THE HEALING POTENTIAL OF BIRTH TISSUE
Did you know your baby’s birth tissue could be used to benefit someone else? Often, the birth tissue is discarded along with medical waste. But with your donation, this same birth tissue can help dozens of others.
Placenta donation, or birth tissue recovery, is a program of Tennessee Donor Services that utilizes the birth tissue’s remarkable ability to heal. After the baby’s birth, the birth tissue’s cellular components and amniotic membrane can be repurposed to create products for wound healing, scar tissue repair, and wound tissue regeneration.
Birth tissue can be used for face and eye injuries, burns, oral surgeries, spine surgeries, diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers, bed sores, and a variety of other soft tissue healing. Read more to find out how you can donate to Tennessee Donor Services.
WITH YOUR DONATED BIRTH TISSUE, THE LIVES OF UP TO 50 PEOPLE CAN BE IMPROVED!
Here is How You Can Make a Difference
The process of birth tissue donation is simple–one that only requires a few steps from both mother and health care provider. It doesn’t cost the mother anything, nor does it change anything about her baby’s delivery:
- The expectant mother must plan to deliver via Caesarean section and be free of infectious diseases and cancer.
- Prior to the birth, appropriate consent forms are filled out and the mother’s medical record reviewed. All records and personal information are handled in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- During admission, additional tubes of blood will be collected for further testing to confirm the donated tissue is free of infectious diseases. Should the tests yield any unexpected positive results, we will inform your physician and the Public Health Department for appropriate follow-up and care.
- During delivery, the birth tissue will be recovered in a sterile manner and transferred to a Tennessee Donor Services professional for packaging, labeling, and transportation.
The tissue recovery process is designed for minimal disruption to the birthing process. Tennessee Donor Services staff will supply educational materials which can be given to expectant mothers.
The value of birth tissue cannot be underestimated. With your assistance, this simple process can treat up to 50 people in need of its healing properties. Together we can work to make the birth process even more meaningful.
ANSWERS TO YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are answers to the most common questions about birth tissue donation:
Q: What happens to my birth tissue if I don’t donate?
A: Unless your doctor requests or requires additional testing of the birth tissue, it will be discarded as medical waste.
Q: What tests are run on my blood, and will I get the results?
A: Your blood will be tested for infectious diseases including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis. If any results are reportable per public health standards, your doctor will be notified and provide further follow-up with you.
Q: Will I know who receives transplants from my birth tissue?
A: Much like other forms of tissue donation, the gift of birth tissue donation is given anonymously to protect the privacy of all parties involved.
Q: Is there any risk to me or my baby?
A: Not at all. Your birth tissue will be removed in the same way and at the same time (after your baby is delivered) as it would if it were not being donated. There is no additional procedure involved for the donation of your birth tissue.
Q: Will there be any additional costs if I donate?
A: Absolutely not. The minimal supplies needed for recovery and transportation of your birth tissue are covered by Tennessee Donor Services.
Q: How will you obtain my birth tissue after delivery?
A: The birth tissue is removed through the same surgical incision used for your C-section. After your baby is born, your health care providers will recover the birth tissue and pass it to our specially-trained staff to be prepared for transport.