What is the current thinking on umbilical cord blood banking?

[Anonymous]

When I had my first kid this was a big conversation...pregnant again 13 years later, though, the doctor has barely mentioned it. Does anybody have an informed argument either way about whether private cord blood banking is a good option?

[Anonymous]

One child’s cord blood is enough to bank. Can be used by siblings if necessary. In the event the kids are not match, and one child needs it, can donate it saved blood to a community coed blood storage program which then allows you to have access to other donated cord blood that may be a better match

[Anonymous]

* sorry .. typing on phone on metro… remove “coed”
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[Anonymous]

Have never encountered anyone who is able to articulate how storing the cord blood is useful in any way, shape or form. It all comes across as theoretical uses that might one day be realized. Have never met anyone who actually tried to retrieve the cord blood with success.

[Anonymous]

It's like $15 a month to store and you never know what you may be able to use it for in the future. If that doesn't impact your budget, why not

[Anonymous]

I would rather donate mine to research than save it but my hospital doesn't do that so we've always just had it thrown out. :/