Store you Baby’s Umbilical Cord Blood

I am a huge advocate of cord blood banking and did so with both of my children. I know it’s a big investment, but I look at it as an insurance policy. Most likely you will never need it, but if you ever did you would spend your last dime to have it! As a midwife, I have seen people you needed it and had it and those who needed it and didn’t. It was enough to make the decision to bank an easy one for our family.

Facts and Tips:

• Storing your newborn’s cord blood means that should there be a need, your baby will have a source of stem cells that is an exact match, with no risk of rejection. There is also a strong possibility that his/her siblings will be a match as well. This is important because clinical studies demonstrate that stem cell transplants are twice as successful when the stem cells come from a family member rather than from a non-relative (e.g., a public bank).

• Today, cord blood stems cells are used in the treatment of over 70 life-threatening diseases, including a wide range of cancers, genetic diseases, immune system deficiencies, and blood disorders.

• I recommend banking with a large national company such as Viacord or Cord Blood Registry, and not the smaller more local banks. You want to ensure that they will be around for the long term and you will have quick and easy access to your cells no matter where you are!

• Check out this Viacord coupon for $400 off!!!! Hurry, the deadline for enrollment is May 4th!!!