Cord Blood Banking

[doGooD]

Have you done this or do you know someone who has? We received this gift from the grandparents...

Please share with us if you have--- especially if you used the stem cells.

Thank you.

 

[chrisv]

We did the banking for both boys, haven't had to utilize it. Make sure your doc is aware, let him/her see the package and info beforehand to be sure. Your doc will tell you "yeah, yeah, I know all about it." Take the package to an appointment and hand it to them. Believe it or not, our first OB was a little clumsy with it when it came time to collect, but everything was fine. We got a new OB for the next child...

The company will send a courier in the middle of the night, wake you up, and collect the package. Pay the annual fee and you're good to go.

 

[doGooD]

Interesting. Will do. I was noticing that I have a lot of complaints about doctors lately... I wonder how much of my complaining is shared... disappointment/frustration. I also have been reminding myself that everybody has a hard job. Did you use Viacord? I must have gotten a direct mail from them every week of my pregnancy. When it came time- they were top of mind... so they did that right... that is who the grandparents ended up going with.

 

[scooterbug44]

My complaints are about everything related to health care EXCEPT my doctors!

The things that frustrate me are probably the same things that frustrate my doctors - the insurance labyrinths and fees, incompetant office staff, tons of paperwork, general lack of preventative care, high drug costs etc.

 

[Chickpea]

YES YES and YES

I have told this story before - one of my best friend's died at age 32 from leukemia after enduring a hellish year - when her oncologist broke the news to me I had just found out I was pregnant and his only words to me were BANK THAT CORD BLOOD!!!

I did for both my daughters - went with a company that was reputable and serious and my doctor knew of them. It is something one does in the hopes that one never ever will need to use it BUT just in case you chhild were ever to need new cells, you would have this as a very viable back-up.

Good luck and please do this!

 

[doGooD]

YES YES and YES

I have told this story before - one of my best friend's died at age 32 from leukemia after enduring a hellish year - when her oncologist broke the news to me I had just found out I was pregnant and his only words to me were BANK THAT CORD BLOOD!!!

I did for both my daughters - went with a company that was reputable and serious and my doctor knew of them. It is something one does in the hopes that one never ever will need to use it BUT just in case you chhild were ever to need new cells, you would have this as a very viable back-up.

Good luck and please do this!

That is terribly sad. We are doing it for sure. I feel very special to have such great in laws giving us this gift.

 

[ckhagen]

I donated my sons cord blood for research since we weren't even close to being able to afford to bank it and donating it for use by someone else would have also actually cost ME money.

 

[Chickpea]

I donated my sons cord blood for research since we weren't even close to being able to afford to bank it and donating it for use by someone else would have also actually cost ME money.

Very noble! Good for you - FWIW - if I am ever contacted and either one of my daughter's cord blood cells could help someone I would do it in a second!

 

[tistheseason]

We decided to donate. Because I had no way of knowing if the company I was paying was doing a good job. What if when I needed the blood, they found out it hadn't been kept at the right temperature, or they had lost it, or whatever. So, I thought if we (as a country) got in the habit of donating it every time we had babies, than we'd be in a better place.

However, donating wasn't an easy task. It's totally up to the patient to handle -- which is a lot ot ask of someone in the middle of giving birth. Hospitals need to get on board and make it a seemless process to the patient. When I'm in the middle of labor, I just want to check a box that says "Yes, please donate my babies cord blood."