and one more from a mama who is eternally greatful that she had the cord blood... This mama we also met at Duke, but only when we returned to visit a friend in treatment. I never met her daughter.
Brief History: Our daughter with an as yet undiagnosed blood disease, leaving her incapable for producing sufficient red blood cells. She received her first blood transfusion at three days old and remained dependant on blood transfusions (which carry many long-term health risks including accumulation of iron in the organs and mortality) through her first years. Finally the doctors told us that though they might never have a definitive diagnosis, she would continue to require red blood cell transfusions, and the chelation therapy to reduce iron overload, for the rest of her life -- the only hope for a cure was a bone marrow transplant. Imagine our joy when our son was born on February 12th, 2003, and discovered to be a perfect match for his sister. We collected his cord blood at the birth, and almost two years later this same blood was transfered into his sister on January 5, 2005, her transplant day. Our joy and gratitude only grows as she continues to heal and recover. She did very well through the transplant and after ten months of treatment in Durham, we are now home in New York.
Some of these sites are password protected so I have changed names since I didn't ask permission. This one and the Trimper's site are not proctected. Met Jackson, Mom and Dad briefly a year ago. Really cute family who have been through alot.
I'll stop now, I just wanted you all to see what good can come from the cord blood donations. I wish more people were informed by their OBs or Midwives. You know, I don't think that those who want to let the cord stop pulsating before cutting it after birth are excluded from donating. They really don't take much and a lot of it comes from the placenta. It's a veeeeery small sacrifice on the part of your baby for the life of another.
Also, one mama said that her OB discouraged her from donating b/c it is too costly for others to use it and it is not used for that reason. He was misinformed. Insurance covers it and if there is no medical insurance, Medicaid will pay for it. A child who needs it is never denied, especially at a research hospital like Duke or St. Judes. The expensive part is banking it and saving it for yourself.
I havn't read any of the info but you can donate cord blood without having to pay? I would have loved to donate ours. If we have another child how would one go about donating and is there a cost?
Yeah, I thought the baby who the cord belongs to should be infused with that blood if it is left to stop pulsing. So is there some left after that could be used, or would that not work? And would this only work for hospital births? Like could a midwife or parent somehow get a kit to collect it or something?
Kerri
__________________
Mama to Cole (8), Naomi (7), Adam (7), and Noah (4)
All adopted - All breastfed
Wife to my darling David for over 11 years
Breastfeeding Counsellor and Doula
Waiting to hear back about my midwifery school application.
Gulp.
Yeah, I thought the baby who the cord belongs to should be infused with that blood if it is left to stop pulsing. So is there some left after that could be used, or would that not work? And would this only work for hospital births? Like could a midwife or parent somehow get a kit to collect it or something?
Kerri
I'll be researching this over the next few weeks to get all the information you are asking for. I am not sure about amounts, but it is not an exhorbitant amount as you can see from the pics in the links I posted earlier. As far as who can collect... I had a lay midwife tell me that she could do it. It's tricky though and has to be stored just right, so if I knew that I NEEDED it for some reason I might choose a hospital birth unless she made me feel very confident about her "collection knowledge."
I'll keep researching. IMO, donating it outweighs the benefits of anything else, but having a child with cancer, I am biased.
In some areas it is free to donate...not sure if all states have legislation about this but my research so far says they don't. It is never free to collect and save it for yourself. That is very costly.
I have alot of work to do in this area over the next few weeks as I have discovered that my state has no clear laws about cost and distributing information to moms and dads to be. Just keep watching here and I will update as I get more information.
Thanks for posting this!! I'd be delighted to donate cord blood to help someone else out. My MIL died from leukemia. She wasn't able to get a bone marrow match, and we wonder what would have happened if she had had a match.
This site (National Marrow Donor Program) has a good FAQ, and it says donating is free:
This last one also stores cord blood for-profit for that family's use, but they also offer the donation program. (The National Marrow Donor Program refers you here if there's no hospital in your area. I contacted them to ask for more info - I'm too early on to register yet.)
__________________
Sharon
Mommy to Sarah (8/14/98), Michael (10/18/00), and John (9/30/03) and Peter 7/17/06
Wife to Byron since 1992!
Super Spy John, Michael, Sarah, and Super Peter with napkin cape
Sounds like the clamping of the cord happens before the pulsing of the blood flow stops, but that would be someting that can be researched further. 3-5 oz does not sound like alot, though.
Just another thumbs up on donation. We donated DS's cord blood because one of my good friend's son was saved by a cord blood donation when his leukemia relapsed. It's an amazing story, but it's been 8 years and he's doing great.
We did the donation with the kit from CryoBanks. It was really simple, and I almost could have done it myself. Basically the blood was taken when the placenta and cord were sitting on a tray. My son and I were nursing and didn't even notice. Then later we called FEDEX and they came up and picked up the package. I've heard some OBs will charge to collect, but mine wouldn't think of it. Later on we got a nice thank you letter and a bib for DS. I honestly can't think of any reason NOT to donate, it was so easy, non-invasive, and heck, if we're lucky, actually helped someone!
Does anyone know if there is a way to donate if you have a homebirth? I contacted one agency that told me that homebirths are not included in donor programs, which is very disappointing. My husband donated bone marrow 1 1/2 years ago, so this is something that is very important to us. Unfortunately, I'm due in 8 weeks and am not willing or able to switch to an OB and give birth at a hospital at this point. Any ideas or people I could contact? Thanks!
to my best friend Pat (4/00) 
Bump
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