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Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
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Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry is a nurse-midwife practitioner who is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
A Cincinnati native, she is a nurse-midwife and instructor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Mary has been a nurse-midwife practitioner for more than 20 years. She co-edited the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.
Her research interests include adult female survivors of sexual abuse, women's perception of pain in labor and obesity in pregnancy.
Latest entries
- H1N1 vaccine and pregnancy
Oct. 27, 2009
- Blog: Gestational diabetes
Sept. 24, 2009
- Revisiting pregnancy loss
Aug. 20, 2009
- Blog: Bringing home baby
July 9, 2009
- Reflections on parenting
June 9, 2009
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Pregnancy and you blog
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March 24, 2009
Cord blood banking — to save or not to save
By Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
It seems like every pregnancy magazine or Internet site has advertisements regarding cord blood banking. I thought it might be helpful to share the current information.
Umbilical cord blood transplantation has shown encouraging results, but in general is still considered investigational, according to research.
The literature points out that cord blood banked by a family is most likely to be used by the donor's siblings. Indications for cord blood banking are few — certain genetic, hematologic, and malignant disorders.
There are 2 main ways to bank cord blood. The first is using public cord blood banks. These public banks collect and store cord blood for use by any individual who has a medical indication. A limited number of hospitals have these facilities and a mother must deliver there in order to donate.
The second type is private banks. They facilitate the collection of cord blood for families who are willing and able to pay for the service. The stored cord blood is reserved for use by that family. Another type of cord blood banking is called directed cord blood banking. It's used by families who have a child or other family member with a potentially transplant-treatable disease and are now expecting another child.
How long umbilical cord blood cells remain viable with current methods of storage has not been determined. Quality control procedures are still in development. It's been estimated the chance children would ever benefit from using their own cord blood is one in 2,700 individuals. Right now, there are more questions than answers. There are legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects of cord blood banking to be considered. This doesn't touch on the financial issues.
The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend routine storage of infant cord blood. Private cord banking isn't allowed in Italy and Spain, and other European committees have indicated concern regarding the ethical status of private cord banks.
I recommend that if you are considering cord blood banking, discuss it with your health care provider so you'll have the most up to date information before making a decision. What do you think about the issue?
10 comments posted
October 5, 2009 12:49 p.m.
My husband is a researcher and for us there was no doubt, no question "To store or not to store?" It's a big surprise for me to learn that Spain and Italy do not allow stem cells banking. But in any case, Europe is small and united, so it's not a problem. We are Swiss, but prefered to use a German company to store the cord blood of our first baby. Currently we live in the US and expecting our second baby. We'll sure have his cord blood stored as well.
- Michelle
October 1, 2009 8:38 p.m.
There is a lot of misinformation on this site. The ob/gyn's are not paid any fee by the cord blood collection company, the only who pays are the parents who decided to bank the blood. We decided to store our son's cord blood because if g-d forbid anything ever developed later in life and you had the ability to heal your child, how can you not consider it? Yes, the cost is an issue and I understand that, but if it is a possibility it should be carefully considered. Also, the concern that banking requires early clamping is one I have not seen nor did I experience, there was no rush to get the cord blood so it may be something to discuss with your doctor.
- melissa
June 10, 2009 11:47 p.m.
I believe it is very important for mothers to consider the effects of banking on their newborns. Banking requires early clamping which traps app. 1/3 of the baby's total blood volume outside of the baby's circulatory system. Baby will regenerate this blood but why would start our baby's off at such a disadvantage unless there is a history of childhood cancers in the family? Dr. Sarah J Buckley talks about this extensively in her book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering or online at her website. I'm unrelated to her or her business but greatly appreciate her work and easy way of explaining everything.
- MamaMidwife
April 19, 2009 1:19 p.m.
MB RN: You are correct. The AAP actually encourages public donation - since 2007. With a disease such as sickle cell in our family, we have chosen umbilical cord banking, and feel satisfied in doing so. Amelia http://umbilicalcordbanking.blogspot.com
- Amelia
March 26, 2009 6:02 p.m.
Does anyone know if there are risks associated with the timing of when the cord blood is collected? I have read that it is in the newborn's best interest to leave the umbilical cord attached until it stops pulsing. Could clamping the cord and collecting the blood prior to this time deprive the baby of needed blood and nutrients?
- kc, seattle wa
March 26, 2009 9:16 a.m.
I thought that American Academy of Pediatrics did not recommend PRIVATE donation? I do not think this is true of public donations.
- MB RN
March 25, 2009 1:25 p.m.
My MIL gave us the gift of cord blood banking with our last child. We hadn't planned on it ourselves, as the cost is still pretty high. I'm not sure if we will get the same gift with the baby girl I am carrying now, so we have begun to discuss if we wanted to do it again. We still havent' decided for sure, but if you can afford it and there's that slim chance that you MAY need it, why not? Just make sure you use a reputable private bank. God Bless!
- Scarlet
March 24, 2009 8:12 p.m.
My husband and I decided to store our daughter's cord blood after careful consideration. The main issue seemed to us to be cost. After all, there's no real down side - the collection and storage was handled seamlessly. My OB, who has 2 teenage daughters, said he would do it now. He didn't do it then because when his kids were born, cord blood storage was still relatively uncommon and there were questions about the storage facilities safeguards, etc.. He said those issues have been resolved and from the literature and interaction we had with the two main cord blood storage companies, I have full confidence that her cells are in good hands. Also, my OB was not paid by the company we used and no fees were paid to the hospital.
- Roberta, NYC
March 24, 2009 8:10 p.m.
My husband and I decided to store our daughter's cord blood after careful consideration. The main issue seemed to us to be cost. After all, there's no real down side - the collection and storage was handled seamlessly. My OB, who has 2 teenage daughters, said he would do it now. He didn't do it then because when his kids were born, cord blood storage was still relatively uncommon and there were questions about the storage facilities safeguards, etc.. He said those issues have been resolved and from the literature and interaction we had with the two main cord blood storage companies, I have full confidence that her cells are in good hands.
- Roberta, NYC
March 24, 2009 5:21 p.m.
As a Labor & Delivery Nurse, I am involved in the cord blood collection process. It is my understanding that the cord blood collection company pays the physician a fee for the collection of cord blood at delivery (hospitals are not paid for the time and tasks involved in collection). To me, this may create a conflict of interest, if you are asking your delivery physician for advice regarding whether or not to utilize cord blood banking.
- Barbara Russell, RNC-OB
10 comments posted