Go To Baby Care Home | Add to Favorites
Is Cord Blood Banking Right For You?
Saving your baby's umbilical cord blood allows it to be cryogenically stored, and then available if your child later becomes sick and needs a bone marrow transplant. Umbilical cord blood was discarded until the 1970's, when researchers discovered that umbilical cord blood could save lives under certain circumstances.How do you decide on cord blood banking? Many soon-to-be parents ask this very question. Here are some things to consider when deciding on whether or not to bank your baby's umbilical cord blood.
This type of transplant would be 'autologous' and is different than the more common 'allogenic' transplants that might be done from a sibling or other relative or an unrelated donor. Our own blood is the best choice for a transplant.
Often times, cord blood banking can save a baby's life. But still, there are many other factors to consider. Price seems to be the number one roadblock, with the complete cost being around $3,000. So, you should certainly not feel guilty if you cannot bank your child's cord blood. Should you even consider cord blood banking? That part will be up to you.
However, if you already have a child or family member that has a condition that can be treated with a stem cell transplant (such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, leukemia, metabolic storage disorders and certain genetic immunodeficiencies), then you defenitely should consider banking your child's umbilical cord blood. However, the average baby without risk factors has a very low chance of ever needing his or her cord blood.
On the other hand, some doctors and researchers support saving umbilical cord blood as a source of blood-forming stem cells in every delivery. This is mainly because of the promise that stem-cell research holds for the future. The majority of people would have little use for stem cells now, but research into the use of stem cells for treatment of disease is ongoing - and the future looks promising.
You may also want to donate your baby's cord blood. This is possible through non-profit cord blood banks that use it for research or to save the life of another child.
Overall, cord blood banking looks to have a promising future. It's defenitely an option you should look into. After you've studied the facts and your family history, you should be able to make a much more informed decision on what's right for you.
About the author:
Find out more about Cord Blood Banking at the Baby Names Box .
Source: Article Directory
|
 |
 |
 |
Baby Care - The Fabric Of Life...or...what Material Should I Use To Make That Dress With? There are many different types of fabrics, and many different ideas and crafts to do with them. For example, say you were redoing your home. For your kitchen, you could use cotton to make beautiful crisp curtains to hang above your windows. For a bedroom and living room, you may want to try velour for that sophisticated look. Don't want to throw out Great-grandma's old raggedy chair? No problem, just reupholster it and its as good as new. Or, if you or someone you know is having a baby, you could try oilcloth to make a diaper bag, or lace to add a delicate finishing touch to a bib, blanket or that cute little bonnet.You can find all of these fabrics and more just a... |  |
| Baby Care - Weaning Puppies Is Only Natural Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs have been doing it successfully for ages, so how hard can... |  |
| Baby Care - Benefits Of Martial Arts Training For Kids Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we’ve all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry. But when your five-year old yells at you “Mom, Kids Rule!” or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these “family programs” really t... |  |
| Baby Care - How To Make Your Own Soap Favors For Weddings And Baby Showers Want to make soap as a gift for your party guests? Here are some simple tips for making soap gifts and favors:1. There are literally hundreds of different ingredients that can be used for soap making. Basically, you will need the following - soap chips or soap base, essential or fragrance ... |  |
| Baby Care - Time Management For Stay At Home Parents People tend to think that being a stay at home parent means you have time to sit in front of the TV all day, but anyone who has tried it knows better. Staying at home means getting u... |  |
| Baby Care - Should I Call The Doctor If My Baby Has A Fever Sooner or later, your new baby will develop a fever. It would be a rare child who does not come down with some kind of illness that elevates their temperature. Babies can get fevers for a variety of reasons, and understanding the whys, can help you determine if you should call your doctor.On a warm day, and over-dressed baby, particularly an active or squirmy one, can become flushed and hot. When their temperature is taken it is up. The first thing to do is remove some of the clothing, and place the child in a cool spot to rest or play quietly. Take their temperature again in 20-30 minut... |  |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment