La Umbilical Cord Blood Donation it is an act that can be performed right after the birth of your baby. The Donation enters into our apparatus of Obstetrics our Medical services.
After the birth, the doctor will give your baby to you to promote mother-child contact using the widely recommended method called skin to skin. Later, the doctor will clamp the umbilical cord and cut it.
If the mother and baby are healthy, the doctor will favor waiting about a minute before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. This is known as late cord clamping. After this practice and before the placenta comes out, the umbilical cord blood can be collected in a special bag for later conservation.
This practice can only be done if you authorize it. It will also allow that in the future the blood can be used for medical purposes, such as bone marrow transplantation. Children with blood cancer problems are an example of who could benefit from umbilical cord blood donation.
On Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Barcelona, by Dr. Gómez Roig, all the professionals who attend the delivery are trained and qualified to collect cord blood in case you want to donate.
What is done with the umbilical cord?
With umbilical cordNormally after birth, together with the blood it contains, they are thrown away and discarded without any use. However, a few years ago, it was discovered that umbilical cord blood contains stem cells, specialized in the renewal of blood cells.
These Stem Cells can be beneficial if they are transplanted to other patients whose bone marrow is diseased.
People with diseases of the bone marrow such as leukemias, can benefit from this type of donation.
Since the possibility of using the umbilical cord blood in patients with diseases. Umbilical cord blood banks were created.
Any healthy woman with a normal pregnancy can be a donor.
In Spain there are several umbilical cord blood banks public. And since the approval of RD 1301/2006 there are also private cord blood banks for eventual autologous use. That is to say for oneself, relatives of one's own family.
What is the purpose of Umbilical Cord Banks?
The purpose of the umbilical cord banks It is the subsequent use of stem cells to cure diseases.
Bone marrow transplantation is a potentially curative treatment option for a wide variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases. These include leukemia, lymphoma, anemia due to lack of marrow function. In addition to thalassemia major, and other genetic and acquired disorders.
The stem cells needed for these treatments are usually obtained from the bone marrow, the peripheral blood. The one that is extracted in a blood test or the umbilical cord blood from a donor.
Acceptance and survival rates after a transplant are better when the donor and recipient are genetically compatible. The risk of a disease called graft versus host (rejection) is correlated with the level of differences, between the donor and the recipient, of blood cells called human leukocyte antigen:hla.
That is why, when a suitable donor is not available, a search is carried out to identify the best possible HLA-matched donor. Find a donor appropriate through a national registry is a lengthy process that is not always successful.
Due to the lack of related donors and the risk of severe rejection, which accompanies bone marrow or peripheral blood transplantation. Alternative sources of stem cells have been sought. The umbilical cord blood, the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a baby, has become a possible alternative source.
The umbilical cord blood banks They are in charge of guaranteeing the adequate conservation of the blood bags that are obtained after childbirth in order to be able to use it in the best conditions.
What does it take to be a donor?
What it takes to be a cord blood donorIt's not very complicated. It is only that the following requirements are met:
- That the mother is healthy and has no history of diseases transmitted through the blood.
- The donor has the necessary information and knows that there is no risk to her or her baby.
- That the mother wants to make the donation.
Although it is always in the interest of mothers to be umbilical cord blood donors. There are some situations that contraindicate the possibility of donating:
- If the woman is a carrier of the virus it could be transmitted through blood. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis virus (B or C) cannot be an umbilical cord blood donor.
- The pregnant woman has been in contact with risk situations that may favor contagion by these communicable diseases, nor can she be a donor.
On Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Dr. Gómez Roig, our midwife will explain and inform you of everything you need to know about donating umbilical cord blood. If you have any doubts or questions about the Umbilical Cord Blood Donation Do not hesitate to contact us.
What is Important for the Donation?
It is important that to donate umbilical cord blood you go to a specialized center. Where specialists are trained and accredited for the collection of umbilical cord blood. The BST Bank of Blood and Teixits of Barcelona periodically conducts courses to accredit specialists.
All professionals who attend childbirth in the Institute of obstetrics and gynecology of Dr. Gómez Roig, Located in Barcelona, they are trained and qualified to collect umbilical cord blood in case you want to donate. We always offer you good human and professional assistance.
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- About the Author
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Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona. Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Coordinator of the Sixth Course of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, UB. Director of the Dra. Gómez Roig Institute and Coordinator of Obstetric and Gynecological Processes at the Corachan Clinic in Barcelona.