Blessed Beginnings is pleased to work with the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank to allow families delivering at Blessing to donate their newborn's umbilical cord blood. This "first gift" can offer new hope to adults and children needing a stem cell transplant.
What is Umbilical Cord Blood?
During pregnancy, the placenta and blood within it (cord blood) serve as the lifeline of nourishment from the mother to the baby through the umbilical cord. Following the birth, the umbilical cord, placenta and blood within it are usually discarded. However, the umbilical card blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, the same cells found in bone marrow. Hematopietic cells are the parent cells which create all of a person's blood cells. Children and adults with leukemia, metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies, bone marrow failure or some genetic disorders may benefit from a stem cell transplant as part of their treatment to replenish cells that are abnormal or have been wiped out by therapy.
Why the Need for a Public Donor Umbilical Cord Blood Bank?
More than 70 percent of children and adults requiring a bone marrow transplant do not have an immune matched sibling. Of those, only 50 percent will be able to find a matched unrelated donor through the national bone marrow registries. Current bone marrow registries involve keeping a computerized listing of volunteer donors. The average search time is three to four months and is extremely expensive. Because immune types are specific to an ethnic group and bone marrow registry volunteers are predominately Caucasian, it is difficult (if not impossible) to locate donors for non-Caucasian (African American, Hispanic, Native American) patients.
Cord blood that has been immunologically typed and frozen offers an opportunity as an alternate transplant source. By collecting umbilical cord blood from different ethnic backgrounds, a larger number of patients will benefit. The St. Louis Cord Blood Bank at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital is linked to other cord blood banks around the world, serving as a worldwide resource. Stored umbilical cord blood units can easily be shipped and used at a time that is optimal for the patient rather than the bone marrow donor.
How and When is Cord Blood Collected?
Nothing is more important at the time of birth than the health of mother and child. Because collection of the cord blood takes place after the baby has been delivered, there is no danger to either the mother or baby. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is clamped, cut and separated from the baby. While waiting for the placenta to deliver, your physician will do the umbilical cord blood collection. The entire procedure is non-invasive, painless and does not interfere with the birthing process. If at anytime your physician becomes concerned with the health of you or your baby, the cord blood collection will not take place. Once the collection is complete, the blood is transported to the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and an initial screening is performed on the blood. If the blood meets the criteria for banking, it is typed, frozen and stored until it is needed. If it does not meet the criteria for banking, it could be used for research.
What is Involved?
The decision to donate must be made at least several weeks prior to your due date (preferably around the 30th week of pregnancy). Those who decide to donate their child's umbilical cord blood must complete a questionnaire regarding the pregnancy and medical history of the family. Donors must also sign a consent form permitting the cord blood collection and potential use by another person. This consent is signed at the hospital, however, a copy is sent to your home prior to your delivery for you to review. Participating mothers will be required to give a sample of blood (about four teaspoons) which will be tested for certain infections including hepatitis and AIDS. This blood sample is obtained at the hospital when you have your baby. All information collected will be kept confidential.
Nearly one in two moms who deliver a baby at Blessing are choosing to donate their umbilical cord blood. For more information about cord blood donation, contact the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital at (314) 268-2787 or (888) 453-CORD (2673).
Once you have contacted the Cord Blood Bank, print a copy of our Umbilical Cord Donation Form, complete it and mail it to Blessed Beginnings, PO Box 7005, Quincy, IL, 62305-7005.