Cord blood banking is a very essential part of the pregnancy process. You will need to make a decision about whether or not banking your child’s cord blood is for you. As you are likely to learn, there are both private as well as public banks that can be used. Although there are some organizations that would like you to believe that perhaps this is not something that is worthwhile, if it does come time for you to use this banked blood, there is nothing in the world that will make you more grateful to have it available. Yet, it is still a very private and individual decision that you and only you can make.
Why You Should Consider It
There are some very important reasons why this may just be the right thing for you to do. For one, your child may be able to use their cord blood transplants throughout the course of their life. As technology gets better, increasing the benefits of the use of this cord blood is likely to grow. Those that end up with cancers later in life will be able to come back to the cord blood bank to retrieve what is likely to be a cure for their cancer.
In addition to the 75 current conditions and diseases that can be treated with cord blood, there are likely to be even more as each year passes. Just flipping on the news and listening to the information there, you are going to hear about the latest technologies in stem cell research. It seems like there is always something new being developed or found. By banking your child’s blood now, your child can be protected against many more conditions rather than just the 75.
There are some people that are more likely to have the need to use cord blood than others. Is your family one that has a tendency to have cancers, tissue conditions and other disorders of the immune system? If so, banking your child’s blood now can help prevent him from getting these conditions. If his chances are higher than normal due to hereditary features, it may be life saving. In addition, those that are of mix heritage are even less likely to find a matching donor than those that are of one race. If your child is biracial, it is very important to consider cord blood banking. Sadly, only 50% of people that need a bone marrow or stem cell transplant are likely to find a suitable donor to provide it.