"New" to Portland. Just found out I'm pregnant. Suggestions for OB/midwife?

Question

Hi everyone! 
I'm 26 and just found out I'm pregnant with my first child this Saturday! We've been trying nearly all year and I am absolutely over the moon. But I am still a touch unsure of what doctor best fits my needs. I did schedule my first prenatal appointment for December 15th with the women's health center and an OBGYN. But I'm not sure if this is what will best fit my needs. The options are all so overwhelming!!

--I know I want to try to have a more natural birth. Less medical intervention.

--I keep imagining if I would like to have a birthing center birth or a hospital (not at home) but the potential for emergency medical care is the only thing I am uneducated about in regards to this. Once I have my first OB appointment I'm sure they can determine if I'm high risk or not.

--I keep also imagining a place where husband and baby can sleep in the room with me after birth. Which would also probably be a birthing center?

I live closer to Gresham so downtown doctors are manageable but tough.

I tried googling my answers but it is all so overwhelming. If anyone has suggestions on who to see and so on that would be absolutely incredible. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!

Answer

Might be far for you but I am at OHSU and I LOVE IT!! It is the best medical experience I have had in my life. The appointments have all be so informative and the process has been prompt and professional. Everyone I have met has been so knowledgable in their field. I had blood work done the other day and the nurse called me back to discuss the results within a few HOURS! Crazy fast!

I also want a natural birth. I chose to have a midwife and she is FANTASTIC! There are OBs as well and I heard they are very good. Its a large hospital that has a birthing center in it. They offer water births at the hospital (I think I read they were one of the first in the nation to offer it in a hospital setting) which I signed up for already. They also offer optional 'group care' for some of your appoinments where you get to meet and bond with other moms that share your due date. And if anything were to go wrong - it is a big hospital so OBs are super close and they also have an excellent NICU facility from what I hear.

Good luck and welcome to PDX. I have read that the prenatal care is excellent in PDX, there are many great options. I am new to the area as well!

Answer

Hi there! I'm also new to Portland and had just found out I was pregnant a few days before moving here. I know how overwhelming finding a doctor can be! I saw Dr Davis at northwest women's clinic and was very happy with him. He takes the time to explain any questions you have and never made me feel rushed. The office also has midwives if you'd prefer them over an OBGYN. I just gave birth to my second child and delivered at Legacy Good Samaritan and was super happy with my experience. All of the nurses were super nice and I liked the more natural home feel of the hospital. (You can also have a water birth there if that's something that interests you) They really promote skin to skin and don't take the baby off your chest for two hours. Overall my experience was a million times better than with my first child and I don't have a single complaint. Good luck!

Answer

I go to Andaluz Waterbirth center

Answer

I also go to the midwives at Alma! They have a gorgeous birthing center, but I'll be birthing at home. I have heard great things about Sunnyside Kaiser. They are closer to you, since you're in Gresham, and I've heard they are more accepting of natural births! Good luck :)

Answer

First, congratulations!! Such an exciting time!! And second, I worked with the midwives at Alma midwifery and had a truly wonderful experience. I had planned to have my son at the birth center, but my water broke a month early and my group b strep status was not back from the lab so we decided to transfer to Portland providence when I was in labor. The midwives were amazing through the entire prenatal, birth, and postpartum experience. I strongly suggest checking them out!!

Answer

I've had all my children at Good Samaritan hospital. They have very nice large rooms and tubs for water births. This time around however is more of a high risk pregnancy and I'm delivering at Emanuel hospital. The group I'm seeing is emanuels maternal fetal medicine. The doctors are very good. You can walk in any time and be seen. I've had an ultrasound at any time I'm having pain. 6 all together. I feel like they are taking great care of the baby and I.

"New" to Portland. Just found out I'm pregnant. Suggestions for OB/midwife?

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