Birth Tissue

What is Birth Tissue and How is it Used?

What is it?

Birth tissue includes the placenta and umbilical cord. During pregnancy, they nourish your baby. After birth, with your consent, they can be recovered and used for healing and research.

• Wound care coverings for burns and diabetic ulcers
• Sports medicine and surgical recovery support
• Ophthalmology applications for eye injuries
• Spine and dental procedures

Safety and Cost

There is no added surgical procedure and no cost to you. The donation does not affect your delivery or medical care for you or your baby.

Zero Risk

$0 Cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Donate?

Any expecting mother delivering through means of a cesarean section or vaginally may be eligible to
donate. When you consent to birth tissue donation, you will answer a series of questions regarding your
medical and social history to ensure the safety of the tissue and confirm eligibility.

Is it Safe?

As a type of living donation, birth tissue donation poses no risk to your health or your baby’s health. Your decision to share this gift with others does not affect the delivery or the medical care of you or your baby.

What is The Procedure?

The donation process requires no additional surgical procedure for either mom or baby. Delivery is completed as normal.

What is The Cost?

There is no cost to you for anything related to the donation. Expenses related to the donation are covered by DonorConnect.

Hospitals That Accept Birth Tissue

Currently Participating

St. Marks Hospital Labor and Delivery

We provide training, consent workflows, and tissue recovery coordination that work alongside the care team.

How Hospitals Partner

Would you like your hospital to offer the opportunity to donate birth tissue? Submit a request with the info for your hospital.

Request Your Hospital

Personal Stories

"The opportunity to donate made this already special day more
meaningful."

Samantha was excited about the upcoming birth of her daughter
Sephora. When the hospital told her she had the opportunity to
donate her placenta after delivery through her scheduled C-section,
she jumped at the opportunity. Before becoming a stay-at-home
mom, Samantha worked as a nurse for 10 years in the ICU and saw
firsthand the benefit of organ and tissue donation.
“I always loved hearing the amazing stories of how donation had
changed the life of someone,” said Samantha, “And I honestly never
knew I could donate my placenta and help someone who was really
suffering from wounds that wouldn’t heal or burns.”
“The placenta donation team explained everything, and it was so
easy; I knew I wanted to make this a part of my birth experience. I
love knowing that I have helped others, and that’s what made me
want to donate again, when my son was born.”
Samantha hopes others will want to participate in the donation of
birth tissue and take part in contributing in such a beautiful way.

How Else Can I Help?

Support Families

Donate to an organization that helps families after a loss.

Southwest Pediatrics Utah

Ready to Donate Birth Tissue?