Is it worth it to do cord blood banking?
Umbilical cord blood has been used to treat certain childhood illnesses like immunity disorders and certain types of cancer, and for this reason, it has caused parents to wonder if they should actually bank their baby's cord blood for future use, and use it like an insurance policy. Because there aren't any accurate statistics on how likely it is that a child will actually need their own cord blood in the future, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages this practice. Instead, they recommend that families donate their baby's cord blood to others who might need it in more immediate circumstances. If you're thinking about it though, talk with your obstetrician and/or your pediatrician, and they'll be able to give you more information about it. It's not something that you can decide to do at the time of delivery. You need to give it some forethought and work it out with the places that actually store the blood. They send you a collection kit, and then you work with your doctor after that. If you have more questions for me in the future, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page at / intermountainmoms , and recommend us to your friends and family too.