Cord Blood Banking {what expectant moms need to know}

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This post was sponsored by Marion Welch, Cord Blood Educator. Thank you for supporting our sponsors.

cord bloodMost expectant moms want to do everything they can to ensure the future well-being of their children.

It is a tremendous task, with many topics and products to research and review. One topic that may arise as the birthing plan is being laid out is whether to bank the baby’s cord blood. Let’s provide a quick rundown of what you need to know about cord blood banking and how the whole process works.

Cord blood banking is storing the blood that remains inside the umbilical cord after delivery because it is a rich source of stem cells, master cells that re-generate all the other cells in the body.

Cord blood is currently approved to treat nearly 80 diseases, including cancers, anemias, and metabolic disorders. Cord blood is also shown to cross the blood–brain barrier and differentiate into neurons and other brain cells. This makes cord blood a candidate for treating conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s, and more, with several FDA-approved clinical trials using cord blood to treat these conditions currently underway.

With a clear understanding of why moms should bank their babies’ cord blood, the next important step is to research the different cord blood banks and what separates one from another.

Here are some important aspects of cord blood banking to look at:

• Does the cord blood bank have its lab for processing and storage?
• Is the cord blood bank well certified (AABB, FACT)?
• Does the cord blood bank offer a well-insulated collection kit?
• Does the cord blood bank cryo-preserve the cord blood in a bag with multiple segments to be used multiple times?
• Does the cord blood bank’s processing method deplete many red blood cells while capturing a large percentage of stem cells?
• Does the cord blood bank also store the mother’s blood for future infectious disease testing if needed?

The answers to these questions need to be balanced with the cost each bank charges, but as with most things, you often get what you pay for in the cord blood banking industry.

After the mom and dad decide on a cord blood bank, they have to plan to take the kit to the hospital. Beyond some paperwork for the parents to fill out, the nurse or doctor will do the rest. Once the baby has been delivered and the cord blood has been collected, parents need to call the cord blood bank to expedite its return to its facilities.

From there, it will be easily accessible for the child or possibly other family members, such as any brother or sisters, in case it is ever needed.


Want to learn more about cord blood banking? Marion Welch, a cord blood educator, can meet with you and provide a special discounted program for Westchester Moms. Please give her a call at (203) 942-6206 or [email protected] to answer any questions you may have.