But for one Mobberley mum her child's health has been secured firmly in the future.
Carrie Denham, who gave birth to Georgina two weeks ago, has had her umbilical cord 'cryopreserved' - frozen in time and stored at the world's leading cryogenic centre in America.
Speaking exclusively to the Knutsford Guardian this week she said the £600 procedure was worth every penny.
"Any form of protection for a new baby I feel is well-worth doing," she said.
"If more people knew about this then they would make this decision for the future."
Stem cells which have been taken from the blood in Georgina's umbilical cord - are six times more effective than those taken from bone marrow.
The cells are a 100% match for the child which means illnesses such as leaukeamia, anaemia and osteoporosis can be treated without the often painful search for a donor.
The simple procedure is relatively new in Britain, but Carrie hopes her experience will encourage other mothers to use the technology and reduce the cost of the process.
Steve Payne, spokesman for the UK Cord Blood Bank, said it was a guarantee for life.
"By collecting and storing these stem cells at birth, parents take out the ultimate health insurance for their child," he said.
Researchers in America hope the cells could be used as treatment against breast cancer, brain tumours, diabetes and AIDS.
New organs could even be grown from the cells.
"It is absolutely fantastic and it will be the way of the future to simply grow new organs in times of need," said Carrie.
The UK Cord Blood Bank - the first cryogenic centre to be set up outside of America - sends blood samples in overnight post to the leading cryogenic centre in America.
But there are hopes that a British centre will be open within a year.
"The chances are mercifully quite small that a child will need stem replacement, but the simplicity of the procedure makes it a sensible decision and one which has become the norm in the US," said Mr Payne.
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