Answers

What is birth tissue?

Birth tissue is gestational tissue that can be donated after the delivery of a living newborn. Donated birth tissue is often used in reconstructive procedures to promote healing, and to treat burns and painful wounds. Birth tissue donation is a type of living donation and does not impact your health or the health of your baby.

Donated birth tissue can include:

• Placenta
• Amniotic membrane
• Chorionic membrane
• Amniotic fluid
• Umbilical cord tissue
• Umbilical veins
• Wharton’s jelly

Birth tissue and cord blood can be donated after childbirth and require a specific authorization.

• Birth tissue donation – American Association of Tissue Banks
• Cord blood – Cord Blood Association

Learn more about birth tissue.