Donating umbilical cord blood after your baby is born is a simple and safe way to make the birth of your child into someone else’s second chance. Umbilical cord blood contains special blood-forming cells that can be used as a life-saving transplant for those with life-threatening diseases. Valley Medical Center partners with Bloodworks Northwest to offer free public cord blood donation for your family.
Why donate umbilical cord blood?
Umbilical cord blood has an important and growing role in the treatment of life-threatening diseases. In fact, more than 25,000 patients around the world have received cord blood transplants because parents have generously decided to donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank. Patients with more than 80 diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle-cell disease, bone marrow failure, and immune deficiency conditions may need a cord blood transplant to save their lives. Watch video.
Will cord blood donation affect the birthing parent or baby?
The donation process is safe for you and your baby. Your provider will collect the blood after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, and it is not felt by you or your baby. All donations are confidential to protect your family’s privacy. There is no cost to donate cord blood as part of this program. Bloodworks Northwest covers the costs of collecting, processing and storing donated cord blood units.
How is the cord blood donation used?
Eligible donations made to Bloodworks will be listed on the Be The Match® registry and transplant physicians all around the globe can search the database to find a perfect match for their patients. Your donation may also be used for cutting-edge research.
Through cord blood donation, your child’s birth offers you a unique chance to contribute to community health. If you’re interested in donating, talk to your OB/GYN provider or email cordblood@valleymed.org with your name, preferred contact information and “Interested” in the subject line. To be a part of the Cord Blood Donation Program, you will need to complete a brief screening form and consent form to become a donor.
Consent forms
English short screening form English consent form
If you need the consent forms mailed to you, please email cordblood@valleymed.org with your current mailing address and which language you need the consent forms in.
If you need the consent form in another language, Bloodworks Northwest is able to provide you the consent forms in the following languages:
En español
