and cost of collecting and storage for the first 12 months. The second fee is the yearly storage fee.

You can expect an initial fee of between $900 and $2000, with an annual storage fee of about $100.

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