How to Preserve Your Baby's Cord Blood

The recent media coverage of the debate over stem cell research has brought new attention to the ability for new parents to preserve their newborn's cord blood. Cord blood can be preserved or "banked" for several years in case a child would ever need it to treat diseases requiring a bone marrow transplant like cancer. There are lots of ads circulating parenting and pregnancy magazines from companies that offer to preserve your baby's cord blood.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Select a cord blood bank and complete the enrollment application. There is usually a one time fee which includes the fees for the collection kit you will receive, the processing and shipment fee to get the cord blood to the bank, fees for testing the blood and an annual storage fee.
2. Receive your kit to collect the cord blood from the placenta. The bank will also provide your doctor or midwife with instructions and everything you need to know about collecting the cord blood.
3. Contact the cord blood bank as soon as your baby is born and you have collected the cord blood. The bank will have a medical courier pick to pick up your sample and transport it the lab where it will immediately undergo processing and testing.
4. Complete the cord blood testing. Once the testing is complete, the blood is cryopreserved in special blood bags. The blood is kept at 196 degrees Celsius in liquid nitrogen at all times until it is needed. You should receive a copy of all test results and sample analysis.

Tips & Warnings

• Banking cord blood can be expensive. Ask banks about payment plans.