If you are interested in donating your cord blood, please contact BWH Cord Blood Donation Program at 617-525-9576 or corddonor@partners.org after reviewing the information on this site.
Is there anything I need to do to prepare to donate? When do I have to decide?
If you are interested in donating, we encourage you to discuss with your provider prior to your delivery, though you have up until you enter the last stage of labor to decide. Let your nurse know you would like to donate once you arrive at the Brigham and Women's Hospital for your delivery. During our staffed hours, a Donation Coordinators will review the consent with you and attend delivery to collect your donation. If you arrive outside our staffed hours, you may review the consent with your care team, though they reserve the right to defer enrollment due to unexpected circumstances.
You may also contact the Brigham Cord Blood Donation Program at 617-525-9576 or at corddonor@partners.org to determine eligibility and review the consent before arriving for your delivery.
What if I change my mind about donating?
You may change your mind at any point in the process, even after the cord blood has been banked. Your medical care and the care of your baby will not be affected by the decision you make about whether to donate your baby’s cord blood or not.
What happens at delivery?
Donating cord blood will not change the birth of your baby in any way. Your provider will not make any changes to their normal labor and delivery practices.
After the birth of your baby, your provider delivers the placenta and umbilical cord normally. Donation Coordinator then take the cord and placenta to the collection lab to collect the remaining cord blood. If you deliver outside of our staff hours Providers are trained to collect donations at the bedside.
I’d like to donate my baby’s umbilical cord blood, but I am not delivering at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. What should I do?
At this time, we are only able to collect units from deliveries at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.
