Hey mama! As you prepare for your little one’s arrival, you’re probably making lots of decisions – from choosing a car seat to picking out the perfect crib. But have you thought about what happens to your baby’s umbilical cord and placenta after birth?
These often-discarded treasures actually hold incredible potential! As always, this article is meant to inform you to make the right decision for your birth and your family. I encourage you to take this information, do your own research, and discuss this decision with your OB provider before giving birth.
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The blood found in your baby’s umbilical cord is full of stem cells that could possibly be used to cure your baby or family member of a disease one day. The vast majority of babies, however, won’t end up ever needing their cord blood, and current technology greatly limits how useful it really is.
Choosing to bank your baby’s cord blood is a very personal decision that is typically made after lots of research and discussion. There are many factors to consider, including cost, when making this decision.
Cord blood banking involves collecting and storing the blood from your baby’s umbilical cord after birth. This blood is extra special because it contains stem cells which are basically little tiny cell superheroes!
Stem cells, which are found in almost all tissues of the body, are unique and special for a couple of reasons. “They are able to make more cells like themselves. And they can become other cells that do different things in a process known as differentiation.” (source)
The stem cells present in cord blood are especially unique! They are rarely rejected during transplants, they present more possibilities for matches than bone marrow, there are 10 times more stem cells present than in bone marrow, and they can be frozen for an indefinite amount of time before being used.
When it comes to storing cord blood there are two main options.
Public cord blood banks are free to donate to. Upon receiving the cord blood, the public bank will run tests on the blood. They will then catalog it into a registry that doctors can access for use in patients in need.
Public cord blood banks contribute to furthering research on the potential benefits of cord blood and their use can provide life-saving cells to people in need across the country.
To donate to a public cord blood bank:
The other storage option is in a private family bank. In this scenario, your baby’s cord blood will be stored for baby’s use or for direct family donation. Private storage banks charge a fee for collection and a monthly or yearly storage fee after. Private storage banks market their services as “biological insurance for your child and family”.
But I want to be transparent in telling you that this claim is rejected by the American Family of Pediatrics and the organization strongly cautions parents against their use.
Okay, so moving along from the cord…let’s talk about what you’ll do with your placenta! Standard protocol after you deliver your placenta is disposal by the hospital.
However, there are actually some options here:
For centuries and across many different cultures, women have been consuming their placenta to benefit themselves postpartum. However, in today’s day and age, it is very controversial because it doesn’t come without risk.
It’s important to note that 70-80% of moms who choose to consume their placentas choose encapsulation. However, it can also be eaten raw (not recommended!), cooked, dehydrated, or roasted.
Placenta encapsulation involves steaming the placenta, drying it out, and then grinding it up into a powder and placing it in capsules. Typically, this is done by a professional service.
It’s so important to make sure the placenta is handled safely. It should be packed in ice right after delivery, be stored correctly, and cooked thoroughly before consuming. There are no laws governing the practice of placenta encapsulation. It’s important to do adequate research and choose a company that will handle the placenta safely.
I want to note that the pros and cons listed out here are largely based on anecdotal evidence! But there have been few studies done on the risks/benefits of placenta encapsulation.
In my experience, placenta donation is talked about a bit less than some of the other topics in this article. It is the act of donating your placenta for research or medical use.
Placenta donation is something that you’ll be asked about once admitted to the hospital. You will need to:
As I mentioned above, your placenta is typically discarded after birth (unless you opt to take it home with you). Placenta donation doesn’t impact your birth in any way.
It isn’t taken until after baby has been delivered safely and doesn’t affect your ability to opt into DCC or cord blood banking.
Keep reading to learn more about specific placenta donation benefits!
In short, donating your placenta truly doesn’t affect you or baby at all! The tissue from your placenta and cord, referred to as birth tissue, is currently used to:
Doctors and researchers are finding more and more benefits and uses for birth tissue too. This includes helping patients with eye injuries and diseases, spinal and dental procedures, and sports injuries as well.
You can learn more about the process, benefits, and how to sign up at Birth Tissue Recovery, and/or ask your provider for information at your next prenatal visit.
Whether you choose to donate, bank, or discard your placenta and cord blood is personal. The decision is entirely up to you and your family. There is no right or wrong answer here so try to not let other’s opinions and decisions sway your own.
I do encourage you to start having these conversations and doing your own research early on in and prior to pregnancy. Decisions about cord blood banking and placenta donation should be made well before your little one’s arrival so make sure you are giving yourself plenty of time!