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Is Cord Blood Banking or Donating for You?
By Carol Ann Friedman, RN, IBCLC, and Program Director of Mothers at Work^®

Despite the rising popularity of cord blood banking and donation, many people haven’t yet heard of this remarkably beneficial movement.

Essentially, “cord blood” refers to the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta after a child’s birth. A growing number of couples are electing to have this blood collected—either for their child’s potential use later or for donation to others—because this blood is particularly rich in stem cells. Stem cells from cord blood are used to treat a variety of cancer and blood diseases and are currently under study as a new form of treatment for other life-threatening diseases. Right now, blood stem cells for treating patients with these illnesses comes from donated bone marrow or peripheral (circulating) blood, often from family members. However, nearly 75 percent of patients do not find a matching donor in their family. So cord blood gives patients more options and a greater chance of finding a match when they’re in need.

New parents, in particular, are interested in having their infant’s cord blood collected as a precautionary measure: they wish to be prepared in the unhappy event that their child develops a life-threatening disease in which stem cells are necessary for treatment. Others who are strongly considering cord blood storage are families that have a member with a current or potential need to undergo stem cell transplantation.

Is Cord Blood Harvesting Safe?

Collecting cord blood poses absolutely no health risk to mother or baby and is a relatively simple procedure. (In fact, the cord blood is normally just discarded.) After the baby’s birth, the umbilical cord is clamped, which severs the link between the baby and the placenta. The blood is then drained from the umbilical cord and placenta. While draining methods vary, the blood is usually collected via a needle that draws the blood into a blood bag. The entire procedure usually takes ten minutes or so. A woman must offer signed consent for cord blood to be collected, and no collection is made if there are complications during delivery.

Cord blood must meet certain standards before it will be stored. The maternal and family health histories must meet eligibility guidelines, and tests of the cord blood and the mother’s blood must show no infection. If all standards are met, the cord blood is frozen and stored in a liquid nitrogen freezer. The cord blood is listed on the National Marrow Donor Program’s Registry, which is used to find a matching recipient.

To Bank or Donate?

The decision, of course, is up to the individual and there are valid reasons for doing each. Parents who opt to store cord blood exclusively for use within their own family will have to pay a fee to the storage facility. Consult your physician for a referral to a reputable cord blood bank within your area. If you already have a child with leukemia or another disease that might be treatable by stem cell transplant, you may want to consider banking your baby’s cord blood. Talk with your oncologist or pediatrician about saving the cord blood. Under these circumstances, your hospital’s bone marrow transplant center will likely provide free cord blood banking or will refer you to a credible professional who can help.

Donating your cord blood to a reputable stem cell bank is a wonderfully selfless gift to give, similar to donating organs. You are giving hope to people that are in need of stem cells to treat leukemia, various cancers, and genetic disorders that affect the blood and immune system. To date, more than 45 disorders can be treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Whether you’re planning to bank or donate your baby’s cord blood, always consult your physician first for referrals.

When Should You Make Your Decision?

If you’re considering banking or donating cord blood, tell your physician by the 34th week of your pregnancy.

How Long Does Cord Blood Last?

Studies have shown cord blood can be stored up to 10 years.

Is Donation Confidential?

A donor’s identity (or any other information, for that matter) is never revealed to the transplant recipient.

How Much Does It Cost?

If you wish to donate cord blood, there is no cost at all. Non-profit cord blood banks will handle the procedure and cover the associated costs. Parents who wish to store cord blood for use within their own families, however, will normally pay a fee. Your physician can tell you more about the fees and offer a referral to a reputable cord blood bank within your area. Consult your physician whether you’re considering banking or donating your baby’s cord blood.