There is probably already some info in here somewhere, but I can't find it...so I'll ask anyway....

Has anyone had their baby's cord blood stored?

If so, which company did you use for it?

I was told (a while ago) that cord blood banking wasnt available in Canberra? This was about 4 years ago though.

In the bounty bags there is usually stuff on it. It is certainly available in Canberra, although we didnt do it.

I wonder what actually happens to your cord blood if you dont elect to keep it - does anyone know if it is 'Blood-banked'?

We used Cellsense for our first DD in 2004. Their central office is in Melbourne and they have storage faciities in Sydney and Melbourne. They sent us a kit which we had to take to the hospital when I was in labour. They gave me a courier number to call for when it was collected and they came to JJMH and collected it, took it away to Sydney where it was processed or whatever. I got a letter a few weeks later telling me how much was collected and stored and something else (I forget). I think back then it cost around $2800 (we got $3000 Maternity Allowance so the government paid for it )

When I was pregnant with DD2 in 2006 I did some more research about it and we decided not to go ahead this time, because of the technology and chances that it would/could be used. Also IF there is a need for cord blood it can come from the public registry (which we don't have in Canberra, sadly).

I think there are only 2 companies that do it www.cellsense.com.au and www.cryosite.com.au, pricing may have canged, but Cellsense wanted a large sum up front, Cryosite wanted only small payments each year - but for 18 years,so they came out at something like 4 times Cellsense.

mumma-g your cord blood is just disposed of with the cord and placenta. We don't have a public cord blood bank in ACT and even if we did you have to elect to store it.

That is a shame I thought it could be use by someone who needed it.

~*~

When DS1 was born almost 11yr ago, I remember signing consent for cord blood donation. That was at Calvery.

ETA-That was for us giving ours away

I had my baby in February this year at calvary and had the cord blood stored through cryosite. You can pay in installments or lump sum once your baby bonus comes through.
they sent the kit to the hospital directly so it was waiting there for me, although I did check it was physically there before I went into labour. then we called the courier number and he came and picked it up, pretty easy really. It cost us $2645 all up for 18 years storage. check out their website.

There is no option in Canberra to donate your cord blood.