Forms & Information
How to know if your baby is hungry.
It's natural to have questions about childbirth. Here is a list of frequently asked questions about delivering at Providence.
Ready to have your baby? Here's everything you'll need to prepare for delivery at a Providence hospital or medical center.
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. “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: 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.
Counseling the periviable pregnant woman presenting at the edge of viability can often be confusing for the patient and frustrating for the clinician. Although neonatal survival rates have improved dramatically over the last few decades, severe morbidity is still common. This is further complicated by the fact that the information provided to the parents regarding the outcomes may not be up to date or completely accurate. The counseling is also frequently influenced by personal beliefs and biases of the medical staff.
An evidence based approach may improve the experience for both the expectant parents and the health care team.
The goal of this report is to describe our experience implementing consensus medical staff guidelines used for counseling pregnant women threatening extremely premature birth and to give an account of family preferences and the immediate outcome of their infants.
The goal of this report is to describe the collaborative formation of rational, practical, medical staff guidelines for the counseling and subsequent care of extremely early-gestation pregnancies and premature infants between 22 and 26 weeks.
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.
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