WWYD: cord blood problem

[rn536]

Hello. I am just wondering what you ladies would do in this situation. My husband and I disagree. We banked this LOs cord blood (did it for my first two as well). I actually wasn't going to do it with this one but my OB talked me into it with some personal stories.
I received an email from the company saying that my baby's cord blood came back positive for bacteria meaning it was contaminated. They claim that the sample "might" be able to be used if needed depending on the transplanting doctors decision. If I want to throw it away they will give me back all of my money. If I want to keep storing it and god forbid it is needed in the future but not used due to the contamination issue they would also refund all of our money. My husband thinks we should keep it "just in case" and continue to pay the yearly fee. I can't see paying to store blood with bacteria in it. I can't see how any doctor would ever use contaminated blood for a transplant. Deliberating putting bacteria into someone's blood stream???
Of course the thought of throwing it away makes me upset because we had wanted to store it but it just didn't work out.
What would you do? Throw it away now and get your money back or keep it and keep paying the yearly fee? Thanks

[gradschoolmama]

I'm not any kind of expert and I did not bank my kids cord blood. So now that you know how uninformed I am......

I do know a bit about stats and probabilities. It sounds like the likelihood of needing the blood and actually being able to use it is incredibly remote. I would take back the money and let it go.

Edit to add: anecdotes do not reflect actual probability of things occurring

[kathytav]

I did cord blood banking for or LO. She's our first.

Based on the education that I got when we signed up, I think that you've got a good chance of being able to use the cord blood from either of your other two children. Chances are you wouldn't need it for all three kids.

I wouldn't pay for them to store contaminated blood.

Good luck!

[ainslie325]

I'm not objective on this issue. I don't think that science has shown us yet that banking cord blood for our own children's use has definite medical benefits. If the sample is indeed contaminated, and I could get my money back in full, I would. Then again, I wouldn't have made the investment in the first place because I don't think that the benefit is clear. Add to this the fact that you already have a sample from your first child, and I really don't think it's worth saving.

[birch113]

Feb 6, 2015 11:57:32 GMT -5 kathytav said:

I did cord blood banking for or LO. She's our first.

Based on the education that I got when we signed up, I think that you've got a good chance of being able to use the cord blood from either of your other two children. Chances are you wouldn't need it for all three kids.

I wouldn't pay for them to store contaminated blood.

Good luck!

This. We didn't bank, but what I understand from my research is that generally the blood you bank for one child would likely not be what is most useful for them in case they needed it. It would actually be the blood banked from another child that would be best. I'm no sure why? But with the cord blood from your other two, I would feel pretty safe that all your kids are covered, just in case. I wouldn't keep the contaminated blood. I'm sorry that happened. That's so disappointing.

[liljsmomma]

I really don't know much about cord blood banking! But I think if I were in your situation and the sample was contaminated I would opt to get my money back!! Why pay for something you may not be able to use if the need arises, to me that would be even more dissapoi ting to think in the worst case scenario that hey maybe they can use the banked blood! And then nope sorry it's contaminated we can't use it but umm hey here's your money back!

[danisgossipgirl]

Feb 6, 2015 12:16:33 GMT -5 ainslie325 said:

I'm not objective on this issue. I don't think that science has shown us yet that banking cord blood for our own children's use has definite medical benefits. If the sample is indeed contaminated, and I could get my money back in full, I would. Then again, I wouldn't have made the investment in the first place because I don't think that the benefit is clear. Add to this the fact that you already have a sample from your first child, and I really don't think it's worth saving.

This exactly.