Should I bank my baby’s umbilical cord blood?
October 1, 2024
Newborns are special in so many ways. From the tips of their button noses to their tiny toes, new babies are precious – right down to the cells found in the blood of their umbilical cords.
Umbilical cord blood contains stem cells, which are immature cells that have not yet been programmed to become a specific type of cell. These can become almost any type of cell, from neurons in the brain to hepatocytes in the liver. Stem cells are also found in the bone marrow of adults. These cells can replace damaged cells with healthy ones, allowing for new growth and in some cases for treatment of disease.
When it was first discovered that umbilical cord blood stem cells could treat leukemia in the 1990s, private and public banks began to spring up across the U.S. to store the cells for use later in life. Back then, the process to extract stem cells from adults – through a bone marrow transplant – was more invasive and painful than it is today, and finding a compatible donor was more challenging.
Parents who were interested in donation could either store their babies’ cord blood in a private or public cord bank. However, over time, the practical benefits of storing umbilical cord blood have not proven to be as relevant to most families as previously expected.
- Private banks typically charge a high upfront payment plus annual storage fees that can cost thousands of dollars over a child’s lifetime.
- Studies have shown that there is only a 0.06% chance that any given person will need a stem cell transplant by the time they turn 20.
- In the rare case that stem cell therapy is needed, the cells may not be usable after storage. The New York Times recently reported incidents of contamination in some popular umbilical cord blood banks.
- Advanced technologies have made it easier to transfer adult stem cells.
Still, umbilical cord blood banking makes sense for some families with a history of inherited blood disorders. So, we’ve created this summary about cord blood banking with the hopes that it helps guide families in this personal decision.
What are the options for cord blood banking?
There are two ways to store cord blood: Donate it to a public facility for anyone who needs it or pay to store it in a private bank for the exclusive use of your family. Parents can choose to donate, bank, or do nothing.
Donating to a public cord blood bank is like donating blood to the American Red Cross. It’s free, and your donation could help someone in need.
With private banking, your baby’s cord blood will only be used at your discretion and will not be cross-matched for others to use. If your child or an immediate family member becomes ill, the stem cells are available for potential therapy.
However, private cord blood banking can be expensive for many families. It averages between $300 and $2,300 just to collect, process, and ship the cord blood, and any genetic testing or other services will likely cost extra. Typically, private cord banks also charge annual storage fees. We’ve heard people compare it to buying flood insurance in the desert: While it doesn’t hurt anything but your wallet, there’s a slim chance that you’ll need to use it.
Who might benefit from cord blood banking?
Cord blood is approved to treat many disorders of the hematopoietic system, which is responsible for producing blood and blood components. While a child’s own cord blood is a match for them 100% of the time, for children with leukemia or genetic conditions, their own cord blood can’t treat their condition. When cord blood has the same DNA as the child, the genetic mutations that caused their disorder will be replicated.
However, many parents who have an older child with leukemia or sickle cell disease will decide to test their newborn’s umbilical cord blood. If the cord blood is healthy, there's a chance that it will be compatible with a sibling.
If you are pregnant and considering banking your baby’s umbilical cord blood, consider these questions to help you decide:
- Can you afford storage? Don’t make cord blood banking costs a high priority in your baby budget. Raising children is expensive enough as it is.
- Do you have a family history of illness that might be treated with cord blood? Ask your health care provider if your family history might fit this profile.
- Is someone in your family sick now? Find out whether a close relative can be helped right now by a direct donation of your baby’s cord blood stem cells.
- Have you been pressured into cord blood banking? The choice is yours as a parent. Don’t allow anyone to make you feel like you’re letting your child down if you don’t opt for cord blood banking or donation.
How is cord blood different from using stem cells from bone marrow?
Cord blood stem cells act much like a bone marrow transplant, but with two key differences:
- Cord blood stem cells are easier to match because they haven’t developed the specific markers or characteristics that could trigger an immune response in a recipient.
- Collecting cord blood is painless. Cells are collected after the umbilical cord has been separated from a newborn.
In some cases, stem cells from cord blood could be used as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. It can be difficult to find good bone marrow donor matches, especially for patients of color. While white patients have a 79% chance of finding a bone marrow transplant match, Hispanic/Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander populations have just under a 50% chance of finding a match. Black patients have a 29% chance of having a match. If you belong to an underrepresented ethnic group, you might consider donating cord blood to a public bank, perhaps increasing the odds of a match for someone else.
How is cord blood gathered?
Extracting cord blood is a simple procedure that will not harm the baby. Your placenta and umbilical cord will be collected after labor is over – this is always the case – but instead of disposing of everything, we will remove the blood and place it in medical containers for storage.
If you choose public banking, the blood will be cross-matched to see if any patient nationwide can use it in their medical therapy. If no match is found, the blood is catalogued and frozen for later use. If you wish to donate your baby’s cord blood, contact a local or national donation facility, such as the Texas Cord Blood Bank.
A single collection of cord blood does not have many stem cells. While there may be enough for a child’s transplant, patients generally need 1.3 milliliters of cord blood for every pound that they weigh. That would mean a 120-pound person needs at least 156 milliliters of cord blood for a transplant.
According to the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, the median donation is 60 milliliters (2 ounces), which is not enough for most adults and teens – they likely would need stem cells from multiple donors.
Cord blood banking is a personal choice
In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 709, which requires health care providers to tell pregnant women about umbilical cord blood storage options. Talk with your provider at one of your prenatal appointments if you’d like to donate or privately store your baby’s cord blood.
We don’t recommend private cord blood banking unless you have a family history of a condition that can be treated with stem cells. However, public cord blood banking might help someone in need. While the chance is still small, it doesn’t cost you anything, and the collection is a noninvasive procedure.
Keep in mind, too, that you don’t have to donate cord blood or bank it. While there are benefits to either option, the choice is completely yours as a parent.
To talk with a doctor about umbilical cord blood banking, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.
