What would you do- Blood Cord Banking Donation

OK- so my doctor strongly encourages blood cord banking, but didn't even know you could donate your coord blood to a public bank. DH and I decided to donate it to the public bank. I do not have the option of donating to my hospital directly or the company that serves North Shore University Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian.

I found 2 banks that I can donate to from my hospital. One is Cryobank, a well known bank in Florida. fact, it is one that my doctor recommended to me (to bank privately- he didn't know that they bank publically). The only problem is that they are in Florida and it has to be Fed Ex'd so if I go into labor on Saturday night- it wont' be send out until Monday. I will also never know if they accept the cord blood until I need it, because they have stricted standards for the publically donated cord blood.

The other bank is the Elie Katz Blood Cord Bank at the Community Blood Services of NJ. They can send a messenger to pick it up regardless of when I give birth. They service 37 hospitals in NJ for blood donation. They seem reputable, but I know less about them. It is smaller and when I spoke to the rep on the phone, they were more informative and friendlier. They also do private donation.


Where would you donate?

Message edited 3/16/2006 3:55:58 PM.

Re: What would you do- Blood Cord Banking Donation

I voted for Elie Katz- Community Blood Services of NJ, because they are closer geographically and they were friendlier to you.

Re: What would you do- Blood Cord Banking Donation

Thanks. I am at a total loss and I need to make a decision by next week. This cord blood has been the biggest headache I've had all pregnancy!