PARENTS - Umbilical cord blood recovery and storage...Yes or No?

[Tallgeese]

Just looking for feedback about whether or not Mrs. Tallgeese and I should opt to pay for umbilical cord blood recovery and storage after the birth of our second child (due in February).

The upside:
* Could potentially be used to treat a host of other serious illnesses in many members of our family

The downside:
* Money (after initial recovery cost of prolly $1K, then $95 or so a year)

Any (intelligent) thoughts?


BTW: For us, money is not really an issue (thankfully), but it might be for other folks, or for us at a future date (never know). Remember, you may potentially want to keep the blood stored for life!

 

[ATLien247]

If money is not an issue, I say go for it...

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

WTF, never heard of this.

Is it normal or one of those weird things? Could someone elaborate on it?

 

[Jzero]

$100/year isn't a whole lot. $12/month, you could drink one less soda per day and probably come up with $12 in a month.

$1000 upfront might be steep, but if money isn't an issue, then why not?

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

I would go for it for sure...regardless of money I think.... the future of our children is just too unknown to risk it!

 

[ATLien247]

My wife and I never looked into it that much because both her OB/GYN and soon-to-be pediatrician didn't give it much merit.

My main concern was the storage facility... not the medicinal potential.

Like how was the specimen protected against unauthorized use, and how future-proof was the company that owned the facility?

 

[tcsenter]

Well, if money is no object, and all totalled for 18 years of storage, you're looking at around $3000 or so.

Just so you know, there really isn't any "current" use for cord blood to fight disease or whatnot, but the underlying medical science is believed to be sound and promising. So in the end, if all goes well, you're out $3000 or so. If that's no big deal to you, then why not?

Its not unlike any other insurance to protect you against unfortunate circumstances that statistically may be very unlikely to happen, but the consequences of not having the protection are extremely serious when the law of averages strikes you.

 

[ElFenix]

do what?

<--- doesn't know much about it but his interest as a layman is picqued

 

[Tallgeese]

Let's say money is an issue (because it very well could become an issue at a later time): What other upsides, or downsides, could there be?

 

[Quixfire]

We have had three children and haven't chosen to use this service yet. But on the up side none of our children have had any serious illness.

 

[Ulfwald]

I say go for it. We just had a child, and if we had the money, we would have done it.

You can donate it if you want.

 

[GoingUp]

It sounds like a good idea, but how does it save people down the road?

 

[Eli]

What's the difference between normal blood and umbilical cord blood? Is it like, super compatible blood or something?

 

[lupohki]

Did a quick search on google and found this site. Sell it!