What You Should Know About Birth Tissue Donation
January 30, 2025
Health News
Birth tissue, also known as afterbirth, includes the placenta and umbilical cord formed during pregnancy.
But did you know that it can now be donated for the use of transplants, grafts, research, and more? Tori Vieira, RN, BSN, Director of the Family Birth Center, Sierra Medical Center, an Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center, explains that as part of a new affiliation with the Nevada Donor Network, expectant mothers delivering at Sierra Medical Center can voluntarily become a birth tissue donor.
Why might a mom choose to donate their birth tissue?
The afterbirth is commonly discarded once the woman has her child. However, with recent medical advancements, mothers are now able to donate these tissues. Donation is safe for mothers and babies and provides the gift of healing for others.
What are some areas of medicine that use grafts derived from birth tissue?
The afterbirth contains a rich source of stem cells, which can be used to stimulate healing, reduce pain and accelerate recovery times in patients that receive grafts made from the tissue. Birth tissue is also able to be used in various medical procedures and therapies including wound healing, ophthalmic procedures, spinal surgeries, sports injury repair, and more.
Additional benefits to using grafts derived from birth tissue include:
- Lowers the risk of infection in the healing area
- Reduction of inflammation or swelling, decreasing pain in transplanted areas
- Less visible scar tissue and scarring in comparison to other tissue grafts
- Rejection of birth tissue grafts is rare due to a lack of antigens in the placenta that can cause a recipient’s immune system to attack the transplanted tissue
Where can moms find more information about birth tissue donation?
Visit nvdonor.org/mom to learn more about the birth tissue donation process, which includes all information on how to become a birth tissue donor.