Cord Blood Banking


	Cord Blood Banking: To Bank or Not To Bank…That is the Question


		Cord blood banking has become an interesting question for many mothers-to-be. Is it worth the money or is it simply a ploy to scare mothers into taking part of the cord blood banking phenomenon. Much research has been compiled in the area of cord blood banking. To date, cord blood banking is responsible for curing or treating over 70 diseases and disorders but is it really worth it if you are not genetically prone to these maladies?

	Private cord blood banking has been available to the public since 1992. Adult stem cells are taken from the umbilical cord at birth and are then cryopreserved until a possible need arises in the future at which time the specimen is retrieved and then used for transplantation. The popularity of private cord blood banking rose when scientists realized that using your own stem cells would alleviate the need to find a matching donor and then the risk that your body would reject the transplant. Transplants using your own cord blood are a 100% match. At present, there have been thousands of cord blood transplants which have taken place thanks to cord blood banking.

More importantly, cord blood banking and adult stem cells in general are showing great promises and have advanced to phase III clinical trials in many other medical fields. Today we have seen successful treatment using adult stem cells in the areas of bone and cartilage regeneration, lupus and heart disease. Some of the conditions which scientists believe may eventually be treated by adult stem cell therapy are Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, burns and spinal cord damage.

The average cost of cord blood banking ranges from $900-$1800 and does not include long term storage. Storage fees range anywhere from $95-$265 a year. Many cord blood banking companies offer long term storage payment options that lower the cost considerably if paid in full at the time of cryopreservation. This fee may seem exorbitant when you look at the fee as a whole but it becomes more palatable when you think of cord blood banking as an insurance policy.

The next five to ten years is extremely optimistic concerning stem cell technology and the medical therapy that can result from research in the field of cord blood banking and adult stem cells. Ultimately, mothers-to-be should not feel pressured by the choice “to bank” or “not to bank,” however the future potential behind cord blood banking and of these amazing stem cells is enough to take the risk that you will have your baby’s stem cells available for him or her to use.


	Affordable Cord Blood Banking


	[Cord Blood Banking]