what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I am 8 months pregnant with my first and very happy with my doctor. My doctor has encouraged us to do blood cord banking. We did some research and crunched the numbers, and decided that private blood cord banking wasn't for us. I knew that you can donate your cord blood, and that is what I had planned to do. I knew that there is a risk that if we needed it, it would no longer be available, but I thought that if it could save some other person's child, it would be worth it.

My hospital does not have a cord blood bank. I called up some other hospitals that do and the organization that they donate their cord blood to does not accept cord blood from other hospitals. So I will not be able to donate my cord blood from my hospital.

So my options are:
(1) stay with my doctor and make sure that if/when I deliver next time does have a public cord blood bank.

(2) switch doctors this late in the game to my sister's doctor who work with NSUH where I can donate the cord blood or

(3) Pay for private blood cord banking - which we already decided we didn't want to do.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

Your post has 3 choices but the poll only has 2? I didn't vote because I would go with choice number 3 and it's not listed in your poll.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

It's too bad that you can't donate the cord blood, but personally I wouldn't want to switch this close unless you are absolutely positive you are comfortable witht the Dr... JMO

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

Here's a link to American Red Cross Cord Blood Donation page maybe they can come to your hospital to collect it.

ETA: Listing of public cord blood banks in US Maybe one of them can provide you with a collection kit like a private bank would.

Message edited 2/21/2006 1:06:45 PM.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

Message edited 2/21/2006 1:13:40 PM.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I think at this stage it's more important for you that you're comfortable with your doctor. While it's admirable to donate your cord blood (I did at NSUH), I agree that you could try and do that in the future.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I think its' great that you want to donate, but I wouldn't switch Dr.s to do it.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I too found it digusting that not ALL hospitals allow you to donate cord blood...but at this point I would probably not switch doctors unless there was a medical reason or if you had other issues with your doctor. I do think you need to express your concerns to your doctor and the hospital. There is NO excuse for wasting cord blood..I totally agree with you!!!

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

We also had decided to donate the cord blood only to learn that our hospital (Winthrop) doesn't do it. I was disappointed to find that out, but I'm not switching doctors.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I looked into donation when I had my kids too. At the time, it was new enough that many hospitals didn't offer it.

I think it's a noble thing that you're willing to switch hospitals & doctors to help someone else.

The doctor on call wound up delivering Madeline, so really unless you have issues (GD, high blood pressure, etc), I don't think it matters who delivers your baby. I do think that in your 8th month of pregnancy, switching would cause unneccessary stress. I voted to stick with the doctor. You are going to go to your doctor weekly in your last month. He has your history and knows you. You're going to have to go to him for post partum checkups etc. You've already planned what hospital to go to. If it were me I'd think about it for the second baby & opt to stick with my current doctor because that's what I originally planned.

Message edited 2/21/2006 2:41:13 PM.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

I would stay with your current dr that you are happy with.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

UPDATED: After much stress and tears I found a public bank that would pick up the blood cord from NYU. I also made an appointment with my sister's doctor at NSUH (which has their own public bank)- which is actually closer to where I am staying now than my hospital in the city. At least now I have the choice of staying with my doctor AND donating the cord blood. And G-d forbid I need it, there is a chance it will still be available.

Re: what would you do? Considering switching doctors

would you mind sharing the public bank info? I'd love to give them a call and see if they'll pick up at Winthrop...