Umbilical Cord Blood Donation

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Have any of you seen this happening? We would like to get started with it. The main question I have right now is this: Do the parents always have to send away for their own kit? I think it would be practical to have kits at the hospital.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Actual CORD donation? No never have seen it. But for cord blood collection, the burdens of logistics and costs lie with the parents. They must obtain the kits, arrange for shipping and pay the costs associated with these. They are encouraged to discuss this desire with their dr/midwife early-on so they are set up and ready to collect the cord blood upon birth of the newborn. I don't think it practical to keep kits at the hospital as they are costly and I believe, dated items. The responsiblities lie primarily with the parents, not medical personnel, like I said. HTH.

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I looked into this when I had my twins. What you do is find a bank that you want to store the cord blood in. Then you send away for a kit, which you pay for in advance. You have to let your doctor know in advance that a kit will be at delivery, and they make the arrangement to have the cord blood collected during the birth and it's shipped directly by the hospital to the bank overnight delivery. It's usually shipped with FedEx with an account number that belongs to the cryobank...they charge it back to you.

Now, I can only speak for the hospital where I gave birth...but there was a waiver I had to sign that in the case of a life or death medical emergency, they do not guarantee that the cord blood can be collected during the birth.

I would inquire to at least 4 different cryobanks that do cord blood banking because the policies and costs and services are very different

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Now the cord blood donation is different. It is totally free to the parents. It's like blood donation, it goes to whomever needs it the most.

But the parents need to set things in motion before 34 weeks. I think it's a shame that parents might want to donate the cord blood but then not be able to because it's too late.

I was just thinking in this instance (where it's cost free to the parents) it might be handy to have a kit or two at the hospital. But then again I don't know how all this works. It probably needs to be set up with individual patient information.

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I have done babies for 7 years and haven't heard of straight up donation of cord blood. This one is new to me.

I do know that Viacord charges $2K for all the fees for collection and storage, up to the first year. :S

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Ah yes, good point; donation would be different indeed. I admit to not having any such experience where I am. All the families wanted to bank their own cord blood for their own future (possible) use, not donate it. Thank you for correcting me.

If anyone has experience with this, I would love to hear about it and learn.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.
Have any of you seen this happening? We would like to get started with it. The main question I have right now is this: Do the parents always have to send away for their own kit? I think it would be practical to have kits at the hospital.

I had a really sweet couple want to donate cord blood the other day. The main problem was the baby was about 12 hours old Anyway, I have seen a few viacord kits collected but never a straight donation, and have actually done some research into this when I was pregnant with my last and couldn't find any good info so if you get any let us know. Would be great info for the docs office if anywhere is actually doing this.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You could ask the agencies to which they donate about providing supplies and information. I am still not so sure the hospital should bear the costs of this since they do not benefit.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

http://www.marrow.org/ABOUT/NMDP_Network/Cord_Blood_Banks/CB_Participating_Hospitals/nmdp_cord_blood_hospitals.pl#NC

hey, just found this......looks like certain hospitals are doing it

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I see those are cord blood banks. Still looking to see if this banking is set up specifically to benefit those who donate or anyone who is in need. I am learning a lot here. Thanks for the link!

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

from what I understood from reading the website you can donate cord blood (for use buy the general population and at no cost to the mom, at least in nc) but only if you deliver at these particular hospitals

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

interesting, and yes, that is how I read it too. Thanks for your contribution. Like I said, I have a lot to learn.

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