What is cord blood?
Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord after a baby’s delivery. Cord blood stem cells have been used to treat numerous fatal injuries and diseases in children and adults.
Is cord blood collection affordable?
Cord blood collection is expensive, but many families consider it vital. Many cord blood companies offer discounts of $150 to $300 (or even more) using a cord blood coupon code or instant discount. Other ways to save:
1) Use a payment plan to lower the cost of storage to under $90 per month. Costs vary by company, but most offer payment plans.
2) Receive a repeat parent discount when you have another child and bank his or her cord blood with the same company.
3) Inquire about other discounts. Some cord blood banks offer up to $1000 or more for multiples and twins.
Why is cord blood important?
Cord blood is important because it has millions of stem cells. Each person’s stem cells are unique, but they are similar within families. Stem cells can therefore be used to heal a baby and often his or her family members from many illnesses and some injuries as well. It is only possible to collect cord blood immediately following the birth of a baby.
How can we collect our newborn’s cord blood?
It is very simple. Enroll by phone or online with a cord blood company. They will send you a collection kit, which you take to the hospital and give your doctor before delivery. Your doctor collects a sample and seals the package, which a courier picks up.
What is cord blood banking?
Cord blood banking is storing a baby’s cord blood. If parents do not opt to do cord blood banking, a baby’s cord blood and all of the valuable stem cells in it are discarded. More and more parents are opting to do cord blood banking, as stem cells are being used to treat more life-threatening injuries and illnesses each year.
How is cord blood collected?
Cord blood is collected in the delivery room immediately after a baby is born and the umbilical cord has been cut. The collection of cord blood takes less than five minutes and is clean, painless, and involves no contact with the mother or newborn.
What happens after the cord blood is collected?
After cord blood is collected, it is placed in a special container and sealed. Then a medical courier picks it up, and the cord blood is transferred to a processing and storage facility. The number of stem cells are counted and reported to you.
