Columbus, OH,
15
June
2023
|
15:00 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

OhioHealth Maternity Patients Can Be Heroes Through Placenta Donation Program

In April, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital launched a partnership with Lifeline of Ohio’s Placenta Donation program. Through the program, expectant mothers delivering their babies at O’Bleness Hospital have the opportunity to heal others through the donation of their placenta.

“I learned about the placenta donation from my doctor,” said placenta donor and Nelsonville resident Brittany Powell. “I went home and researched everything I could about it, then decided it was something that I wanted to do since I could help up to 50 people and there [was] no risk to me or my baby. The process was super easy and fast. I think this is a great thing to do.” 

Healing grafts made from a placenta donation are used for a wide range of procedures involving eye, oral and spine surgery, and for the treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers and burns.

O’Bleness Hospital is now part of a program that has grown to include 22 partnering hospitals and approximately 90 OB/GYN offices throughout central and southeast Ohio and Wood and Hancock counties in West Virginia. Since the program launch, O’Bleness has facilitated five placental donations.

"We are proud to be part of Lifeline of Ohio's Placenta Donation Program," said LeeAnn Lucas-Helber, president of OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital. “This partnership offers individuals who have given birth a convenient way to contribute to the recovery of those undergoing surgeries, procedures, or facing medical complications. We are proud to collaborate with Lifeline of Ohio to make the donation process easy and provide often lifesaving support to those in need.”

At its core, Lifeline of Ohio’s Placenta Donation program allows expectant mothers with scheduled C-section deliveries to donate the placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic membrane from the birth. Each donated placenta, which would typically be discarded, has the potential to create 25 healing grafts to help those in need.

“We are so excited for this partnership opportunity,” said Erin Pidgeon, Lifeline of Ohio’s Supervisor of Placenta Donation Program. "Together with the incredible hospital and OB/GYN office staff, and generous placenta donors, we will provide healing and hope to those who need it most."

Program Highlights

  • Any expectant mother, of any age, with a planned C-section can be a potential donor.
  • Placenta donation does not change any part of the C-section delivery.
  • There is no cost associated for placenta donation.
  • Placenta donation is not related to cord blood donation.

To learn more about Lifeline of Ohio’s Placenta Donation program, visit www.lifelineofohio.org/placenta.