Cord Blood

From LoveToKnow Pregnancy

What Is Cord Blood?

Cord blood is blood left in the umbilical cord and the placenta after a baby is born. While the baby is still inside the mother’s uterus, oxygen and nutrients are transferred from the mother’s blood to the baby’s through the placenta. The baby’s blood circulates through the placenta, picking up the oxygen and nutrients.

After the baby is born, the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and is expelled. Once the baby is born, he no longer needs the placenta. Cutting the umbilical cord separates the baby from the placenta. Some of the baby’s blood is left in the placenta and in the cord itself. Losing that blood doesn’t hurt the baby; his body still has all the blood he needs. Usually, the doctor or midwife will simply dispose of the placenta and cord.

Uses

Cord blood can help people who need bone marrow transplants, such as patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or genetic or immune disorders. Like bone marrow, cord blood is rich in stem cells. These cells can grow into different kinds of blood cells.

Since a bone marrow transplant requires a very close genetic match, it can be hard to match donors and recipients. Cord blood does not have to match as closely, so it can sometimes be used when no bone marrow donor can be found. This kind of blood tends to cause fewer and milder side effects. It’s also available more quickly; cord blood banks can supply a unit in about two weeks, instead of two months for bone marrow.

Donation

There is a national registry of cord blood banks, just like regular blood banks. If you choose to donate, it will be added to the national registry to help anyone who needs it. When carefully frozen and stored, it can be saved for at least 10 years.

When more parents choose to donate, more people can be helped. Cord blood has to match the recipient on several key genetic factors. Having more units available means finding a match is more likely.

What if Someone in My Own Family Needs a Transplant?

When you donate, it goes into a national bank and is available for anyone who needs it. But, if you have a child or other family member in need of a transplant, you may want to find out if your stored blood is a good match. If it is, talk to your doctor or midwife about saving the blood for a specific family member. There are private banks which can provide this service for a fee. You may also be able to enlist the help of a bank that is part of the national system.

Should you save the blood in a private bank just in case a family member—or your baby—needs it in the future? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you donate cord blood to a national bank. If there are no special risk factors in your family, the chance that your own child will need it is very low.

Risks Associated with Donation

Donation poses no risk to your baby. Cord blood is taken only after the baby is born and the umbilical cord has been cut. The umbilical cord and placenta are normally discarded after the birth. The only thing that’s different, if you’re donating or banking, is that the placenta and cord will be saved so that the blood can be stored.

The Donation Process

You will be asked to fill out a form with your complete medical history, including some information about your family history. You will also need to give a small sample of your own blood for testing. After the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, the cord and placenta will be saved so that the blood can be drained and stored.

Who Can Donate?

You must be at least 18 years old. A few places will accept younger moms, so it’s worth asking. You won’t be able to donate if you have:

HIV/AIDS
Chronic diabetes which requires medicine
Hepatitis B or C
Any history of cancer, except a few kinds of curable skin cancer
A new tattoo, done within the past year
A history of malaria within the past three years, or of taking malaria medicine within 6 months
Any condition which required an organ transplant

You will be asked about other sexually transmitted diseases and any recent body piercings, but these won’t necessarily prevent donation.

If you want to donate your baby’s cord blood, bring it up with your doctor or midwife by about the thirty-fourth week of pregnancy. That should leave enough time to make arrangements, including making sure that your hospital is equipped for the donation.

You won’t be able to donate if you give birth at home and not all hospitals are able to accept donations. Visit the Marrow Donor Program for help in finding out about hospitals near you. There are many private banks which will store cord blood for a fee.