Should You Consider Cord Banking After You Give Birth? An Expert Weighs In

Consider this helpful advice before you make your decision.

By: Jen Glantz

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Is Cord Banking Right for You?

During the final few months of my pregnancy, I decided to sit down and fill out a birth plan for my labor and delivery. After hearing stories from friends and family members, I understood that there was a lot about giving birth that would be completely out of my control. However, there were a few key decisions that I felt I had to make before the big day came and some of those decisions involved things I didn’t know anything about.

On one birth plan template, I saw there was an option of whether or not you wanted to do something called "cord banking." According to the Cleveland Clinic, cord banking is when your baby's umbilical cord blood is collected and stored after delivery.

Since this was something I had never heard of before, I decided to do more research on why someone would or wouldn’t do this, to help me make my own decision and complete this section on my birth plan.

I spoke with Christine Kingsley, an advanced practice registered nurse, who shared more on the benefits and expenses of cord blood banking.

Here’s what I learned.

The Potential Benefits

If a person decides to move forward with cord blood banking, Kingsley said there are some key benefits that this process might provide to you or other family members.

"Cord blood stem cells have the ability to develop into various types of cells, including blood cells, nerve cells, and muscle cells," she said. "These cells have the potential to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and certain types of cancer."

There are even other future potential benefits that Kingsley said are currently being researched, which could include using cord blood stem cells in the treatment of diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and Parkinson’s disease.

Consider Family History

When deciding whether or not this is something you want to do, Kingsley said it can help to revisit your family’s medical history to see if there are certain diseases that have shown up in the past that could be treated with cord blood stem cells.

"For example, if a family member has been diagnosed with a blood disorder or an immune system disorder, another family member may be at a higher risk of developing the same condition," she said.

If that’s the case, cord blood stem cells could provide an additional resource for a potential treatment and you could be investing in a potentially life-saving resource for your family's future by banking your baby's cord blood.

It Can Be Quite Costly

One of the main reasons why people might not decide to move forward with cord blood banking is the cost. Kingsley said the initial costs alone of collecting and storing the blood can be high and there might be recurring annual storage fees as well.

One website I looked at charged over $11,000 for the collection and storage of the blood.

"Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of cord blood banking, which may deter families who do not have the financial resources to invest in this option," she said. "The cost may outweigh the potential benefits for some families."

There’s a Chance You’ll Never Use This

When deciding whether or not to move forward with this, Kingsley said it’s important to consider that the likelihood of needing cord blood stem cells in a future medical treatment is relatively low.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the likelihood of a child requiring their own stored cord blood for treatment is one in 2,700.

"Plus, the likelihood that a family member will need to use the stored cord blood is low. While having the option available can provide some families with peace of mind, others may not see the potential benefits as being worth the cost and effort of banking cord blood," she said.

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