Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About
Placenta Donation?
You're not alone. Here are answers to common questions about delivery, donation, consent, privacy, and what happens to your placenta after your baby is born.
These answers provide general information about the placenta donation process. Specific collection requirements can vary by hospital and individual circumstances.
Before and During Birth
Labor & Delivery
Will donating my placenta change my delivery?
Your medical care and your baby's care remain the priority. Donation is coordinated around your delivery rather than your delivery being changed to accommodate donation.
When is the placenta collected?
Placenta donation occurs after your baby is born and after the placenta has been delivered. Trained personnel then handle the tissue according to the applicable collection process.
Does placenta donation affect my baby's care?
Your baby's immediate medical needs and care come first. Placenta donation takes place after birth and is coordinated separately from the care your baby receives.
What happens if my delivery plans change?
Labor and delivery do not always go according to plan. Medical decisions should always be based on the needs of you and your baby. A change in delivery circumstances may affect whether donation can proceed, and the collection team can make that determination at the appropriate time.
What happens if my baby is born early?
A premature delivery may affect whether the placenta can be collected. Your medical care and your baby's care always come first, and the donation team can determine whether collection remains possible.
Can I still bank or donate my baby's cord blood?
Placenta donation and cord blood collection are different processes. If you plan to bank or donate cord blood, tell our team so the specific collection plans can be reviewed in advance.
Getting Ready
The Donation Process
Is there a cost to donate my placenta?
There is no cost to you for participating in the placenta donation program.
What do I need to do before delivery?
The process generally includes informed consent and providing requested health and pregnancy information. Our team will explain any additional steps that apply to the donation process.
Do I need to bring anything special to the hospital?
Our team will explain any instructions that apply before your delivery. Collection arrangements are coordinated as part of the donation process.
Who collects the placenta?
The placenta is handled by trained personnel according to the participating facility's donation and collection process.
Is blood testing required?
Screening and testing requirements are part of the tissue-donation process. Our team will explain any testing that may be required as part of the donation process.
A Second Purpose
After Donation
What happens to my placenta after I donate it?
Following collection, donated tissue is carefully handled, packaged, and transported. Donated tissue may then undergo appropriate testing, processing, and quality procedures to determine whether it can proceed for potential medical applications.
How can donated placental tissue help patients?
Placental tissue may be processed into products used by healthcare professionals in appropriate medical settings, including certain wound-care and surgical applications. Specific uses depend on the processed tissue product, its labeling, and clinical judgment. Learn more about possible uses.
Does every donated placenta become a medical product?
No. Donation does not guarantee that the tissue will be suitable for processing or medical application. Tissue suitability, testing, quality procedures, and other requirements determine whether donated tissue can proceed.
Will I know which patient receives tissue from my donation?
Placenta donation is not generally a direct donor-to-patient donation. Donated tissue may undergo processing before a finished product is made available for appropriate medical use.
Your Decision
Consent & Privacy
Do I have to give consent before donating?
Yes. Placenta donation is voluntary, and the consent process gives you an opportunity to learn about the program and ask questions before deciding whether to participate.
Can I change my mind?
Participation is voluntary. If you have decided that you no longer want to participate, contact our team as soon as possible so we can discuss your request and where you are in the donation process.
Why do you need information about my medical history?
Medical and health information is reviewed as part of tissue-safety and donation requirements. It is important to provide complete and accurate information during screening.
How is my personal information handled?
Information collected during the donation process is handled according to applicable privacy, recordkeeping, and tissue-donation requirements. Additional information about website data practices can be found in our Privacy Policy.
We're Here to Help
Still Have Questions?
Placenta donation is an important personal decision. If there's something we haven't answered here, contact our team and we'll help explain the process.