cord blood

RebeccaMB

Registered User
any experiences with banking your cord blood in HK? feelings towards "cryolife", etc. alternatively, anyone sent their cord blood back to their "home country" for "banking"?

thx
R
 
We've used Cryolife. Cant say we're happy or we're unhappy as the proof of their services can only be got in the unfortunate event that you may need to use the blood.

Give me a couple of days (busy as hell @ work) to dig up some of the research we'd done on cord blood banking and cryolife.
 
I asked my dr about this and in a nutshell she told me that unless I have a family history of blod-related deseases/cancer etc, then I am in the low risk group and therefore the chance that I or anyone in my immediate family who could use the cord blood is quite minimal. I gave the matter some thought and decided against it in the end.
 
oh.... and since Crayo life only offers "storage" service and does not guarantee that the cord blood is useable or there is sufficient cord blood for whatever use, I just did not think that it was worth it.... just personal opinion...
 
Cord blood donation

I went to the Red Cross Hong Kong website and saw that pregnant mothers can donate cord blood to Red Cross so that it can be used for people who may need it. If I knew of this, I would have donated my cord blood.

Of course, this is different from the private cord banks because you "lose" your right to your cord blood, but unless you have a family history of blood related diseases, the chances of your children needing the cord blood is not high.

If you are interested there are details on www.redcross.org.hk. You might be able to help people out there who may benefit from your cord blood and it's painless.
 
red cross donating...

i wish i'd thought of this! Our son made his appearance on Sept8th, so it's too late for us now ... but again somthing to think about/consider in the future...
Rebecca
 
Here are the requirements to register for donating cord blood to the Red Cross bank...

...If she, her husband and children have no history of cancers.
...There is no history of Haemoglobinopathy, Immunodeficiency, Coagulopathy, Metabolic diseases and blood cancers within her or her husband's immediate family.
...She is healthy and without any history of infection and has not received any clotting factor concentrate, organ or tissue transplant.
...She has not spent three or more cumulative months in the UK between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1996.
....She agrees to provide BTS with a blood sample for infection marker testing according to the international standards.
...She is willing to provide BTS with the baby's full name, identity number and health information.

I would encourage everyone to donate to this bank - but it looks like it's impossible for us Brits. I guess this is a BSE thing?
 
Fyi,
if you give birth in private hospital under natural delivery, they can't collect your cord blood. only if you do it by schedule caesarian delivery.

They have their staff to collect the cord blood in QE and Kwong Wah hospital.
Kwong wah from 7 am to 10 pm,Monday to friday (except public holiday), and 10 am to 9.45 pm on Sunday.
QE from 9 am to 5 pm, monday to friday.

private hospital only schedule caesarian, from Monday to Friday.

Too bad they can't do much bout this. Is there anyway we can donate somehow?
 
Wow - I can't believe that. You mean I can donate cord blood if I have a scheduled c-section? I guess they just don't have the budget and means to collect the cord blood "on-call". You would expect they would maybe work together with the private hospitals to ask the lab technicians to collect this blood. Anyway, must be very complicated.
 
Cord blood banking presents high risks for infants

A 9-pound baby typically has only about 10 ounces of blood. The common procedure of immediate cord clamping may deprive the infant up to 60% of this blood volume which is retained in the placenta. Instead, the cord should be clamped and cut only after the completion of the transference of blood from the placenta, along the pulsating umbilical cord, to the baby. This will create a healthy baby by fully expanding the lungs as well as providing the heart with the necessary blood volume and pressure. Furthermore, the infant will receive the necessary iron reserves, hormones, and stem cells. Cord blood banking may deprive the infant of the necessary blood volume and create the need to resuscitate the infant and/or create the need for blood transfusions, potentially making the infant weak for many months. There is the further potential of brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Please see www.MedicalVeritas.com and select the Brochure and Frequently Asked Questions/Answers regarding birthing procedures, early cord clamping, birthing positions and vaccines.
 
Dear Mr Gary Goldman,

It is v scary reading what you have posted and some of the info on your personal webpage. But I wish I had known the risk and choices before I had my son, now 4 yo. Tks for posting.

Having said that, even armed with knowledge, doubt whether any HK doctors would oblige or pay attention to all the potential risks they are imposing on mother and child. Wish also more mothers understand the risks and shortfalls of C-section, HK being probably the C-section capital of the world, always encouraged by doctors for their own convenience.

Also, I had send a message/question to you on your webpage. Would be grateful if you would reply. Many tks.



rgds

e
 
Back
Top