RE: Blood Cord Storage
Well, you might want to decide fast - most companies require you to register at least 6 weeks before your due date.
We used CBR, but could have just as easily chose Viacord. They had the best credentials and transplant records of the companies that I looked at. We used a medical courier service to transport the cord blood since I have known FedEx to lose or misroute an occasional package (we use them a fair amount at work). Cost-wise, FedEx and the medical courier service were about the same, maybe $20-30 difference, and the courier service picked up the cord blood at the hospital for us. Also, you can't use FedEx if you have the baby on the weekend (either Sunday only or both Sat and Sun, I can't remember which) because they don't accept packages those day(s).
One concern with banking outside of the U.S. is that packages can get held up in customs. I'm not sure how human tissue is treated, but any delay can cause problems since the blood needs to be frozen within a certain window. Also, are you *certain* that you will be able to get the cord blood back across the border if you need it?
Single mom to
DS ("twice exceptional") - September 2002
DS - February 2006
DD - July 2009
DD - July 2009