BANK ON IT
DO YOU REALLY NEED TO SAVE YOUR BABY'S CORD BLOOD?

Saving your newborn’s cord blood in case of certain life-threatening
illness has nothing to do with fear or paranoia and everything to do with
preparedness for the unexpected.

Think of it as a precautionary measure. You have a single opportunity to
collect and save your baby’s genetically unique cord blood minutes after
birth. However, it is not a decision left for the last minute. Rather, well in
advance of your baby’s birthday is the time to choose a bank and make
arrangements for collection and storage. 

The blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth is discarded as medical waste along with the placenta and umbilical cord unless you opt to bank your baby's cord blood. But for the past 20 years, cord blood stem cells have been used to save lives.

The first cord blood transplant was performed in 1988 with more than 4,000 occurrences since. In the past year, the National Marrow Donor Program, established in 1987, has estimated a 100 percent increase in the
use of cord blood stems to treat various diseases. There is hope that this practice may also help treat diabetes, cardiac disease and neurological
disorders.

Although there are doctors who still lack faith in the technology, Dr. Randy A. Fink, an obstetrician/gynecologist in private practice in Miami, FL, can attest to the dramatic increase in cord blood banking over the past few years.

"As the technology for collection and storage has improved, so has the promise of possible future uses," he says. "Experts used to believe one in 100 people would have the ability to utilize cord blood stem cells for some need in the future. Now, they quote about one in 25. The biggest motivator has been that the cord blood companies have massively expanded their marketing. Even if one’s clinician does not mention
cord blood banking, patients will hear about it from countless different sources....”

According to the www.kidshealth.org website, the process, which is painless and poses very little risk, involves collecting the cord blood with a small tube from the umbilical vein after the cord stops pulsating, then from the placenta.

Cord Blood Registry (CBR) in San Bruno, CA, has processed and stored cord blood stem cells for more than 160,000 newborns, and maintain a 98 percent cell recovery rate, which is the highest in the industry, says David Zitlow, CBR's senior vice president.

Joseph and Darlene Davis of Cedar Hill, Texas, chose CBR in a desperate effort to save their son. Joseph Davis Jr., now 8, had been diagnosed at birth with sickle cell anemia. He was in constant pain, ran high fevers and required frequent blood transfusions to keep his red blood cell count under control.

After a year of searching for a match for bone marrow and cord blood, the couple was thrilled, yet surprised by an unexpected pregnancy. Darlene had been told she’d have a hard time conceiving again. After amniocentesis revealed that her unborn baby to be named Isaac, was a perfect match for Joseph Jr., they banked Isaac’s blood with CBR and eventually
transplanted it into Joseph Jr. After 20 days, he showed strong signs of recovery. One year later, his doctors pronounced him cured.

As part of its Designated Transplant Program(SM)—a service provided to families based on medical need—the Davis’ were able to bank their baby’s blood free of charge.

Many companies offer free or discounted services to families affected by certain diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma. If you make the choice to bank for preventive measures, the average cost is about $1900 for 18 years of storage. The fee covers establishing an account, cell separation and testing, and 18 years of cryogenic (frozen in liquid nitrogen) storage. 

The question is: How much would you pay to save your child's life?  If the money is the only issue, it may pay to think twice.

"It is not unusual to spend several thousand dollars on baby furniture that may only be used for a year or two," Dr. Fink says. "To me, it seems like the investment in my family’s health is a worthwhile one. While I don’t fault anyone for not collecting, I wonder if for some this decision is short-sighted."

Dr. Fink considers counseling an integral part of his prenatal care. "Many opt to bank, some don’t,” he says. “Some don’t believe the technology will ever exist for routine use of this blood. The choice is theirs, but in my humble opinion, there is little reason not to do it. The private banks have made collection financially feasible for most people."

—Yolanda Navarra Fleming

Yolanda Navarra Fleming is a freelance writer, musician and mother of two little ones. Check her out at mysite.verizon.net/yofleming/

*Photo by Suzanne Fogarty. To see more of her stunning work, go to www.suzannefogarty.com