Cord Blood Registry?

[anothershopper2]

I had heard in my birthing classes that it cannot be used for the same child (that it came from) but it can be used for a sibling.

[OBUmom12]

I banked my daughter's cord blood. It was SO easy. We used the Viacord Cord Blood Registry, and it was not a hassle at all. I just let them know when I was going to the hospital, the nurses cut the cord and everything, and then someone from Viacord came to pick it up. It was a little over $1000, plus $125/year for storage. My husband's family has a history of leukemia, various cancers, and other diseases, so having DD's cord blood available really put us at ease because it can potentially be used for her, her siblings, and possibly even my husband and me.

The cost can be a deterrent, but they have various payment plans, and I can even prepay the next 20 years of storage and save like 8 years or so worth of storage fees. If a family has histories of the diseases that the cord blood can be used to treat, I think it is definitely a great idea. For us, we HOPE it was just a waste of money, LOL, because that means we never have to face an immediate family member with a horrible disease, but in the event that we are faced with that, I would much rather have invested the money now and still have my kid(s) alive and healthy.

[hotcouponmama]

We didn't bank it for the first kid - we were totally oblivious. Then when I was pregnant with our second kid, Mark was really sick at the same time. The head of oncology at our Health Science University said it was a good idea to bank it. So we spent the money - about $1000 plus paid the 10 years of storage fees up front.

We were told that he'd be a 100% match for himself, and a possible match for either parent, and a 25% chance he'd match a sibling. We ended up not having to use it for Mark, but it made me feel better that we had it stored. And then when we had our 3rd kid, it was a no brainer knowing everything we knew from last go around.

It is a bit like having insurance - you pay for it, but you don't want to have to ever use it but it's nice knowing it's there. I would do it again in a minute.

[Poodlemama]

Since I had planned C-sections, I had the luxury of going to the hospital the day before delivery (with the first two anyway, #3 went the chaotic/emergency route) and getting to do all my paperwork ahead of time.

I asked about donating Cord blood, and our hospital, in Dallas!!! didn't offer it. this is an advanced, busy medical community, but it just wasn't an option. then the nurse checking me in even said that you wouldn't be very likely to get it for your own family, but you could get someone else's if you needed it.

that kind of defeated my point in asking- if someone else is willing to help out our family, shouldn't we be willing to do the same? but it was on only an option to receive, not to give.

they told me that with baby #1, in 2004, and also told me at that time they were working on a central bank for it.

But, when baby #2 came in 2006 they still weren't any farther along in the process.

and since baby #3 showed up with 2 hours notice for a c-section, during a tornado, and we had to find someone to watch our other two babies, in the middle of an historic weather event and an unplanned surgery, we didn't ask.

[bookboarder]

If you can donate your cord blood, please do. My little sister (now 13) is alive today because of bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor. If, for some reason, your family needs the cord blood, later, you can use it, as long as it hasn't been already used. You can find out how to donate it here: Cord Blood Donation: Frequently Asked Questions

It takes a little while to do the paperwork, but if you can, please do. You never know whose life you could change. If you want more info about my sister, you can PM me. :)

Oh, and it's true that often the cord blood cannot be used for the same child (however, in some cases it can, including leukemia, depending on the type of treatment it's being used for), but it can often be used for a sibling. My other sisters and I were not a match for our sister, though, so it can't always be used.

eta: We had no family history of the disease my sister developed, and most children don't! Just wanted to add that.

[Poodlemama]

If you can donate your cord blood, please do. My little sister (now 13) is alive today because of bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor. If, for some reason, your family needs the cord blood, later, you can use it, as long as it hasn't been already used. You can find out how to donate it here: Cord Blood Donation: Frequently Asked Questions

It takes a little while to do the paperwork, but if you can, please do. You never know whose life you could change. If you want more info about my sister, you can PM me. :)

Oh, and it's true that often the cord blood cannot be used for the same child (however, in some cases it can, including leukemia, depending on the type of treatment it's being used for), but it can often be used for a sibling. My other sisters and I were not a match for our sister, though, so it can't always be used.

eta: We had no family history of the disease my sister developed, and most children don't! Just wanted to add that.

God bless her, and your family! I can't imagine what all of you have been through! What a true blessing she's okay, and someone donated to make her well!!

I really believe the need is great, the desire to give is there, but the system is primitive! Look how many people in this one thread would have donated, had it been available/affordable! I'd gladly have given all three of my kids', but it just wasnt' an option, even in a sophisticated medical community like Dallas-Fort Worth!

[beetrothed]

I donated (for free) with DS#1 and tried to with DS#2 (the doc wasn't told and didn't think to ask... And I was in no state of mind to remember to remind anyone.)

[bookboarder]

God bless her, and your family! I can't imagine what all of you have been through! What a true blessing she's okay, and someone donated to make her well!!

I really believe the need is great, the desire to give is there, but the system is primitive! Look how many people in this one thread would have donated, had it been available/affordable! I'd gladly have given all three of my kids', but it just wasnt' an option, even in a sophisticated medical community like Dallas-Fort Worth!

She's an amazing kid. :) I'm so, so proud of her, and so grateful to her donor. What an amazing gift.

If you look up on the site, you can find out how to receive a kit to donate the marrow at any hospital, for free. You just have to fill out the paperwork by around 34 weeks gestation. :)

[daisycrazy]

We donated my daughter's cord blood 2 years ago with a company out of Florida...didn't cost us anything, not even shipping. We designated it to research if a match was not found for it. I wish there was a way to find out it if helped someone or if it did go towards research.

[Michar]

I wanted to do it but after a lot of research the only company I found that I agreed with and the best deal I found was the one time fee as opposed to all the yearly management type programs ended up being about 3500.. yes as in over 3 thousand dollars.. and we just plain didn't have that much extra money.