Mom smiling at sleeping newborn baby in hospital

One in five Oregonians begins their life at a Providence facility. Our family-centered approach to childbirth includes personalized care from experts who are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the entire family.

We want to make this a special experience for you and your family. Your care team works closely with you to meet your needs and keep you informed about the progress of your care.

After you deliver, we teach you how to care for, feed and comfort your newborn. We support you as you learn about your baby's behaviors and sleep and wake cycles. Our registered nurses are experts at helping with breastfeeding. We also have an expert lactation team who can help if needed. We are available for all your questions as you prepare to care for your newborn at home.

Your delivery is supported by a team of providers dedicated to meeting your needs. Our team includes registered nurses, obstetricians, family practice physicians and certified nurse anesthetists and lactation consultants. Many of our nurses hold national certification in the area of childbirth and lactation.

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During birth, you are supported by your team of providers, nurses, and support people. You are at the center of this team – it is your body and your birth.

TeamBirth Huddles

We are a TeamBirth hospital, which means the care you receive matches your preferences. One of the ways we accomplish this is through TeamBirth huddles.

TeamBirth huddles are times when your care team comes together, either in person or over the phone, to give all team members the opportunity to talk at key points in your care.

  • Who: you, your provider, your nurse and your support person(s).
  • What: You and your care team talk about your preferences, your care plans, and when you will huddle next.
  • When: Huddles happen at admission, for decisions or changes in the plan of care, or when any team member asks for one. We encourage you and your support people to ask any of our caregivers for a huddle. If you do not feel like you can speak up for any reason, ask your support person or the team member you trust the most to help speak up for you.
Roles in Your Team

Your care changes as labor goes on. Think about how your team can help you by sharing information or giving you support to feel good about changes and decisions.

  • You know your body and your preferences. You have the most important voice in the room. You can choose the role you want in decision-making, but no matter your role, you should always share what you know about your body and how you are feeling with your team.
  • Your nurse knows how to support you and your labor. They are by your side through most of your labor; they suggest what could be most helpful for you based on your care so far.
  • Your provider knows about the pros and cons of different choices. Most of the time, providers guide the team to make decisions together, but there will be times where providers may need to make quick decisions for you or your baby’s safety.
  • Your support person(s) can provide physical, emotional, and mental support, as well as help advocate for you during labor. Discuss with your support person(s) how you want them to help. If you do not know anyone who you want to support you in labor, ask your provider about who else could be there for you for your birth.
Empowering You to Ask Questions

Trust yourself and share what you know about your body with your team

How is your labor going? How much energy do you have? What feels good for your body? What doesn’t?

  • ASK: If you need your team to hear what you know about your body or share more of what they know with you: I know you see this every day, but this feels different (or frightening) for me. Can you help me understand why I am feeling this way and if there is anything we should worry about?
Share your values and preferences

What matters to you in your labor? Who do you want supporting you? What will make you feel comfortable right now?

  • ASK: If your preferences have changed: I feel different now, and have different preferences for my labor. What options do we have to change the care plan to match what I want now?
  • ASK: If your care plan does not match with your preferences: This is important to me. Can you help me understand why this may not be possible right now?
Ask questions to make sure you understand your care

You have the right to know all your options for care. How are you and your baby doing? What choices do you have for your care? What are the pros and cons for each one?

  • ASK: If you need to be more clear about your care plan or choices: I would like more information about my choices. What are the pros and cons of this plan? What are the other choices we could consider? What would happen if we do nothing instead?
  • ASK: If you want to ask for more time to labor: I am still feeling good, and I would like to keep laboring if possible. Can you help me understand the reason why you recommend delivery? Are there any options we could consider to give me more time?
  • ASK: If you want to know more about what to expect next in your labor: How are my baby and I doing right now? What can I expect next? When should I be concerned?
Tour our Facility

While tours are not currently available in person, we invite you to watch this virtual tour.

Labor rooms

Every labor room is equipped for a safe, vaginal birth. If you need a cesarean section, you will be taken to a nearby surgery suite. You will likely recover in a labor room afterwards with your support person and baby.

Each room has a:

  • Private bathroom
  • Bed for you and baby
  • Sleeping chair for your support person
  • Phone and TV
  • Mini-refrigerator
Food and beverage

While in the hospital, you will receive meals. Snacks are also available on the unit. Your support person is offered the option of one meal per day. Visitors may purchase beverages, snacks or meals from the cafeteria and bring those items back to the maternity unit. You are welcome to bring food from home or other restaurants.

Visitors

Please refer to current visitor policy.

Specialized care

Sometimes pregnancies require specialized care. When unexpected situations arise, your provider has access to a team of Portland-based perinatologists and neonatologists. We are supported by two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); one at Providence St. Vincent and one at Providence Portland.

Congratulations! This is a very exciting time in your life. To help with your questions, the resources below give information on Providence services, childbirth and parenting classes, tips on selecting a provider for your baby, information on our breastfeeding clinics and more.

Guides, services and classes
Hospital registration, safety and information

Congratulations on the arrival of your new baby! 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 page 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.

Deciding what type of care your want for your pregnancy and beyond is a personal choice. Providence offers several options to meet your unique needs – and all offer you a lifetime of care.

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Obstetrician—gynecologists (OB-GYN)
  • Board-certified
  • Surgically trained so they are able to perform C-sections and other procedures when necessary
  • Able to care for high-risk pregnancies
  • Coordinate your pregnancy and postpartum care with a team of patient navigators and social workers
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OB-credentialed family medicine doctors (FM)
  • Offer family-centered maternity care
  • Partner with OB-GYNs when needed
  • Provide primary care for every member of your family, including newborns



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Certified nurse midwives (CNM)
  • Board-certified
  • Partner with OB-GYNs when needed
  • Coordinate your pregnancy and postpartum care with a team of patient navigators, social workers and an OB-GYN
  • Offers group visits with patient (and partners) at similar stages in pregnancy
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Circle® by Providence

Free pregnancy and parenting app

Circle® is a free pregnancy and parenting app that provides useful health resources, top-notch pregnancy calculator and tools to help track ovulation, weight, blood pressure, and vaccinations. Enjoy easy access to program information, services and classes, too! Plus, when you connect to MyChart through Circle, you'll receive appointment reminders for you and your children. Learn more about the Circle app.

Download now

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Go the AppStore to download this application to your tablet or smart phone.
Go the Google Play store to download this application to your tablet or smart phone.