Cord blood donations: What are they and how do they work?

We learn more about the importance of cord blood donations and speak to a local mom who says it was an easy choice.

New moms giving birth have an option that can help save lives and it’s a simple process.

Canadian Blood Services manages Canada’s national public cord blood bank, which collects and stores cord blood for patients in Canada who need life-saving stem cell transplants.

Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. It is rich in stem cells that can help treat more than 80 diseases and disorders, Canadian Blood Services says.

Speaking on CTV Your Morning Ottawa on Friday, Jan Grant, Community Development Manager at Canadian Blood Services, says it’s a simple procedure, and moms are encouraged to register in advance.

“We operate right out of the hospital. We have a team working there. Obviously, we have to schedule people, so, some days they’re on, some days they’re not,” she said. “Once you actually go into labour, you’re preoccupied with other things.”

Patients at Ottawa Hospital General Campus eligible

Moms can go to blood.ca to preregister to be a cord blood donor before going into labour if they’re delivering at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus.

“When you arrive, it’s almost seamless. You barely notice anything is different. It’s nice and easy. Our team aren’t even in the room. It’s your regular team who deliver the baby and then, after baby is safely delivered into mom’s arms, we come and collect the cord blood from a separate room and then let you know how everything went afterwards,” Grant said.

To be eligible to donate cord blood, Canadian Blood Services says you must be in good general health, be at least 18 years old, deliver after 34 weeks of pregnancy, be free of infectious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis, and have no history of cancer or blood disorder requiring chemotherapy in either parent. Cord blood can only be donated if you’re giving birth to a single baby, not twins or triplets, and you cannot have used a donor egg, sperm or surrogate.

The Ottawa Hospital General Campus is one of only four partner hospitals in Canada that collect cord blood, the others being the William Osler Health System’s Brampton Civic Hospital in Brampton, Ont., the Lois Hole Hospital for Women inside the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alta., and the B.C. Women’s Hospital and Health Centre in Vancouver, B.C.

There is no cost to expectant parents who donate cord blood to Canadian Blood Services’ Cord Blood Bank.

‘I barely noticed it’

Amaryllis Paquet, a local mom who donated cord blood three months ago, says it was an easy decision to make.

“I’m a funeral director. So, I work in the funeral industry and I’m unfortunately very close to death, and to be able to save someone’s life or just to give hope to a family when they’re in the most vulnerable state, that means the world to me,” she said.

“Honestly, it was very easy. I barely noticed it... They take the cord blood, they let you know if you’re eligible or not, and then after that, they let you know they’ll do more questioning later on. But every time someone wanted to come in the room, they made sure I was comfortable. I was able to have my first moments with my daughter, as well. I recommend it to everyone, it’s very east and the staff is wonderful.”

Canadian Blood Services says if the cord blood unit qualifies, a member of the cord blood collection team will visit before mom and baby are discharged from the hospital to collect some additional information, including a second consent, a blood test from the mother, a health assessment questionnaire, and a review of the medical charts for mom and baby.

There are no significant risks to the mother or baby when donating cord blood, the Canadian Blood Services says. The collection happens after the baby and placenta are safely delivered and does not interfere with the birthing process.

From there, the donated blood can go on to help people, particularly children.

“Cord blood is very unique because it’s a very small amount. It’s not a lot, but it’s just enough to help a patient in need,” said Grant. “Most cord blood units are used for children under the age of 12 or under the age of five, so you really are helping the little ones out. It’s up to the doctors about whether we can combine them and use them for an adult, but there are many different uses for them.”

You can find more information on cord blood donations at Blood.ca.