Your Hospital Stay
What to expect during childbirth and delivery at OHSU
Your labor experience is completely unique. And your wishes and goals for labor and delivery are very personal. But here is a general idea of what to expect during your stay at OHSU.
Check-in and Triage
When you first arrive to our triage beds, a nurse will evaluate your labor progress and take care of your immediate needs. If your are in labor, you will be taken to one of 12 private suites on the labor and delivery floor.
Labor and Delivery
You'll have a variety of choices to help you give birth with little or no pain medication. Techniques include hydrotherapy, water birth, birthing balls and stools, massage, walking, breathing and more. A dedicated anesthesiologist is on-hand 24-hours a day, every day of the year with relief options not available in any other area hospital.
While most deliveries are healthy and normal, additional resources and specialists are just down the hall, if needed. You and your family will have peace of mind knowing advanced medical care is available immediately – for mother, baby or both – if any complication should arise.
Your care team will carefully review your birth plan. They will continue working with you as your labor progresses and throughout the birth of your baby.
Cesarean Births
There are three operating suites in the Labor and Delivery Unit. Your labor and delivery nurse will remain with you during the preparation, birth and recovery after your delivery. Your spouse or support person is welcome during the surgery. After your baby is born, a specialized team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists will perform your baby's first health exam in the delivery room with you. We make every effort to have healthy moms and babies recover together.
Special Baby Care
In most cases, your baby will stay with you after delivery. Should any problem arise, the Doernbecher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is fully-equipped and standing-by for babies who need additional help growing and maturing before going home.
Recovery on the Mother-Baby Unit
Your post-recovery period will be spent in a quiet environment where specialized nurses will care for you and your baby. To strengthen the parent-child bond, your baby will stay in your room 24-hours a day. Semi-private and private rooms are available. Either way, you'll have plenty of space in your room for Dad, partner or special guest. You can count on our lactation support team to help you get started in breastfeeding your baby.
