Umbilical cord stem cell collection

[Prequelle]

Just seen this on Facebook and realised I didn't know anything about it - has anyone heard of it or done it before?

For the sum of £1495 (at least!) you can have your babies stem cells from the umbilical cord stored in case they can be used in the future for potential life saving treatment for your child in the future as medical enhancements are made.

It seems like a good idea! Haven't got the money for it ourselves but seems worth doing if you have

My friend did this when she had her (now) 14 year old, so it's not that new. She and her husband both work in the medical field so maybe she knew about it before most?

It’s largely a scam. You can’t really use your own baby’s stem cells for treatment, but if you belong to a private bank you can donate them to others who need them. If your baby ever needs them, you can apply through the bank to see if there is a donor match and if that family would donate theirs to you.

The science of stem cell transplantation is still emerging though and we really don’t know what benefits these sorts of banks will have in the future. It’s likely a bit of a waste of money. You are better off allowing delayed cord clamping (giving your baby all the benefits of their own cord blood at birth, not doing so risks anaemia) or donating to an NHS bank where it can help another family for free.

I donated my placenta /DS cord with Anthony Nolan. It wasn't something I'd planned on doing but I'm so pleased I did and I hope it's helped someone. If we ever did need it back as it were, I hope we'd be able to access it.

The science of stem cell transplantation is still emerging though and we really don’t know what benefits these sorts of banks will have in the future

That's what they're selling it as, it's clear we can't use it now but they're saying with such enhancements being made we could in the future so worth saving.

I think I might just donate mine if it's wanted

I smell a scam. Research on stem cells is progressing leaps and bounds and in a few years so many new treatment techniques will be available on the NHS anyway.