cord blood

[kool]

i came across cord blood banking in motherhood exhibition , and thinking now to sign up for it or not , wud like to get some advice on it .

has any1 signed up for it ?
wht normally ppl do with the cord blood?
how many cord blood banks r there in singapore ?
which one to choose and why ?

[cajohoney]

I signed the free one at KKH when I delivered my number 2. The cord blood is donated to Singapore corblood bank and you do not have exclusive use of it. It's the nation's property. I did some research before I decide to donate instead of putting with a private bank.

1. It's free. Private CBB is very, very pricey.
2. One's cordblood need not necessarily match the family members' though the match from one's own bloodline has a higher possibility of being a suitable match.
3. Your cordblood may lack beneficial and required genetic material, if need arises *touchwood*. When this happens, the doctors will still go to national cordblood banks or private cordblood banks to look for suitable match.

The advantage of putting in private cordblood bank is that you have exclusive access to it. If others need it, they have to ask your permission. They don't do that for the public CBB.

Just some of my opinion after some research and speaking to some prediatricians. 
 

[H2OSeekers]

Planning to have that done for my no. 2. Quoted $840 for subscription and $250 every year after the 2nd year (Different Hospital, different rates). Cajohoney has a point, nothing beats not coming out a single cent. But my worry is, there is not a lot of cord blood that is AB+ type. Also not being exclusively yours, would mean that your baby's sample can be used by anyone and everyone. Meaning if the need arises, the possibility of using someone else's cord blood, because your sample might have been depleted from the use by research or others.

[nor]

I did come accross these cord blood banking. I was told that it would cost me $1000. By the way the doctor says it i got it all confuse. I think there are 3 option given.
1) save the cord blood for my family future need only
2) save the cord blood for everyone to use (public use)
3) to throw it away.

Last time we malay usually burried the whole placenta and the cord in earth etc...