Health Column
December 1, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Poyant
Public Information Officer
Southcoast Health System
Office: 508-961-5280
Cell: 774-634-1460
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pager: 508-387-2532
poyants@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases
Christian S. Pope, DO, FACOG
Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
HealthCare for Women, Inc., Mattapoisett, New Bedford and Dartmouth
Dr. Pope practices at St. Luke’s Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals
Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.
Expecting a baby is an exciting and overwhelming experience for both new and veteran parents,
who are faced with many important decisions to make for the family's future.
So, parents, you've got the car seat, the Mercedes-Benz of strollers, and the deluxe diaper bag...
but have you considered perhaps the most important preparation of all?
Cord blood banking is the collection and storage of the stem cells found in your newborn's
umbilical cord, and should be considered by any parent-to-be. It is a rich, non-controversial
source of stem cells that can only be collected at the time of birth.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the building blocks of our blood and immune systems. They are found throughout
the body; in bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood. Stem cells are particularly powerful
because they have the ability to treat, repair and/or replace damaged cells in the body.
How are stem cells used in medicine?
Stem cells are used therapeutically in transplants to help cure, treat and repair damaged blood and
immune systems. This is especially valuable when the systems have been damaged by radiation
or chemotherapy.
Why do families choose to collect and store their baby's cord blood?
Today, cord blood stem cells have been used successfully in the treatment of nearly 80 diseases.
More than 600,000 families worldwide have banked their cord blood.
For most families, banking their baby's cord blood offers peace of mind that, should there be a
need, their family's stem cells are readily available. Still others choose cord blood banking
because of its emerging use in treating Type 1 Diabetes and cerebral palsy, as well as heart
disease and stroke.
How is the cord blood collected?
There is only one time that cord blood can be collected: at birth.
The collection process is easy and painless, takes two to four minutes, and does not interfere with
the delivery or subsequent care for your newborn. After your baby is born, but before the placenta
is delivered, your obstetrician or midwife cleans a four-to-eight-inch length of the umbilical cord
with antiseptic solution and inserts the blood bag needle into the umbilical vein, allowing blood to
flow into the bag. When collection is complete, the blood bag is then clamped, sealed, and
labeled. Three tubes of maternal blood are also drawn for testing.
Is there any risk to my child or myself?
There is no risk to mother or child during the cord blood collection process. The baby does not
remain in the birthing area during the procedure, and the procedure itself is painless and
noninvasive.
Where Should I Store the Blood?
There are two options: private or public storage. Should you choose private, the blood will be
kept in a storage facility and will be available for use at your discretion. If you opt for public,
your child's stem cells might be used for research or for a patient in need. If you donate your
child's cord blood to a public center and then realize down the road that you need it, you may be
able to still retrieve it if it hasn't already been used.
How much does it cost?
Typically the only cost for public donation is the cost of the physician's collection fee, which is
minimal. For private storage, prices vary but usually range from $1000-$2000 in collection fees
and approximately $200 annually for storage.
There are several private banking options to choose from, such as reputable companies ViaCord,
LifeBank USA, CryoCell and Cord Blood Registry (CBR).
Is It Right for You?
There are many considerations and precautions to keep in mind.
Some doctors and organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have
expressed concern that cord-blood banks may capitalize on the fears of vulnerable new parents by
providing misleading information about the statistics of bone marrow transplants. Parents of
children of ethnic or racial minorities, adopted children or children conceived through in vitro
fertilization may be especially encouraged to bank cord blood.
The AAP doesn't recommend cord-blood banking for families with no history of disease. That's
because research has not yet determined the likelihood that a child would ever need his or her
own stem cells; nor has it confirmed that transplantation using self-donated cells, rather than cells
from a relative or stranger, is safer or more effective. According to the AAP, "private storage of
cord blood as 'biological insurance' is unwise. However, banking should be considered if there is
a family member with a current or potential need to undergo a stem cell transplantation."
Other doctors and researchers support saving umbilical cord blood as a source of blood-forming
stem cells in every delivery — mainly because of the promise that stem-cell research holds for the
future. Most people would have little use for stem cells now, but research into the use of stem
cells for treatment of disease is ongoing — and the future looks promising.
If you do decide to bank your newborn's cord blood, be sure to discuss your options with your
obstetrician. Here are a few questions to consider before choosing a cord-blood bank:
How financially stable is the cord-blood bank? (What is the chance that you will have to transfer
your sample if the facility closes?)
How many samples are processed in the facility? (A larger number of samples usually means that
there are more collection and handling procedures in place.)
Do I have the option of switching to another facility if I choose?
What happens to my sample if the facility goes out of business?
What are the yearly fees and maintenance costs involved? Will these fees increase, or are they
fixed?
Like community or hospital blood banks, cord-blood banks are regulated by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA).
As with all decisions regarding your family's future, find out as much as possible from your
doctor and trusted professionals before making a decision. Cord blood banking is a big decision
and it's one that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Have a Women’s health topic you would like covered? Dr. Pope is happy to answer your questions
or write a column on a topic you choose. Send women’s health topic requests to Stephanie Poyant
at poyants@southcoast.org.
Dr. Christian S. Pope specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. He has offices in New Bedford and
Mattapoisett and practices at St. Luke’s Hospital, the New Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals
Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.
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