Doula Services for Gresham and Greater Portland, Oregon

Portland Cesarean Rates by Hospital — Updated for 2011

Written on January 31, 2012 by Heather Johnson in cesarean, Portland Resources

In 2011, Kaiser Sunnyside continued to be the hospital with the lowest cesarean rate in the Portland Metropolitan area, while Legacy Emmanuel continued to have the highest. The greatest decrease was at Providence Portland, where the rate dropped from 34.4% to 30.4%. OHSU also experienced a large decrease in c-section rate, from 32.5% in 2010 to 29.0% in 2011. Over the past four years, the cesarean rate at OHSU has decreased from 34.2% to 29.0%. The greatest increase was at Legacy Meridian Park, which increased 2.6%, from 34.1% to 36.7%.

Overall Cesarean rates have dropped slightly since 2009.

Data compiled from preliminary vital statistics, 2011.

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Portland Hospitals Join in Banning Early Induction

Written on August 9, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Doula Tips

In what I think is an excellent example of scientific inquiry leading to a change in evidence-based practice, all 17 Portland area hospitals have agreed not to allow elective inductions before 39 weeks after September 1, 2011. Inductions for medical reasons will, of course, still be allowed. Studies have shown that babies born at 37-38…

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Portland Hospital Offers Safer Options for High Risk Moms

Written on July 14, 2011 by Heather Johnson in activism, cesarean, childbirth, Portland Resources

I’ve been noticing a disturbing trend lately. Women who have higher risk pregnancies — breech babies, multiple c-sections, etc. — who cannot find an OB-GYN or hospital willing to allow delivery of their baby vaginally, are turning to homebirth with a rogue midwife or even an unassisted childbirth rather than having a cesarean in the…

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Cervical Dilation: A Visual Aid

Written on April 4, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Doula Tips

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Slogging through the BS: How You Can Discern Fact From Crap on the Internet

Written on March 29, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Doula Tips

When I was growing up, one of my younger brothers had two superpowers: he could turn any conversation into one about college football with a single sentence, and he could fabricate believable statistics — complete with, “I read in <insert legitimate-sounding publication here> that…” — to support any argument he was making. Fortunately for me,…

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Portland Cesarean Rates By Hospital

Written on March 22, 2011 by Heather Johnson in cesarean, childbirth, Doula Tips, Portland Resources

Cesarean rates have been rising steadily over the past twenty years. No one knows for sure what is causing it — the most plausible theory to me is fear of litigation — but there is no denying that there has been a significant increase. These figures show that not only has there been a steady…

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A Great Cesarean? How You Can Have a Wonderful Birth No Matter the Circumstance

Written on March 8, 2011 by Heather Johnson in cesarean, childbirth, Pregnancy

Cesarean sections are often vilified in the birth world. It’s cold and sterile. Not really birth. But the truth is, they are often a necessary, life-and-health-saving procedure and we are lucky that modern medicine has provided this option. As someone who has had both an emergency and a planned c-section and as a doula who…

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Medela Recalls Pump-In-Style Advanced

Written on January 28, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Doula Tips

Medela is recalling Pump In Style Advanced breastpumps manufactured between February 10, 2010 and March 3, 2010 and shipped between February 10, 2010 and April 30, 2010. Your pump may be affected if you bought it between March 1 and June 30, 2010. Medela is replacing recalled units free of charge — you just need…

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Five Tips for Dressing Your Postpartum Body (from Tim Gunn of Project Runway)

Written on January 14, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Doula Tips, postpartum period

Once the challenges of childbirth are over and you have cuddled your new baby and fallen in love, it is hard not to notice the dramatic changes pregnancy and childbirth have worked on your body. The first step on the scale or the first glimpse of a sagging postpartum tummy can shock even the most…

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Ask A Doula: Introducing a Bottle While Breastfeeding

Written on January 12, 2011 by Heather Johnson in Breastfeeding, Doula Tips, infant care, Nutrition

For disclaimers or to ask your own question, head on over to my Ask A Doula page. Question: Hi Heather, I plan to breastfeed for as long as I can (1 year hopefully) when the baby is born. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to go back to work when the baby is a few months…

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