Cord blood banking is collecting and storing the blood that remains in the umbilical cord. This blood is usually discarded. Cord blood banking uses external facilities as a place to store and preserve the baby’s blood. It is essential to use  a cord blood bank accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), like  Viacord .

Why should I preserve my baby’s cord blood  ?

Your baby’s cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. Stem cells are genetically related to you and your family. They contribute to the development of all tissues, organs and systems in the body. Stem cells are also able to transform into other types of cells in the body to create new growth and development. These cells are the building blocks of the immune system. They help doctors treat leukemia and other inherited health disorders. Stem cells have the ability to treat disease of the  bone marrow with reduced risk of rejection.

Saving your baby’s cord blood gives you some kind of insurance. It gives you the peace of mind that you have something valuable  should you need it. This blood can also be used in treating diseases of parents or sibling.

How is cord blood collected ?

The collection process is simple and painless and takes less than 5 minutes. It does not in anyway interfere with delivery and is possible with both vaginal and cesarean deliveries.

There are two methods.

• the syringe method in which a syringe is used to draw blood from the umbilical cord shortly after the umbilical cord has been cut
• the bag method in which the umbilical cord is elevated to drain blood into a bag

The syringe or bag is pre labeled with the baby’s unique number. Cord blood should be collected within 15 minutes of delivery and needs to be processed by the laboratory within 48 hours of blood collection.

The cord blood is processed and stored in a laboratory known as blood bank.

Are there any risks associated with cord blood banking ?

There are no health risks associated with this procedure. It is simple, safe and painless.

NOTE
The price of cord blood banking may range from $900 to $2100 with an annual storage fee of approximately $100. Your baby’s cord blood may be valuable to another family . You can donate it for free. There are various non-profit  organizations that will collect, process, and use the stem cells from your baby’s cord blood to treat other people at no cost.