Cord Blood Donation-Now Available at at Hospital Near You

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had read about the benefits that the blood in my baby’s umbilical cord could have for others. Filled with stem cells, this blood could help those with cancer, sickle-cell anemia, immunodeficiency, marrow failure and genetic diseases that call for transplants. Normally, this blood is literally thrown away, so if it has so many benefits, I thought, why not donate it? Unfortunately, when I told my OB my intentions, she informed me that the hospital that I was giving birth at didn’t have the availability to store the blood and get it to a bank. And my hospital was of the norm–there are only approximately 175 hospitals in the United States that can transfer cord blood to a bank, but it looks as if that’s about to change. Time recently reported on a Public Donation Kit that’s allowing mothers to donate their blood to the national cord-blood registry. Currently, there are many private banks that will store your blood, for potential use for you or a relative, at about $2,000 for initial processing and about $125 per year after that. A public bank, however, will store it for free, and have the blood available to anyone who is a close match. Until recently, the aforementioned 175 hospitals were the only one who had a system in place to collect, store, and transfer the blood. Time states, “Three hospitals — two in Texas, one in North Carolina — are piloting a federal program that allows women to mail in cord blood from anywhere in the continental U.S. for inclusion in Be the Match, the national cord-blood registry.” In order to make this happen, moms can request that the free kit be sent to them so they can take to the hospital while their OB must complete a short tutorial online. Theoritcally, it’s a win-win situation, though some doctors are grumbling about the extra work. But if a precious resource is being discarded, why not do it? Duke University reported that Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, professor of pediatrics at Duke and director of the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank (CCBB), (which is a public bank), states, “Cord blood cells are increasingly seen as a valuable resource, and we are seeing a pressing need for more cord blood donation, especially among Asian and African-American mothers and those with mixed ethnic backgrounds.” So, if you’re pregnant and are looking for a easy way to help others, donate your baby’s cord blood. Click here for more info.