Did you do it? Are you thinking of doing it? What's the skinny? I am not sure if it's worth while or not - read myself into analysis paralysis.
There are equal medical arguments pro and anti. So, I leave it to the far wiser, far cooler bloggie sisterhood to guide me.
I'm not doing it, though I will donate to a public bank if possible. I'll be interested to hear what you do!
ReplyDeleteWe are doing it because, although the donors said they would be available for medical issues before the child is 18, there is no guarantee that they would be a match etc. If we hadn't done donor gametes, i don't think I'd bother, but since we did, we will.
ReplyDeleteI went back and forth on this decision and did lots of research. A part of me feels it's a great marketing ploy from the cord blood banks, but a part of me thought, "what if...". Which is exactly the goal of the marketing! What pushed me over the edge was talking to my OB who said that she did it for her child, and would recommend doing it if we could afford it. And we can. I used one of the well known banks, and there is a large payment up front, but then the annual amount is very small.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a personal choice, but I'll tell you why we did not do it. The idea (I understand) is to save those precious stem cells from the umbilical cord to hopefully "cure" a later identified genetic defect. The stories you see on TV generally go like this: older child has genetic problem, parents get pregnant in hopes of having healthy child without defect so that stem cells can be used to cure older child's problem. In that scenario, it works. Perhaps with twins it might work, presuming one child has the defect and the other does not. But if a child has a genetic disorder, that child's own cord blood has the same DNA, and therefore has the defect and cannot cure the child. Also, only a limited number of defects are even curable using stem cells.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if you've got the money, it certainly can't hurt.
We decided to do it 3 years ago when my son was born. It was one of those decision that came from the file marked "You can't un-ring that bell" if we didn't do it then later regretted it.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to know where the science will go in the next 5 - 10 - 15 years so I looked at it as insurance. We may never need/use it, but if we have to we'll be glad it's there.
If you decide against private banking I would 100% suggest you donate to a public bank. Lots of good work being done and usefulness.
Great topic! If you are only having one child, not so worth it. Very few conditions are helped by the cord blood of the same individual. HOWEVER, in your case, with twins, yes, I would absolutely do it. Heaven forbid one of your children develops leukemia, for example, the cord blood of the other infant (which may be a good match but will contain healthy cells) could be life saving.
ReplyDeleteI think the issue of cord blood is all that much more important when using donors (egg or sperm) as available matches from genetic family members becomes more difficult.
Hi EB -- we banked cord blood; Will has had two types of blood cancer and if he ever needed a stem cell transplant we thought it best to at least have this chance. (Plus, one never knows where the science is going.)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to weigh in on the whole c-section thing. My recovery was, in a word, easy. I needed almost no pain meds beyond regular otc advil-type stuff by the third day and was up and walking and using the stairs all that as soon as I got home. I probably did too much, since I hadn't read the discharge instructions too carefully (I was focused on trying to feed the baby). I know you keep yourself fit -- I think my underlying level of fitness from rowing and pilates for so many years really helped. The one thing I would do differently, and this has nothing to do with the c-section recovery, is I would not try to do anything right away. Mothering magazine recommends post-delivery recovery as follows: at least a week in the bed with the baby, at least a week around the bed with the baby. So, if you can, just take to your bed with your books and your babies and let people bring you stuff and relax and bond. I wish I had done that instead of vacuuming the couch b/c my mother insisted on coming over RIGHT AWAY. Love to you,
Elizabeth
I decided not to do it for the reasons others have written. I planned to donate to the public bank, but after the fact was told it's not possible with a donor conceived child, because they can't get all the genetic info they want. Just FYI.
ReplyDeleteWe did not do it, but considered public donation. The literature we read said that public donation does have your name on it and if you need it and no one else has used it (likely, apparently), you get first dibs. Ultimately, we didn't do any donation for a variety of reasons (one being that the form and the process is more complicated than you'd think).
ReplyDeleteI screwed this one up. You must complete the paper work early, not ask on the day of delivery like me.
ReplyDeleteIt is primarily for the next children, not the twins.
Donating it is the great option, but just read all the hiccups w DE.