Umbilical cord blood is the blood that stays in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. Cord blood has stem cells that can be used to treat life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Every year, 12,000 people are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or disorders like sickle cell for which a blood stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor may be their best or only hope for a cure. Cord blood donation is one way to supply those much-needed cells to people in need. Woman’s is partnering with MD Anderson’s Cord Blood Bank to collect voluntary donations.

If your doctor is enrolled in our cord blood donation program, you may be able to donate your baby’s cord blood immediately following birth of your child. Collecting cord blood poses no danger to either the mother or the baby. Learn more about cord blood donation here. To be eligible to donate your baby’s cord blood, you must be:

• At least 18 years old
• Pregnant with a single baby (not twins, triplets, etc.)
• More than 34 weeks pregnant when you deliver