About Cord Blood
Cord blood remains in the umbilical cord following a baby’s birth, and has a unique tissue type. It is usually discarded, but cord blood is valuable because it is rich in blood forming stem cells that could be used for transplants. Cord blood can therefore be collected and donated to Gift of Life’s registry to benefit patients in need of transplants.
Since the cord blood is collected after the baby has been born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, the collection is painless, easy and safe for both mother and baby. The normal birthing process is not altered in any way. After the collection, the cord blood is packaged and shipped to Gift of Life’s cryopreservation lab at the University of Massachusetts where it is tested, processed and frozen in liquid nitrogen.
The program is currently available to expectant mothers who enroll at Gift of Life's recruitment centers at Boro Park OBGYN as well as the offices of other select providers in Brooklyn. The cord blood collections take place at Maimonides Medical Center, also in Brooklyn.
If you plan to give birth at Maimonides Medical Center and would like information on how to donate your baby’s cord blood to Gift of Life, please contact a cord blood coordinator at 1-800-9-MARROW