Did you collect the cord blood?

[carla]

Just wondering if anyone has done any research into collecting the cord blood?

[Atsie]

I wanted to but it was to much $$$ for me at the time. They have one in Alberta where you donate it. If i had learned about it earlier I would have done that. THey need forms and stuff from the Dr. by the 30th week I think and I learned about it in the 32nd!

[BrandiJK]

Dh and I have been talking about this, and we decided to look into our coverage, see if it is an option. We have not done it before because we didn't know about it.

[carla]

Erin,

I know what you mean about the money! That is great to hear about AB. Do you know where I could find out more information about it?

[carla]

I found the info. on their website. It says that you can be eligble up to 34 weeks of preg. It also says that you can't donate if you have been on any med's during the pregnancy, including diclectin, so I am out!

[PamelaRose]

I would have loved to, but out hospital doesn't have the facilities to store collected blood. I would gladly have donated it, too.

[Atsie]

That is too bad about the meds. Unless there is a miracle I guess they wont get mine next time either.

[carla]

Pamela, I believe they send you the kit, so the hospital doesn't have to store it. It gets stored at a private facility. try doing a search under cord blood donation.

[mrsbigdog]

I could not possibly afford to store cord blood but I am intending to donate it. Actually I had hunted online about donating and wasn't finding anything here in St. Louis but then saw a flyer in my dr office last time I was there. We have two world class children's hospitals here in St. Louis and they coordinate the program.

I was concerned when I saw the post about not being accepted if you've taken any meds so I called the donation center. They told me that meds during pregnancy does not automatically make the cord blood unacceptable so I am going to talk to my dr on Friday about it.

My biggest concern is the extra blood that has to be drawn at the hospital but if they can't get the stick on the first or second try I just won't donate!

[PamelaRose]

I'm in the middle of nowhere here. The closest cord-blood collection site is a minimum of 2 hours away, and my hospital has no way of getting it there short of medevac helicoptor, so no good. I did look into it briefly since my cousin's little girl was diagnosed with cancer when I was pg with Reilly.

[Hotbrass]

We have not collected the cord blood with the two babies we have but plan on it with this tome around. Yes it's spendy but nothing compared to what Dr. bills can be in a quick hurry.
The last place I checked was about $2,300. + $40 a month from there on out. Most insurances are starting to kick in on CBC and the companies also have payment plans.
The way I see it, It's insurance not only for this baby but the chance that it could save one of my other two kids is over 75% I guess it can also help me or DH. I think it's worth the $.
Btw, I have home births and I guess the process is very easy and can be done wherever I am as long as the blood is put in the freezer asap. Monique

[Hotbrass]

We have decided on a company for our cord blood bank and I got to speak to one of their experts on the meds during pregnancy issue.

He said that it's the stem cell counts that they use and the meds in the blood don't matter. Hurray for HG women huh!

Cord Blood Registry is the oldest and most successful (40 transplants with a 100% success rate to date and the others are around 10 transplants and not all successful) cord blood bank.

As far as cost it will be $1,600.00 and $125 a year after that.

36 of the 40 transplants have been done on a sibling of the CB donor.

#40 was used for Cerebral Palsy and #38 and #39 were used for Brain Damage.

They believe that it will be proven to cure Diabetes very soon as well as many other diseases.

I guess as of now insurance companies won't cover the fees unless the services are used (pray that never happens.)

Anyway, just wanted to give you an update on what I learned. Monique

PS. They are international so wherever you are you can use their service.