Is Cord Blood Banking Part of Your Birth Plan?

What is cord blood & why would I want to “bank” it?

Cord blood is the blood that is left in a baby's umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Some parents choose to cryogenically preserve or “bank” this cord blood for potential future use.

Cord blood can currently be used in stem-cell transplants to help treat blood disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia, but clinical studies are looking into the possibility of cord blood treating other conditions, too.

Where is cord blood stored?

There are 2 main types of cord blood banks: public and private. If you decide to bank your baby’s cord blood, which type of bank you choose depends on your reasons for banking in the first place.

By banking with a private bank, your child’s cord blood is available to your family. By donating to a public bank, the stem cells are available to others who might need a stem cell transplant requiring a donor.

You can read more about the differences between public and private banks by checking out our free cord blood banking guide. 

What’s the collection process like if I want to bank my baby’s cord blood?

Cord blood is collected after the baby’s umbilical cord is clamped, shortly after birth. Your care provider will draw blood from the clamped cord into a collection bag that will be sent to the public bank or private bank of your choice.

Cord blood can be collected whether you give birth vaginally or via c-section. However, there are different preparations you need to make depending on if you plan on using a private or public bank. 

If you’d like to donate to a public bank: 

Have a conversation with your doctor during your next prenatal visit to let them know you are interested. If your hospital participates in cord blood donations, they can make sure to have a kit on hand when you go into labor. You can also write this down in your birth preferences so the nurse on-duty knows when you arrive at the hospital. 

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If you're considering banking privately:

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You'll still want to talk to your provider first to learn more about your options. After that, do your research and choose a bank that is both FDA-regulated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. When you find a bank you are interested in, know that signing up typically involves a phone call with a representative. During this call, be sure to ask questions like:
 

• Does the listed pricing include processing fees/annual storage/shipping etc.?
   
• How many stem cells can I expect to store?
   
• What are your stem cell processing success rates?
   
• Do you test the stem cells for viability before storing? Why or why not?
   
• Are there any non-refundable fees should I need to cancel for any reason?
   
• Is the annual storage fee fixed or might it increase later?
   

If you register with a private bank, they will send you a collection kit to bring with you to the hospital. You will want to register at least a few weeks before your due date to make sure everything has time to ship.

Have more questions about private cord blood banking? Talk to an Americord expert by visiting this link. And if you do choose to bank with Americord, make sure to mention Tinyhood during the enrollment process for an exclusive discount!