Placenta Donation Program

South Shore Hospital, part of South Shore Health, is the first hospital in Massachusetts to participate in the Placenta Donation Program, through a leading biopharmaceutical company. The company uses human placenta tissue to develop biologic therapies to help patients get their lives back on track. 

Currently, the option to donate is only available to mothers who are planning a cesarian section birth. Obstetricians identify suitable candidates, and perform the simple, safe, and painless removal of the placenta just as they would in any cesarean procedure.  

A representative is present at the birth to safely collect the placenta and transport it to a lab in a sterile environment. Donating is free of charge and all donations are thoroughly screened to ensure that safe and effective grafts are provided to patients in need. 

Just one placenta donation can create up to 50 grafts to help heal serious wounds using stem cells that would otherwise become medical waste.