The Family Birth Center at Jefferson Healthcare has been designated as a Baby Friendly Hospital, the fifth hospital in the State of Washington to achieve this certification. The World Health Organization confirms that Jefferson Healthcare's Family Birth Center staff of registered nurses and physicians will provide a unique and critical link between the breast feeding support for mothers prior to and after delivery. Only 5% of the hospitals in the United States have been able to successfully achieve this designation.
Jefferson Healthcare offers four attractive and spacious birthing suites, located in an outstanding medical facility that provides all the modern technology in a warm, caring, and welcoming environment. Our families love the individualized attention, the private rooms, and the family-centered nursing staff. Our birthing suites have many comforts of home—refrigerators, televisions, VCR/DVD players, CD players, soaking tubs, and large private showers - some with beautiful views of the mountains and water. Your partner or spouse is encouraged to stay with you throughout your labor and delivery. Your baby will room in with you, and siblings are always welcome when accompanied by an adult.
All of our registered nurses are highly qualified labor and delivery nurses and are certified as Mother Friendly. They stay abreast of the latest approaches and birthing technology through continuing education and training. Our nurses have expertise in labor coaching and comfort measures, and some have training as midwives, lactation consultants, or childbirth educators. Because of Jefferson Healthcare’s small size, we provide much more personalized attention than larger hospitals. Our knowledgeable physicians have been trained in large urban centers. They are highly capable of performing medical interventions, including cesarean section, should it become necessary. They bring a flexible and holistic perspective to maternal and infant care, helping you have the type of delivery assistance you desire.
Jefferson Healthcare provides a full range of prenatal testing services that enable your physician to evaluate your baby’s health before delivery. We also have all the necessary practitioners and equipment to stabilize mother and baby in the event of an emergency situation.
Sometimes babies need a little extra help for conditions such as jaundice following their births. Jefferson Healthcare provides phototherapy through overhead lights and Wallaby blankets so that mothers can hold and feed babies being treated for jaundice.
In addition to your nurse, who will help you through labor, Jefferson Healthcare’s Family Birth Center provides
Jefferson Healthcare conducts creative and innovative childbirth classes. During this seven-week Prepared Childbirth Education course, you and your birth partner will become knowledgeable about the birthing process. Click here to view upcoming Prepared Childbirth Education courses.
Our nurses are all trained in postpartum and newborn care. They can help you learn bathing, swaddling, and comforting techniques as well as how to recognize your baby’s cues and states of awareness. You also will receive encouragement and support in your feeding preferences. You go home feeling confident to take excellent care of your new baby.
After you go home, we’ll still be in touch. We offer a postpartum clinic to evaluate how things are going with you and your baby, to answer any questions, or provide any referrals you may need. The caring staff at Jefferson Healthcare Family Birth Center is here to make the miracle of birth a wonderful, healthy experience for you and your family.
The Family Birth Center is located on the third floor of the hospital.
After you begin labor, you want to be free to focus on the birth of your baby. That’s why our preadmission process is so helpful. Well before your baby’s due date, you are invited to take advantage of our complimentary Baby Steps program. This includes a tour of the Family Birth Center, filling out admission paperwork, and an opportunity to spend time with one of our birth nurses to ask questions and discuss your birth plans.
To arrange for a tour or to preregister through our Baby Steps program, call 360-385-2200, ext. 3600.