Has anyone embarked on having stem cells and cord blood stored from the birth of their child?
Currently facing this decision and given it can cost up to $6k to store both it's a decesion that would require some generous thought.
Spoke to our obs about it and I must admit he was quite objective on the subject. Basically science is moving at a million miles a minute and 'if you're in a position to afford it then I would recommend'.
Curious to see other peoples thoughts?
oodles - a great word that isn't used as much as it should be
Poll requires the option of "we blend the placenta into a pâté for post birth celebrations".
People do this.
Also google "placenta lasagne"
I… I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
1 more option in poll please - wanted to but couldn’t afford?
We looked into it but found we couldn’t afford it.
Emotional decision making is always tough.
Both of my kids had their cord blood donated (15+ years ago) to extract heaps of goodies to assist babies/kids/adults who are already sick. Can also be used for research. Not sure if it's still a thing.
Edit: looks like it is
https://www.abmdr.org.au/public-cord-blood-donation/
Donation is one thing. $6k to store it is quite different.
Cord blood donation is a different thing… it's actually used for a worthwhile goal.
Stem cell and cord blood storage is different. It's a lot more dubious because you're insuring your child against a handful of rare conditions (essentially myelomas or lymphomas requiring stem cell transplantation) and the hope that new uses of stem cells are developed within the child's lifetime.
It's fine if it helps you sleep at night, but the chances of that insurance paying off for any one individual is slim.
We banked over 8 years ago with our first born (overseas). Cost was a lot less and had the option to pay monthly. Our Obs said the same thing, she did say they cannot promote it else the patients think they have vested interest.
A decision which we never thought about since and don't regret. We took it like insurance, you hope you don't need to use it.
The selling point for afterbirth banking is no different from hoarding mentality. It's predicated on the notion that something has potential worth so it's better to store it than throw it away.
Of course there's evidence that stem cells have potential but so does storing semen, hair, nails, dead skin, old lunch…
but so does storing semen, hair, nails, dead skin, old lunch…
You mean you don't have samples of all those neatly stored and labelled somewhere?
Why would I need to label? I just put them all in the same takeaway container.
It's an insurance policy.
Hopefully you won't ever need it, but should you need those stem cells they become priceless.
I have not done it for either of my children.
True. I look at it as insurance and hope and pray i never need it…
Don’t do this, the cord blood is much more useful to your baby in the minutes post birth. Do your research on delayed cord clamping. This is now recommended by WHO.
Back in the day the cord wasn’t cut or clamped until well after the birth, hours sometimes. Then last century in the industrialised western world, immediate cord clamping became standard practice for no good scientific reason.
They are now realising how important that cord blood is to baby. If you delay cord clamping until the cord shuts down on its own (usually 4-5 minutes), then baby is able to take its last blood, and send back any old waste to the placenta via the cord. The cord will go white/grey once this is finished. Then clamping can occur.
Many OBs are not up to date with the latest evidence (mine wasn’t), but it’s becoming standard practice in some public hospitals already. They might try to convince you there’s a higher risk of jaundice but the latest evidence proves no (I’m a science / research nut!).
Basically the benefits include higher iron, stem cells to promote recovery and growth, prolonged exposure to oxygen in the blood (while the lung system kicks in) etc. also means you don’t need to worry about baby’s iron levels or give Farex or other iron cereals to baby once they start solids.
My cousin stored cord blood for her first (paying almost $10K), but will do delayed cord clamping with her second.
In private hospitals you may need to be very insistent on this. I had to remind them multiple times during labour and delivery. I think the last reminder might have gone something like this…
Midwife: “It’s a boy!”
Me: “Don’t clamp the cord!”
And if you have a csection, you can still do this too (unless under general).
Interesting read. I also was reading this and wasn't sure what it meant. I'd be curious to know what my OB says when i make mention of such a thing!
Here’s a good summary…
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/delayed-cord-clamping/
I wouldn’t be surprised if your OB dismisses it (unless they are a particularly progressive OB). It’s a hassle for them and not standard practice in most private hospitals yet. Plus hospitals receive compensation from cord blood collection businesses so are incentivised to recommend that.
@Gesiet: I agree with Gasiet, also been doing a lot of research into this and delayed cord clamping is the way to go. While its been standard practice to clamp straight away for the last 50 years, evidence that has recently come out shows this is causing babies to have 1/3 less of their blood supply and all things related to this. They get the stem cells straight away which might be of more benefit to them.(Also read that a recent study showed better behaviour/meeting milestones in boys that had delayed cord clamping at the age of 3)
And if your child required to use banked blood, its actually:
1.
not enough for an adult dose
2.
Would maybe not be useful as their own banked product could have the same problem (cancer, etc)
3.
unknown how it would be useful currently if at all
In the big scheme of things if $6K isn't that unmanageable then why wouldn't ya? It's a small price to pay for peace of mind and like w any type of insurance the best outcome is that you never have to use it but its nice to know it's there just in case.
My daughter had cord blood of her child born 2013 collected and saved, 2015/16 was advised the business was going out of business and would have to pay again to another storage facility and have cord blood transferred if she wanted to keep it stored, it was quite an upsetting time as she had paid in advance for storage, I dont recall exact time but think 20 years.
What the!? Who was the company?
Second time around and I’ve decided to bank again. Wondering if anyone has had to call upon their banked cord or blood for use?
If you have oodles of spare cash I think it's worthwhile.