To bank or not to bank...
Cord blood, that is the question.
It makes all the sense in the world: bank your baby's cord blood and if needed someday, use it to cure her. It's as simple as that... or is it?
When I first heard of it, I immediately planned on doing it - why wouldn't I? Who wouldn't want to bank the potential to save their child?
Then I found out the cost and I nearly gave birth... to bankruptcy.
Here in New Jersey it costs upwards to $3000.00 for the initial fee and then an additional annual charge for storage.
Three grand is a small price to pay to save your child however it's a HUGE cost to pay up front when your family is about to cut its income in half and increase its expenses significantly.
We are going to look into it, despite the cost, and I hope we'll be able to work it out but I'm wondering if any of you have chosen to bank. Any additional information would be much appreciated!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This unfortunitly was not offered when Jake was born, if you can financially figure it out I would definitly do it.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about it too, but I honestly think the cost would deter me... I don't think I could do it.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of a way where you can donate the cord though, so that at least SOMEONE can use it right away. It's free to do that, and I think it's something I would do..
Oooh. Donation does sound interesting. And for the record, I had a very vivid dream that I gave birth, and then called you...because you had just given birth too. In the dream I had no idea what to call the child and you were offering inspiration. (And in case you are wondering, I am NOT pregnant...though I do think you would have good ideas for names).
ReplyDeleteI second the Cord Blood Donation. Who knows, if Bebe needs it, she might even get hers back ;-)
ReplyDeletewebsite link if you want to read up on it
http://www.communitybloodservices.org/cordblood.php
Hey- we did bank Drea's blood but I am very hopeful that it was a complete waste of money for us. I agree that the number of diseases that cord blood can cure today are pretty low/very improbable sicknesses but I am hopeful that they will continue to make strides in the future. Plus, I just couldn't imagine my guilt if we hadn't banked the blood and then she needed it. The book/movie My Sister's Keeper pretty much put the nail in the coffin for me. You are right though, it is not cheap and each year that we get the bill, it is hard to pay. I did get a really great coupon from the dr's office and we got like 30% off I think. I bet you can find a good code online.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Ashley
Do it. God forbid your child needs a stem cell transplant their own cord is the best way to go.
ReplyDelete