Are you expecting a baby? Or are you a loving parent of a newborn? Then you must have heard the term 'Cord Blood Banking' by now. You may have heard about it from private hospitals, or even from your friends. You may have seen advertisements that say, "Let's bank the baby's cord blood for the future." So, the question that many people have is whether this is really worth it or is it just a big expense. Today, we will talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.
First, let's see, what is umbilical cord blood?
Simply put, after the baby is born, we call it umbilical cord blood. This is usually wasted. But this blood is very valuable. The reason for this is that this blood is very rich in stem cells .
"Okay, now what are these stem cells?" you might be thinking. Think of these stem cells as something like a brand new book with nothing written on it, or like a ball of clay that can be molded into any shape. These stem cells have the amazing ability to become any type of specialized cell our body needs (for example, heart cells, brain cells, blood cells). Because of this ability, these cells are used to treat some diseases.
"Biological Insurance" - Is this story true?
Private cord blood banks often refer to this as "biological insurance." The idea is, "Keep this as insurance in case your child ever gets seriously ill."
However, major medical associations and doctors around the world do not fully agree with this view. For example, even the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading pediatric association in the United States, has stated that it is "unwise" to do this as a form of 'biological insurance'.
The main reason for this is that, given the high cost involved, the chances of the child needing their own cord blood are extremely low. Also, even if the diseases that these cells are said to be treatable develop, there are already other successful treatments for them.
In fact, the likelihood of a child needing their own cord blood is very low. Imagine that the child has a genetic disease . Then the stem cells in their cord blood also have the same genetic defect. So, those cells cannot be given back to them and treated. In such a case, what is needed is stem cells obtained from a healthy donor.
Diseases for which umbilical cord blood is currently used
Putting aside the idea that this is insurance, umbilical cord blood is actually already being used successfully to treat some serious medical conditions. Key among them are:
- Some types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
- Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
- Some genetic blood diseases such as Thalassemia.
- Some immune system weaknesses.
The important thing is that many of these diseases are very rare conditions .
Difference between private banking and public banking
There are two main methods for storing cord blood. Let's be aware of that as well.
| Method | Description | Notable points |
|---|---|---|
| Private Banking | Storage of your baby's umbilical cord blood, for your own family's use only, for a fee. | - High initial and annual maintenance fees. - The blood unit belongs only to you. - It is very unlikely that your child will need it. |
| Public Banking / Donation | Donating cord blood to a public bank. It can be used by any patient in need. | - It won't cost you anything. - It will help save the life of someone in need. - Once donated, you have no rights to that unit of blood. |
Although Sri Lanka currently has facilities for private banking, the public banking system is not very developed.
Hopes and realities of the future
There is another side to this story. That is the future. Scientists hope that in the future, these stem cells will be able to be used to treat many more diseases. Among them:
- Diabetes
- Damage caused by heart failure
- Alzheimer's disease
- Spinal cord damage
Including conditions like. So some people think, "If we stored our baby's umbilical cord blood today, wouldn't it be possible to use it when a cure for this kind of disease is found someday?"
This is really good hope. But the most important thing we need to understand is that all of these treatments are still in the research stage . They are still theoretical. That means no one knows when, how, or if they will be successful. Also, it is not yet clear whether stem cells from umbilical cord blood are the best for these future treatments, or whether cells from other sources (e.g., bone marrow) are better.
So, what decision should you make?
With all these factors in mind, this is a really big decision. Before making this decision, you and your partner should consider these factors together.
The most important thing is to make a decision based on scientific facts, rather than on the marketing tactics of some salesperson or what people say.
The best thing you can do is to talk openly about this with your Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and your child's Consultant Paediatrician . They can give you the most appropriate advice, taking into account your family medical history, your financial situation and all other factors.
Especially if someone in your family (such as a sibling) already has a disease that can be treated with a stem cell transplant, it may be worth considering cord blood banking in such a special case. However, the final decision should be made after discussing it with your doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Umbilical cord blood is a valuable resource rich in stem cells.
- Private banking is a very expensive option. Even though it is marketed as "insurance", the chances of it actually being useful are very low.
- The likelihood that your child will need his/her own cord blood is very low. Especially for genetic diseases, cells from another healthy person are needed.
- Although there are hopes that in the future, conditions such as diabetes and heart disease may be treated with stem cells, all of these are still in the research stage and cannot be guaranteed.
- Before making any decisions about this, do not be swayed by advertisements or other people's stories, but discuss it openly with your doctor and make an informed decision.
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