January 27, 2025
Summer Mainelli became a mom in 2019. After a three-day failed induction, Summer and her husband Mark’s first daughter, Lucy, was born via c-section.
“It was kind of a hard pill to swallow that I did not get the birth I planned for us,” said Summer.
A year and a half later, the Mainelli’s second child, an 11 lb. boy, Finley, was born, and Summer became a first-time birth tissue donor.
“The goal of my scheduled c-section was to have a healthy baby, but donation was an added little bonus,” Summer stated. “I was so surprised at what a healing experience it was to know that even though I was not ever going to be able to have the birth I hoped for, there was comfort in the fact I would have an opportunity to help someone else with the donation.”
Live On Nebraska’s birth tissue donation program began in 2019, offering women delivering babies via c-section the opportunity to donate their placenta and umbilical cord. Since then, more than 1800 women have become birth tissue donors. Each donor’s birth tissue can benefit up to 15 people who need treatment for burns, skin cancer, chronic wounds and more.
In 2024, a record 461 women donated birth tissue.
The program grew, in part, because of the option to recover birth tissue following vaginal deliveries, and women like Summer, who became a three-time-donor in April.
“After that first donation, I just knew that if I got any more opportunities to donate I would,” said Summer. “The process was very easy. I donated with my 2nd son Theo, and my final donation was in April 2024 with our daughter Ayla. She is our last baby, and it was a little final reminder that completing our family was able to affect someone else’s family as well.”
Women who are at least 19 years old and 35-weeks pregnant can be considered for birth tissue donation.
Prior to delivery, Live On Nebraska representatives complete a phone screening with potential donors. Women who then qualify for donation deliver as normal. Their birth tissue is collected following delivery and later prepared into grafts.
“Overall, the process was very easy,” said Summer. “I was able to donate three times in a little over three years. I love that it is a little part of my pregnancy and c-section journey.”