COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new program at OhioHealth is allowing new moms to donate their placenta after birth.
For one recent placenta donor, she said the process was easy, and she was happy to know it would help others.
What You Need To Know
- Megan Cormier donated her placenta after she gave birth to her son
- Right now, Lifeline of Ohio works with 19 hospitals in the state
- To donate, you must have a planned c-section and go through a screening process
- Placentas are used to help aid in skin grafts, and one placenta can help with up to 80 skin grafts
Isaiah Cormier is just 6 weeks old, but he is already helping others.
“He’s probably close to 10 pounds now,” said his mom, Megan Cormier. “Your placenta got to help all these people!”
That’s because Megan donated her placenta after he was born.
Mom, Megan, holds her 6-week-old son Isaiah (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News)
“I knew right away that I wanted to do it,” she said. “I’m an organ donor and I mean, why not? They kind of just throw your placenta away if you don’t use it. So it was a pretty easy decision for us.”
Megan donated her placenta after a planned c-section at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. According to OhioHealth and Lifeline of Ohio, any mother can donate her placenta as long as she has a planned c-section and goes through a screening process prior to birth.
Lifeline of Ohio receives the donated placenta and can use it for up to 80 skin grafts.
“I just encourage people that if you’re wondering if you should, just do it,” said Lindsay Partee, a clinical nurse manager in labor and delivery at Riverside Hospital. “It’s such an easy process. And think about all the people that you are helping.”
Lifeline of Ohio partners with 19 hospitals in Ohio for the placenta donation program. Megan said she’s grateful that with her second baby she could give the gift of a quality life to others.
“The placenta helped him live, so I just think it should be able to help other people, too,” Megan said.
Isaiah is comforted by his mother (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News)
She hopes she can soon see how the placenta that helped grow Isaiah will help others.
“I’m really hoping that we get something from Lifeline of Ohio that they were able to use it or that it was able to do this many skin grafts or something like that,” Megan said.
While Isaiah fills her day with baby cuddles, Megan hopes more life-saving gifts are on the way.
“I tell all my friends who are having c-sections to make sure you donate!” she said.
For a list of participating hospitals that Lifeline of Ohio works with for the placenta donation program and more information on the program, click here.
