Any experience of banking cord blood, especially from London hospitals?

[pecanpie]

DC3 is due in November, but meanwhile, DD1 is undergoing medical investigation for an unexplained disorder relevant to blood (no significant explanations and all blood tests exhausted) and/or bone marrow (coming up next week). We're hoping that of course nothing untoward is wrong with DD1, but for the first time, we think there might be some benefit in banking cord blood when DC3 is born which could potentially help DD1 if needed.

How do you set this up with the hospital?

How do you find a cord blood bank and get them to work with the hospital?

Any information greatly appreciated.

Thanks. Very useful advice and food for thought. We will be on the NHS at Royal Free. If we are to take cord blood, I would imagine it is dependent on how the birth goes - easy enough in normal circumstances but if there are problems/baby is in distress, there's going to be more of a focus on sorting things out.

We have a couple more tests to go but have a number of meetings with my consultant's team and DD's consultant well in advance of due date so will discuss with them.

Thanks again!