Cord blood has gradually entered into the conversation between doctors and their patients. It is an exciting developing in the world of science, and moms- and dads-to-be want to be a part of it.
Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells, and they have the ability to rejuvenate any human cell. This cord blood can be extracted after the birth of a child and then stored for future use, either in a private cord blood bank or donated to a public system.
Parents want to do anything possible to ensure their children are free from harm. If they feel that they can cure them of an illness or an ailment in the future then they’ll select this option.
A growing number of moms and dads are becoming increasingly interested in this procedure. Before you dive head first into cord blood banking, there are several things you need to know.
Here are five cord blood tips for moms- and dads-to-be:
1. You May Not Need it After All
Some critics say that it is quite unlikely that your child will ever need to use their cord blood. Some liken is to luxurious insurance (see below), especially if you decide to utilize private cord blood banks. You can always make a cord blood donation, but odds are you won’t need it.
2. Babies Are Not Hurt During the Process
Should you decide to move ahead with the cord blood banking procedure, you need to be aware that your child will never be hurt during the process. Because extracting the blood from the umbilical cord is not invasive and it takes mere moments, your baby will not endure any pain whatsoever.
3. Do Plenty of Research Beforehand
Like anything else in life, particularly if it relates to your newborn child, you should always perform plenty of research and due diligence. Since you want to have the best process possible and to ensure that your baby’s cord blood is taken out and store somewhere safely, your research will go a long way to provide you peace of mind and assurance that everything will be OK.
4. Be Sure to be Fastidious
This is your child we are talking about so being demanding is OK. In other words, it is perfectly acceptable to be fastidious. You did a lot of work to have this child and you don’t want anything happening to him or her. The right advice, the right doctor, the right cord blood bank, the right procedure and the right access. These aren’t too demanding, but some may think it is.
5. Is Private Cord Blood Banking Worth it?
As previously mentioned, some may consider cord blood banking to be another form of costly insurance. You must use your best judgment to determine if this is something you really want.
If you’re using cord blood banking specifically for your child then be ready to spend thousands of dollars on storage for the next few decades. It is true that cord blood can help fight against a myriad of illnesses, but it isn’t the cure every single disease that is around right now.
You and your spouse need to ask the question: is private cord blood banking worth it at all?
