C-Section and Cord Blood Banking—Things to Know

Globally, more and more women are going for elective C-section delivery, in other words, planned delivery. However, some parents who want both elective C-section and newborn cord blood banking are worried that a C-section may interfere with the process of baby stem cell collection. The truth is C-section doesn’t interfere with the process of cord blood banking at all. 

It is a common misconception that a C-section delivery results in less amount of umbilical cord blood being collected. However, it has been observed that a C-section birth doesn’t reduce the amount of blood collected for stem cell banking. On the contrary, a C-section delivery collects more blood than a vaginal delivery because the baby is usually raised higher above the placenta after delivery. Following a C-section delivery, the blood volume increases in the next 40 seconds and decreases after that. Therefore, if the blood is collected within 40 seconds there is a chance of a higher volume of blood being collected. It has also been observed that when there is fetal distress and if a C-section is performed following fetal distress more blood is collected. Fetal distress actually mobilizes more stem cells into the cord blood and therefore, it increases the number of stem cells in the umbilical cord blood.

Researchers have also observed that in-utero collection of umbilical cord blood after a C-section delivery increases the chances of collection of more umbilical cord blood.

A common misconception regarding umbilical cord blood collection is that the bag in which the cord blood is collected is not sterile and is not allowed inside the operating theatre. This misconception is based on the fact that before the year 2000, umbilical cord blood was collected through a syringe and stored in a pouch. At that time, the pouches were not sterile and were not allowed inside the operation theatre. However, these bags existed for only a few years. They were soon replaced by sterile bags. The early years of usage of non-sterile bags have led to the stigma that they are unsafe. However, it is not true anymore. Post-2000, all cord blood banks use FDA-approved sterile bags.

Is the Cord Blood Collection Process Different for C-sections?

The umbilical cord blood collection procedure itself is to some extent different for C-sections. Firstly, the obstetrician completes the surgery and sutures the uterus. Then they attend to any surgical concerns of the mother. Then they can collect the umbilical cord blood in a sterile bag provided by the cord blood bank. Unlike, vaginal delivery there is a slight delay in the cord blood collection. In vaginal delivery, the collection is done immediately. Many people feel that this delay results in the collection of less blood, which is not true. Surprisingly, there is more collection in C-section than in a vaginal delivery.

If a C-section is planned, it is easier to prepare for cord blood collection. The collection kit is usually handed over to the operation theatre nurse before the surgery. The collection is done by the operating surgeon as soon as the baby is delivered and the placenta is out. The entire process happens in a sterile environment and there are no risks or infections to the mother and child.