New Ohio State hospital tower to feature birthing tubs and luxe amenities
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Starting this spring, expectant mothers will have a “world-class” option for giving birth, with exciting new amenities.
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center's new University Hospital is currently under construction, and the facility will house the latest in maternity care on its top three floors. The location will offer complimentary valet service, a direct elevator to Labor and Delivery, private labor and birthing rooms, postpartum rooms, and individual neonatal intensive care unit rooms in collaboration with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, among other “luxe” features. Watch the video in the player above for previous coverage and an inside look at the new hospital.
On its Facebook page, Wexner Medical Center recently shared the progress it is making on its maternity accommodations. Several photos of the hospital's birthing tubs, located opposite large windows with expansive views of the university and Downtown, were posted. The update received more than 3,000 likes, hundreds of comments and nearly 1,000 shares.
“Our new hospital will feature birthing tubs, giving families more comfort and options during labor,” the caption read. “Water birth can ease pain, promote relaxation, and create a calming environment for one of life’s most powerful moments.”
Many people were enthusiastic about the new offering, commenting, “Thank god for windows!!!!!!!!,” “The glow up maternity needed,” “This is so amazing!! OSU is honestly the best,” “Love this, and love the view!!” and “That’s great to see ♥️.”
In an email to NBC4, Wexner Medical Center spokesperson Marti Leitch detailed what is presented in the online pictures.
“The tubs shown are in two rooms in the new University Hospital, which is expected to open in early 2026,” Leitch wrote. “We also have portable tubs for use in the other rooms. Nurses and midwives were involved in the design selection of the tubs and step stools.”
One of the top questions posed by readers was whether mothers would be allowed to deliver their babies in the tub. The post's author replied that, “Low-risk women utilizing a midwife can both labor and birth in the tubs.”
Additionally, Leitch helped clarify how the tubs will be used.
“The tubs can be used to labor and give birth, however women need to have a midwife and meet the low-risk criteria for doing so,” Leitch said. “Examples of things that can prevent a woman from giving birth in the tub include a concerning fetal heart rate, maternal high blood pressure, or use of pain medication. This policy is evidence-based and was developed by midwives, nurses and labor and delivery staff.”
Another concern in the social media comments was about the charge for using the tubs, to which the hospital replied that there is “no additional cost for using the birthing tubs.”
One commenter asked about the cleanliness of the tubs, sharing a story about her own birth experience 19 years ago at a different hospital. She said she was allowed to get into a tub to soak after her son was delivered.
“I sat in the tub and they turned the jets on and all kinds of stuff came out of those jets,” she wrote. “I was so scared I was going to get an infection.”
In a reply, the post's author stated that the “tubs do not have jets and are cleaned thoroughly per the manufacturer's instructions after each use.”
The post even received an inquiry about the accommodations for visitors.
“Can you just spend some money on upgrading the couches in the old maternity center?” the commenter wrote. “I genuinely thought about having a LAZYBOY delivered to our room since I was there for 3 straight days.”
“This will replace the current maternity rooms when the new hospital opens,” the hospital responded. “Each of these rooms will feature a fold-out couch for an overnight guest.”
A webpage for the new maternity area on Wexner Medical Center's website provides more information about the state-of-the-art hospital, including services that extend beyond routine births.
“The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is the only Level IV Maternity Center in central Ohio,” the webpage states. “This means we’re equipped to care for the most complex conditions in pregnancy and manage urgent situations that may occur during your labor and postpartum stay.”