To think the uk should have a change in law, to allow babies under two months to be organ donors, to save babies like these

[EvilGallstones]

here

Im in favour of a law change

Would you accept a donor organ to save your babies life? There is your answer.

SASH, is it true things like heart transplants usually last around 10 years before you need a new transplant?

My first baby was stillborn at 42 weeks. If it had been possible I would have donated her organs. I'm on the bone marrow and organ register. My 7 year old was diagnosed with leukaemia at 4. Hopefully she will never relapse but if she did she would probably need a bone marrow transplant. I know its not the same but cord blood is often used for transplant.

Why is it harder for a parent than it is for the parent of a nine week old baby? I know that if it were my baby I would want to give another baby a chance. When I lost a baby in pregnancy, I donated milk to the milk bank and that was a positive thing for me, to help other babies and bring some purpose to the loss of mine.

I wondered whether it is more difficult to determine of an organ is viable in a tiny baby? Or whether the anatomy is slightly different (for example, some changes take place in the heart in the first few days / weeks of life) but surely it is better to have that chance than no chance of an organ at all?

But sashh, a nine week old baby receiving a transplant is in the position of taking immunosuppressives and being unvaccinated. There are tiny children with other illnesses who are immunocomrpomised. Yes, it's risky, but the alternative is certain death.

You're right though that articles about transplant always read as if a transplant is a cure and the end of the story. reporting really should be more accurate.

I think it's true that a transplanted organ lasts around ten years.

I have to say I honestly don't think I could. Sassh has a point that you wouldn't be able to hold your baby after they died as they would need to get the organs out quickly. The thought of someone cutting up my baby I truly think that would finish me. Of course this is selfish as I would totally want someone to if it were the other way around. Fingers crossed they work out this growing organs thing quickly and organ donation isn't needed anymore didn't they grow a beating heart recently

i dont see much difference for the parents of a baby under 2 months old and one over 2 months old, so on that basis, if we accept it is ok to ask parents of older babies, then it is ok to ask parents of younger babies too

of course a transplant is not the end of things but its a damn sight better than early death for most parents. lots of people live their whole lives on immunosuppressants and dont find it a huge deal. yes, repeated transplants are not great, but another reason why we need more organs, not less

I had donor cards for both DDs from when they were born, XH and I were both happy with that decision; having lost a baby, I know that personally I would have wanted to donated, and I actually would have gained done comfort from it.

My DH & EW had a little boy sadly born sleeping 10 years ago and said when they asked him he couldn't do it but looking back wished he had.

My son was just over 3 months when he died. I knew he was dying from when he was a week old. I did not donate his organs, i just couldn't. I was in a right state and i know they have to ask but i hated it, holding my tiny baby who was dying in my arms. No i did not want him chopped and bits of him taken. He suffered enough, i wanted him left in peace. I have been called selfish but at the time i did what i had to do for my own sanity.

I'm sorry about your son coldwater.

Coldwater, anyone that would call you selfish for your decision is pure scum. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Giving your own mental health and the body of your child some consideration at the time of a massive bereavement is not selfish.

Even if it were, I think it's ok to be a little selfish when you've just lost your baby.

Thank you.

I think the children (and adults) in need of transplant are very vulnerable and must be considered but the parents and siblings of these very young babies are vulnerable too. We have no right to harm their grieving cutting short the time they have with their baby may do that.
I think it would be reasonable to allow donation from birth but only for babies with a known medical condition incompatible with life which is identified pre delivery. Those parents would have time to come to terms with the process and give a valid consent. Parents whose newborn suffers an injury at birth or in an accident thereafter should be left in peace unless they themselves mention donation.

Incidentally some transplant organs WILL last longer than 10 years, many will last considerably less time. Some will be transplanted and never work. For kidneys it's something like 1 in 100 which won't ever work. It's not a cure. It's not permanent. It may not be worth the extra pain the donors family put themselves through but there's no way to know that.

nobody is saying 'must' - organ donation is always an option for the next of kin, and that's how it should say.

the question is whether to offer the OPTION, if and only if the parents of the dead child wish to consider it.

Ooh, wow. That's a hard one though. As a newborn suddenly finding out your newborn is dying is rough enough without someone asking about their organs and rubbing in the reality that your baby is dying.

I think it could work if during pregnancy you were given a box to check off in the event of an emergency, just like you got a little box to check off to donate your chord blood or your own organs. Then have nothing more said of it until afterwards when you're filling out paper work for the body and funeral.

I'm not sure if I'd donate my baby's organs. I'd like to hope so, and that knowing that even though my baby died, someone else's could be saved would bring me a little comfort. But it would not be an easy decision.