Objective cord blood bank information?

[sidmand]

Does anyone know a good place (website, book, etc.) to find some objective information about cord blood banking? Since I'm getting closer to D-Day I figure I should make some decisions, and every baby magazine has multiple ads for cord blood banking and I was trying to describe it to DH (who asked why we just don't put some in the refrigerator--yuck).

I am a worrier and I'm all for all types of insurance, but I just can't figure out whether this is more of a *scare* tactic and not so useful or it really is just like insurance--hopefully you'll never need it, but if you do...

Thanks in advance for any help.

Debbie
http://lilypie.com/days/050619/0/8/1/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

It's a boy! Now we just need to come up with a name!

[HeatherW]

I worked as a Cord Blood researcher at Duke University, a volunteer donation cord blood bank. Here is a link to a website that has some straight forward information about Cord Blood, and links to other resources, too! Good luck!

http://www.marrow.org/cgi-bin/NETWORK/nmdp_cord_blood_banks.pl

[jd11365]

FWIW, we went with the New England Cord Blood Registry. We got the most bang for the buck there. I think it was $1300 total, and covers 20 years of storage.
HTH!

Jamie
Mommy to Kayla
5-1-03
http://lilypie.com/baby2/030501/1/0/1/-5/.png

[icunurse]

Just wanted to chime in that if you should choose not to store it, you can donate it to someone who may be able to benefit from it now.
Traci
~Connor's Mom~
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040204/2/2/4/-6/.png[/img][/url]

[phirey]

ITA,

I came on here to post another link in favor of donation:

http://www.cordblooddonor.org/index.htm

Personally, we chose to donate DD's cord blood and we will again donate this one's. I have seen too many people in need, and if more people would donate we can save lives! Stems cells collected from umbilical cords have undifferentiated characteristics, making them compatible with a far greater number of people (ie, it's easier to get a match).

That said, we chose to donate because we're fortunate to have no family history of any of the diseases cord blood is currently used to treat. The chances that our child would ever actually need the cells are miniscule. I feel what goes around comes around in life and if my child ever needs cells, we'll hope for donated cells. Our donation organization helps move you to the top of the list if a need arises and you've donated (although I looked for that policy just now on their site and it's not mentioned).

[alien_host]

This is a link to an article in the Boston Globe that had some insightful information:

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=66&topic_id=38&mesg_id=38&page=

[sidmand]

Thank you everyone for your links and advice. I know I was strongly considering a public bank because I don't think we're at high risk ourselves--I know interracial couples and children may have trouble finding a match in later life and often bank privately because of that--not sure if interfaith brings anything into the mix. I honestly don't know a lot about it and really appreciate getting information and getting more informed. I wonder if we could donate some and keep some? Or donate in many years if we don't need it? Is that too late? I requested more information and maybe it will get into more detail than I've been able to check out so far.

Tahnks again,
Debbie
http://lilypie.com/days/050619/0/8/1/-5/.png (http://lilypie.com)

It's a boy! Now we just need to come up with a name!

[Melanie]

We didn't bank Ds' cord blood b/c we'd planned on him receiving it all (he didn't, we ended up with a hospital transfer during labor. I was so sad to see it all wasted).

We plan the same with this one, but just in case...

I've been wondering if there are any places you can donate it to, which you will then have an "in" with in the event you do need some in the future?