Providence pregnancy, labor and birth
Forms & Information
The day you take your newborn home is exciting – and probably a little scary. You’ll have lots of questions during the days and months ahead. This booklet contains a lot of information, but it is not meant as a substitute for professional medical care. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your care provider.
How to know if your baby is hungry.
Congratulations on your new baby! We've put together a list of helpful information and links to access Providence postpartum care services.
Throughout life we prepare for the things that really matter- having a baby is no exception. A childbirth class will help you prepare for the birth of your child and increase your ability to make informed choices regarding this life-changing experience. To register, please call 800-562-8964, or sign up on-line. For additional questions, concerns or to speak with an instructor, please call the childbirth education coordinator at 541-387-6344.
It's natural to have questions about childbirth. Here is a list of frequently asked questions about delivering at Providence.
When it comes time for your baby to be born, everyone on your care team will be focused on you and your baby. As a patient at Providence Portland Medical Center, you may have a family medicine resident physician assigned to your care. If a resident participates in the delivery of your baby, he or she will work under the close guidance of your own care provider. There will be no additional physician’s fees for the resident.
Within 30 days after your baby’s birth, you will be required to separately enroll your baby in an insurance plan.
The visitation policy for the maternity department is designed to protect our patients, their families and other visitors.
Congratulations! This is a very exciting time in your life. To help with your questions, this booklet will give information Providence services, childbirth and parenting classes, tips on selecting a physician for your baby, information on our breastfeeding clinics and more.
The first two years of a child’s life are the most important for speech and language development. That’s why it’s important to detect hearing problems early. The state of Oregon requires that all newborns be given a hearing test soon after they are born.
Pulse oximetry newborn screening can identify some infants with a heart defect before they show symptoms. Once identified, babies can be seen by cardiologists and can receive specialized care and treatment.
We have taken numerous precautions to assure the safety of you and your new baby. There are also a few things you can to to help protect yourself and your family.
At Providence Health & Services, we believe each patient deserves excellent care of mind and spirit as well as of body. Childbirth can bring a range of emotions, which may last for months. Our interdenominational Pastoral Services staff is available 24 hours a day to help you honor your baby’s birth and alleviate emotional and spiritual stress.
If you are not married to the father of your baby, you have several choices regarding paternity.
Because of our core values – compassion, justice, respect, excellence and stewardship – we believe that as a patient you have certain rights. At the same time, because we consider you an active partner in your health care, we acknowledge that you also have some responsibilities.
If you are an established patient at our clinic, and are preparing for your next follow-up visit, please complete these forms and bring them with your to your next appointment. In addition we will also need your photo ID and current medical insurance card.
The postpartum time brings many physical and emotional changes. This guide will help answer questions about the changes in your body and about your postpartum care. It is not meant as a substitute for professional medical care. If you have questions or concerns, be sure to talk with your doctor, nurse midwife or family maternity nurse.
Ready to have your baby? Here's everything you'll need to prepare for delivery at a Providence hospital or medical center.
Mothers often have questions and concerns about breastfeeding before and after their babies are born. To help mothers provide the best nutrition for their newborns, Providence Health & Services offers a variety of breastfeeding (lactation) services.
Only five minutes of breathing secondhand smoke can be harmful to you or your baby’s health. A child who spends just one hour in a smoky room is inhaling as many dangerous chemicals as if he or she smoked 10 or more cigarettes.
Labor may occur as much as two weeks before or after your due date. This is normal. Your body has ways of telling you that it is preparing for labor.
The birth of every baby is a unique and special event. If you tell us what is important to you in making this event the personal experience you want it to be, we will help you create the environment you want.
Before you preregister for your delivery, you must choose a primary care provider for your baby. This provider will coordinate well-baby visits, immunizations and general medical care for your baby for many years to come.
From the experts
Q: “Can I have my period and still be pregnant?”
Midwives have facilitated childbirth for thousands of years and are a vital part of today’s modern health care delivery system. Yet many women are surprised to learn that they can choose a certified nurse-midwife and still have their baby in a hospital – with or without epidurals and other modern comforts.
Q: “Is it OK to exercise while I’m pregnant? What types of exercise are OK, and what precautions should I take?”
Q. “I’m a 55-year-old male who is thinking about becoming a father. Does my age present any risks to the baby? My wife is 41. We are both in excellent health.”
Q: How long should I wait to get pregnant after…
- Having a medical procedure involving anesthesia?
- Taking prescription medications?
- Getting travel immunizations?
- Undergoing chemotherapy?
- Having uterine fibroids removed?
Q. What is “Group B strep,” and how do I know if my unborn baby is at risk?
Q: “Could it be possible for the male to be at fault for miscarriages? I’ve had two pregnant women in my life: The first woman had two miscarriages, and the second had one. Is there something wrong with my sperm?”
Q: “Is the risk of miscarriage higher during first pregnancies? Is the risk the same throughout pregnancy, or is there a time when I can start to breathe easier? And finally, is there any link between fertility problems and a higher risk for miscarrying?”
Q. "I am 40 and am, unexpectedly, expecting for the fourth time. In my last pregnancy seven years ago (same father), I gave birth three and a half weeks early due to preeclampsia. What is my risk of developing it again? Is there anything I can do to minimize my risk?"
Q: Since I’ve been pregnant, I have been occasionally leaking urine. Will this stop after I have my baby? Can I do anything to avoid it now?
Q: I just turned 40 and my husband and I would like to have a baby. What are the risks and what would you advise to optimize our chances of having a healthy baby?
Q: What exactly is SIDS, and why does sleeping on the back prevent it?
Q. “My wife and I are talking about conceiving a baby. I have been using marijuana and smoking cigarettes for about ten years. My wife has never smoked anything. Before we do this, I want to know if I should quit for a month or so to make sure that our children won’t have birth defects or problems later in life. My wife seems to think that what I do doesn’t matter, and that it’s only what she does that affects the baby. I’m not so sure. I want to do the right thing.”
Q. “I'm pregnant! This will be my first child. In your expert opinion, what are the top 10 things I should do to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby?”
Answers from Angela Keating, M.D., board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with Providence Medical Group Columbia Women's Clinic.
After your baby is born, the vital records technician at the hospital will give you a birth certificate worksheet that must be completed during your stay as an in-patient of the hospital and returned to the staff before you are discharged from the hospital.
If you leak urine when you laugh, sneeze or cough, you have what we call “stress incontinence.” It happens when extra pressure is placed on the abdomen which, in turn, puts pressure on the bladder. Coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, playing tennis, running and jumping are examples of activities that can cause stress incontinence.
Women who are between four and 12 weeks pregnant may safely take the following over-the-counter medications. Follow all directions on the container for adult dosage and usage instructions.
Midwifery has long been an option for women wanting to deliver their babies with minimal medical intervention. Providence Health & Services has paired the personal support of midwifery with the modern comforts of a hospital since 1993.
As a pregnant woman, you have options. You can see an obstetrician, a family medicine doctor or a midwife for pregnancy care. Sometimes, you may see a combination. So, how do you decide which choice is right for you? Lisa Chickadonz, a nurse-midwife with Providence Maternal Care Clinic, is a great source of perspective on the midwife experience.
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