Have You Thought About Cord Blood Banking?

Cord blood banking is an incredible advancement in the field of medicine. Newspapers, journals, television news stories, articles, and websites are loaded with information about this amazing feat achieved by the medical experts.
However, a large number of curious expecting couples are interested in knowing more about umbilical cord blood banking. Unfortunately, a lot of rumors and misleading facts are going around regarding cord blood banking. It's important to have a clear understanding of this significant step that can prove to be a life savior!

Proven Facts of Cord Blood Banking

There is no risk, either to the mother or her baby, in collecting umbilical cord blood. On the contrary, peripheral or bone marrow blood stem cell collection requires the donor to pass through insidious medical procedure and there is a risk of infection.
Studies on transplants of umbilical cord blood have revealed a sustained engraftment, which is similar to bone marrow transplant results.
Umbilical cord blood is stored cryogenically through a meticulous cord blood banking process and is available at once when needed.
Research on umbilical cord blood stem cell has revealed its potential to treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, heart attacks and strokes, and spinal cord injuries.
Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have successfully been used in treating more than 70 non-malignant as well as malignant diseases, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, life-threatening anemia, various types of cancer, and auto-immune conditions.
Umbilical cord blood stem cells are more primitive than bone marrow stem cells. Hence, they harbor a lower risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD). This makes it possible to use less than perfect matches for transplants.
Ultra-modern cord blood banking technologies induce multiplication of cord blood stem cells by ex vivo expansion.
Cord blood banking is not new. Since 1988, medical experts are using umbilical cord blood as a substitute source of hematopoietic stem cells for treating human diseases.

Cord Blood Banking Cost

The Unites States has several companies dealing with cord blood banking. The most popular among them are Cord Blood Registry and ViaCord. If you are interested in cord blood banking, then you need to take a second look at your wallet.
The charges of ViaCord are around $1500 for cord blood collection. After that, you need to pay an annual fee of $95 for cord blood storage. They are equipped to store cord blood for as long as 21 years. This costs around $3500.
Take time and think about cord blood banking. Who knows, it may save your child's life in the future!