In creating one life
 why not save another

What happens when I donate?

After your baby is born, our staff collect your placenta from your midwife and take it to a dedicated cord blood room within the delivery suite. The placenta is placed in a sterile supporting structure and the cord is cleaned with an alcohol wipe. A needle is then inserted into the cord and the blood naturally flows into a collection bag. We need to collect at least 40ml of cord blood from one donation but we can collect up to 150ml.

Unfortunately, not every cord blood collection is successful. This may be due to a low volume of cord blood or if the cord blood clots during the collection procedure. This in no way indicates that there are any problems with you or your baby.

Following the successful collection of your cord blood, we will come to see you while you are still in hospital. We will ask you some routine questions and take a blood sample from you.

• Blood is not required from your baby, just from you.

Your blood sample will be tested, in the same way as the National Blood Service test blood donors, for HIV, hepatitis, syphilis and some other blood borne infections. We have to do these tests to ensure that the cord blood is safe to be given to a patient. In the unlikely event that any test result is positive, one of our doctors will contact you to offer appropriate advice.

In addition to this, we will telephone you around 12 weeks after the birth of your baby to check that you and your baby are well.