Cord Blood FAQ
Q: What is cord blood?
A: Cord blood is the excess blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta of the mother after giving birth. It contains thousands of stem cells that are responsible for the body's immunity to diseases and blood circulation system. It is also believed to be the origin of other important systems and organs in the body. Stem cells develop and regenerate to become other types of cells in the body including white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Q: Why should I donate my baby's cord blood at cord blood banks?
A: It is recommended that you bank your baby's cord blood in a certified cord blood bank because it may just save a loved one's life in the future. Moreover, collecting your cord blood requires a very simple and painless process. It is risk-free and hassle-free. You only have one opportunity to bank your baby's cord blood and that is right after the delivery, so take advantage of it and help save the lives of others.
Q: Does donating cord blood involve risks and complications?
A: Donating cord blood is proven to be medically safe. It does not pose any health risk to you or your baby. Because it will be collected right after the baby is born, cord blood donation will not affect you, your baby, or even the birthing process itself. Moreover, if the doctor feels that there may be a little complication, he will not continue collecting cord blood anymore .
Q: Will it cost me anything if I donate cord blood?
A: Public cord blood donation is free of charge. Cord blood banks for unrelated donors are the ones that take care of the whole procedure. They will cover the processing cost and store your baby's cord blood unit in their own storage. On the other hand, if the you decide for your cord blood be stored for the exclusive use of your own family or loved ones, then the cord blood banks will charge you for a fee for the process they will perform. There are several cord blood banks in the United States that collect and store units for private use.
Q: Where can I donate cord blood?
A: Donations of cord blood can me made at cord blood banks and some participating hospitals. Not all hospitals provide services for cord blood donations because the procedure has not yet been fully recognized by many states and countries. You should contact hospitals by phone or visit their websites in the Internet to know whether they accept cord blood donations or not.
Q: Does cord blood expire? How long can it be stored?
A: Studies are still being conducted to determine the exact storage life of cord blood units. So far, good quality cord blood units can last up to 10 years of storage.