How to Donate Placental Cord Blood

During pregnancy, the umbilical cord delivers nutrients and stem cells from the placenta to the baby. When baby is born, placental cord blood can be donated for research into cancer treatments or other diseases. For some families, placental cord blood banking is used like insurance; if baby ever falls ill, they can use their own stem cells in treatment. Cord blood can be donated, though, to avoid the costs associated with placental cord blood banking.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Ask your prenatal caregiver as soon as possible, for literature from the local placental cord blood banking facility. When cord blood is taked for your personal use, there are fees involved, but donating cord blood is generally free. if their paperwork doesn't give information about donating cord blood, call the company and ask them.

2. Choose a birthing center or hospital that's equipped to take cord blood donations. If you're planning a home birth, discuss with the cord blood bank what procedures should be taken for proper handling of your placental cord blood stem cells.

3. Make arrangements for placental cord blood donation as early as possible. You'll need a special kit of supplies for extracting the cord blood, in order to preserve the stem cells so that they can be used later. incorrect handling of cord blood stem cells can kill them.

4. Clamp the cord immediately, in order to trap the blood on the placental side. If left alone, all the blood would continue pumping right into the baby and the donation wouldn't be possible. Follow the directions for cord blood capture, or discuss them with your caregiver, to be sure that they understand how it works before your labor begins.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure that you're aware of possible consequences to baby's health for donating cord blood. Some people believe that baby needs those stem cells and that without them a newborn's health suffers. Research the medical studies yourself.