Considering banking your baby's cord blood?

Baby's cord blood saves her life

Have you considered banking your baby's cord blood after his birth? The story of a three-month-old girl who had a cancerous grapefruit sized tumor growing in her abdomen and who was cured in part by her own cord blood might encourage you to really think about it. Fox News highlighted the story of Harlow Page, who was diagnosed with the tumor and cancer. Her parents had made the decision to bank her cord blood at birth. In the end, it was a wonderful decision for Harlow. Chemotherapy shrank the tumor down to nothing and two stem cell transplants have left her body cancer-free and healthy. She's now three years old and doing wonderfully.

What do you know about banking cord blood?

According to the Fox News article, the initial fee to bank cord blood runs between $2,000 and $3,000. In addition, there is a storage fee each year, which averages $125. Cord blood is banked immediately after your baby's birth and is collected in the delivery room.The cord blood and stem cells are taken from the end of the umbilical cord that is attached to the placenta. If you decide not to bank your baby's cord blood, you also have the option of donating it. While it is possible that the cord blood could still be there if your child needs it, there is no guarantee. However, by donating it, you're potentially helping another child that needs it. Read more about cord blood banking

• The great cord blood debate
• Cord Blood Registry