Thoughts on Blood Cord Banking

[JOURDYSMOM]

Just as an FYI...

you better hope that you have mega $$$$$$ saved in case you ever need to get the Cord Blood back.... CBR told a woman I know that it was $7000 YES SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to get it out to treat her dying son.... money she didn't have. She had to get a lawyer and her insurance company ended up paying part of that $7000 to get it back. The threats from the lawyer got them to waive the rest....

I would donate but no hospitals her do it :(

[castocreations]

Wow...yes that would suck. However the goal is to NOT need it. :) It's a backup. Just in case.

[1buffy007]

I also banked with Cryo-Cell off the advice of a friend and my OB-GYN. There is so many uses for it at present and future research (ex: there looking into it helping with diabetes). Right now, 1 in 3 children develop diabetes (believed to be linked with the american diet). I felt this was a insurance policy for my child in the event of some medical problem (leukemia,etc). I would definitely check out Cryo-Cell's site which will tell all the uses at present. I'm a nurse and really believe in the benefits of banking cord blood. I researched several sites and decided to go with this one. Watch what you pay though. When I first called I was quoted $1495 start up (instead of the usual $1795) and $125 annual storage fee thereafter. I called back FOUR days later and the special had dropped to $1195 !!!!! with $125 annual storage fee thereafter. Basically the annual storage fee is the same but the initial price is what is negotiable. I got the one year no interest (approx. $100/month) although the bill I get every month from the company (it's like a health care credit card) only asks for $36 so if some months are lean I could pay the 36 instead of the 100 as long as I pay it off in the year there's no interest. Just remember, there's only one shot on cord blood----you get stem cells that can be medically altered theoretically to turn into any cell the body may need (saw on one site how some storage banks were now storing women's menstrual blood for some of the same things--not sure of the medical limitations to this) . I believe it's well worth it and the peace of mind it brings. Save money other places to pay for this. Hope my story helped someone. :)

[sitrene]

I am also interested in BCB. I see now that LifeBank now has placenta banking. Does anyone know about this?

[DomesticAcademic]

Like Mandy, we went ahead and banked our baby's cord blood through cryo-cell. They had reasonable rates compared to many companies, but good reviews. We decided to invest in it because my husband has type 1 diabetes, and we're hoping that someday the stem-cell research will be at a point where the blood we stored can be a help.... either for my husband or - God forbid -- if our daughter inherits the diabetes. Good luck!

[ekoury]

Cryo-Cell was the only company that answered all of our questions without trying to give us a vague answer. Hate when people try to answer a question without actually answering it. Like "How much is to transfer the blood if we ever need it" - "Oh, well, we can't give this info as we transfer the blood all over the world"... "Well, how about in the US?" - "Can't answer that"... Cryo-Cell gave us an answer immediately on every question we had. Also, their contract was very very written (we do not buy anything without reading a contract) and had all the legalities in plain english but well written out. I am a stickler for legalities and I HAVE to know what I am getting into before I buy stuff. They are very reasonably priced.

[Chellebelle7377]

Originally Posted by chriscree When we did it we donated it. it was free. A couple summers ago I got a call from the the Cord Blood bank asking me if my DS now 13 was healthy or ever had any illnesses. He was a match for another child needing the blood. To this day he still tells everyone that he helped save a life. and he can't wait till he is old enough to donate himself. So if you can't afford the registry at least donate the cord blood so someone else can use it.

I just saw a show about this on Dr. Oz. He was saying that if everyone donated some or (not sure how that works) all that when someone needs it it will be available instead of the expensive option to bank your child's. Ya know? Kind of like donating blood. I never heard of donating it when I had DS over a year ago. No one gave me the option. Next time around I think I will ask my OBGYN more.

[CW&M Mom]

I think it's crazy that they don't eagerly ask woman to donate it. ans IMO if you have a preemie...they should automatically save it unless you object for whatever the reason. SO MANY PREEMIES end up needing blood transfusions and I know for us...it was so heartbreaking to put some random strangers blood into our little girl.