Blood Donation

CALL TO ACTION

We need your help - January is National Blood Donor Month and October is Accreta Awareness Month. NAF celebrates blood donors and helps to encourage blood donation during these months. Please send us photos of you donating blood or hosting a blood drive along with a few sentences about your “why.” We want to know why blood donation is important to you and your family. Send submissions to advocate@preventaccreta.org - we will feature these photos and stories throughout these months.

Donate Blood

The incidence of placenta accreta pregnancies is rising so it’s important that blood banks are stocked in case an accreta mom is in need. Contact your local blood bank and find out if you are eligible to donate blood. AABB has a blood bank locator. Hospitals that are trauma centers may have in-house blood banks.

HOST A BLOOD DRIVE

Hosting a blood drive is a great way to increase awareness of accreta and the need for blood. It’s also a great opportunity for accreta moms and families to share their stories and celebrate the impact of blood donation. Check out the blood drive toolkit for tips on how to host a blood drive as well as one accreta survivor’s experience hosting. View the video below which features two accreta moms. Finally, download and print the “Strong as a Mother” accreta cards and hand them out at the blood drive too.

If you are located in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota or other states served by Vitalant, you can host a Donate for Mothers blood drive.

If you are located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana or Michigan, contact Versiti who actively partner with accreta survivors and family members.

Share your story with a blood bank

Many placenta accreta moms partner with their local blood center to share their story with blood donors in their community. This can be done via an interview on their web site, an article in printed materials, or even speaking at events for donors or blood center staff. Many blood banks have public relations departments: reach out and tell them the impact that blood donation has had on your life and ask how you can get involved. This is a great way to bring awareness to placenta accreta as well - be sure to ask that they link to our site.

TELL US WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Did you donate blood, host a blood drive or speak at your local blood center? We’d love to feature your work here and on our social media accounts. Send us a note and photo at advocate@preventaccreta.org, via our contact form, or tag us on social media.