cord blood and saving lives

I know cord blood banking is all the rage now, but i just wanted to show a tidbit before you spend the money to do it.

I'm sure lots of people think that the only way to get stem cells for scientific research is through aborted fetuses. It's not!! Your baby's umbilical cord is full of the stuff. Companies will try to get you to spend a whole bunch of money to save it if your child ever gets sick and needs it. It's your choice to do it or not, but personally i'd much rather donate it to research. You might never use it, but it could save someone else's life. If you don't plan on spending the money to save the cord blood, the hospital simply throws it away with the other bio hazardous waste. This is a total waste.

I lost my grandpa in 2004 to congestive heart failure and my dad was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006. Luckily,Dad is still kickin'! People, i implore you. Do some research. All you have to do is to tell your doctor that you want to donate it and it's totally free. Not all hospitals can accept these donations. I have no idea why. I can't donate where I live, so please, someone donate theirs for me.

If nothing else, please take ten minutes to Google the topic.

I donated mine.  

It's stored at Duke Medical.

I have been thinking of what to do with ours, but had no idea you could donate it. That's a great idea, I will definately look into it! Thanks

If a hospital accepts donations, they normally come to you and ask if you're interested. There's paperwork to fill out and all.

I think when I have a child I will get that done as well.

I just found out that the hospital stored Ashers cord blood(he had a birth defect called CDH) and they are keeping it to use for further testing for CDH and incase I happen to have another baby with defects so they can possibly find links. I think it is a wonderful idea, although I was too drugged up at the time of my sons birth to request it be done.

I'm letting my baby have it. If you let the umbilical cord stay until the pulse stops, than your baby gets all that good blood - soooo many benefits from doing this. I read that most people who pay to have it stored (not donated) dont even end up using it.

Quoting Wallah:“ I'm letting my baby have it. If you let the umbilical cord stay until the pulse stops, than your baby ... [snip!] ... soooo many benefits from doing this. I read that most people who pay to have it stored (not donated) dont even end up using it.”

thats what i did too.

How much does it cost to save your babies cord blood?

how do you apply to save it for either the baby or donating?

Quoting *~Mandee~*:“ how do you apply to save it for either the baby or donating?”

I think you can go through via cord...but I'm not sure.