I’ve had a lot of questions over the years about cord blood banking, and why we chose not to do it.
This article shares my personal decision-making process from my first pregnancy. It’s not medical advice, and it’s not judgement of any parent who chooses to bank cord blood. It’s simply the honest reasoning that led us to say no.
The Offer (and Why I Took It Seriously)
When I was pregnant with Teddy, a private cord blood banking company approached me and asked if I would share my experience as a “friend of the brand”. The offer included a complimentary collection kit, plus a storage incentive if I shared a discount code.
Because it was offered at no cost, this wasn’t a financial decision for us. It was a values and information decision:
- Was cord blood banking genuinely the best choice for our baby?
- And would I feel comfortable encouraging other parents to do it?
So my husband and I spent weeks researching, talking with our midwife, and asking questions until we felt clear.
Delayed Cord Clamping vs Cord Blood Banking
The biggest factor in our decision was delayed cord clamping.
Delayed cord clamping means allowing the umbilical cord to keep transferring blood from the placenta to the baby for a period after birth. Many midwives and hospitals support this as standard practice when it’s safe to do so.
When I asked the cord blood bank company about delayed cord clamping, I was told it could still be done, but that collection needed to happen within a fairly limited window after birth.
After comparing what I was told with the guidance we were reading and the advice from our midwife, I personally didn’t feel comfortable with any pressure on timing. I wanted our baby to receive the fullest benefit of delayed cord clamping, without compromise.
That became the deciding point for us.
The “Insurance Policy” Idea
Cord blood banking is often described as a form of insurance. You hope you never need it, but it’s there “just in case”.
For some families, particularly those with specific medical history or circumstances, that may feel like the right decision. For others, it may not.
We kept coming back to two questions:
- What is the likelihood we would ever use it?
- What are we potentially giving up at birth to collect it?
For us, the balance still came back to prioritising delayed cord clamping and the immediate benefits for baby.
Why I Didn’t Promote It
Even if a product is offered for free, I still hold it to the same standard: would I choose it if I were paying for it, and would I recommend it to a friend?
In this case, I couldn’t confidently say yes.
That doesn’t mean it’s not right for someone else. It simply means I didn’t feel it was right for us, and I didn’t feel aligned promoting it as a blanket “must-do” decision.
If You’re Deciding Now
If cord blood banking is on your mind, here are questions I’d suggest taking to your midwife or obstetrician:
- What is your usual approach to delayed cord clamping?
- If we bank cord blood, what timing is required for collection?
- Would banking cord blood affect delayed cord clamping in our specific birth circumstances?
- What are the most evidence-based reasons families choose to bank privately?
- Are there any family medical factors that make banking more relevant for us?
Whatever you decide, you deserve to feel informed, unpressured, and confident in your choice.
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Medical note: This article is based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Please speak with your midwife, GP, obstetrician or paediatric team about any decisions related to birth, cord clamping, or cord blood banking.