How can you successfully store your baby’s umbilical cord blood?
The umbilical cord is the primary source of oxygen and food to a baby when in the mother's womb. The Umbilical cord blood produces stem cells, which helps prevent various diseases in a newborn baby. At times, people independently like to store the cord blood for the betterment of other persons. Cord blood can be fused to a person's body to increase the production of stem cells in the body. Stem cells can prevent many life-threatening diseases.
Options for storing the cord blood of a baby
Soon after your baby is born, if you wish for Cord blood banking, then you can talk to your doctor. He will guide you through the process and the options available. Generally, the options available are:
- Donate to a public cord blood bank- If you want your donation to help the needy people, then public blood bank is the best option. The only condition is that, if your family members require cord blood, you cannot avail it. You can get the cord blood donated by others but not your own. There is a wide number of cord blood banks that take part in this noble deed.
- Storing in private blood bank- Private blood banks allow you to use the cord blood for your requirement. The charges for storing the cord blood in a private blood bank starts at $2000. The price may vary depending upon the bank. The banks also charge a yearly payment of $125.
If you do not want to donate the cord blood, then it will be discarded soon after your baby is born. You can always seek for cord blood from any cord blood bank in case of emergency. It is a request that if you choose to donate, then go for public blood banks. Your donation can save a life somewhere and sometime.