What is Cord Blood Banking?

For women in their second trimester of pregnancy, a doctor may have discussed cord-blood banking.

Cord-blood banking is when a baby's umbilical cord blood is collected and stored after delivery. Cord blood contains valuable stem cells that help treat life-threatening diseases.

Dr. Robert Atlas, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said doctors have recently seen a decline in patients choosing cord-blood banking. Many women are choosing what's called "delayed cord clamping" instead, which is when the doctor waits to cut the cord after birth.

"We don't cut the cord for a minute. That means more blood will get to the baby. There'll be less risk of anemia at three months. And so, that's where the benefit to the baby occurs. The problem is there's not going to be enough blood to do the cord-blood banking in most instances," Dr. Atlas said.

Dr. Atlas noted that cord-blood banking is expensive, at about $2,000 to set up, and then $200 a year to store it. He said it is rare for families to end up needing the cord blood as the numbers are about one out of every 200 cases.

View Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Robert Atlas' interview regarding cord blood banking.