Consider touring the birth centers in your area. If you're in the Seattle area, you can tour the Northwest Hospital Childbirth Center on Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. If these times aren’t convenient for you, we will work with you to find a time that is more suitable. Call 206-368-1784 for more details and to sign up. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF A CHILDBIRTH SUITE.

Asking the following questions can help you to learn more about the facilities available to you.

Does the facility offer a variety of providers?
At Northwest Hospital, our active medical staff includes many providers who offer obstetrical services, including family practice physicians and obstetrician/gynecologists.

Does the facility have Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum Rooms (LDRPs)?
LDRPs are rooms designed specifically so moms can begin, complete, and recover from an uncomplicated birth in just one room. Northwest Hospital was the first hospital in the Seattle area to offer single-room maternity care and each of our 19 private Birth Suites is an LDRP. In addition to our Birth Suites, our Childbirth Center has two Cesarean birth operating suites. This is a convenience that saves moms from having to be wheeled to another unit or floor.

Will the facility's policies restrict when your support person can be with you?
At Northwest Hospital, we encourage moms in labor to be accompanied by their support person as much or as little as mom wants--even into a Cesarean birth.

Will the facility's policies restrict the movement, eating, or drinking of a mom in labor?
While Northwest Hospital nurses and providers will use their training and experience to give you recommendations based on your individual situation, they won't restrict your movement, food, and fluid choices.

Is there a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nearby the facility? Are there nurses and providers trained in infant emergencies available throughout labor?
Northwest Hospital has neonatologists available 24 hours a day. The Childbirth Center at Northwest Hospital includes a Level II Special Care Nursery available for any infants who need additional care or observation. We have nurses with specialized training who are able to provide expert Level II care if needed. If the need should arise, a transport team - that is also available around the clock - will be contacted to move babies to a nearby NICU facility.

Does the facility offer educational programs for childbirth and parenting?
Northwest Hospital partners with Gracewinds Perinatal Services to provide childbirth and parenting classes. Visit our classes section of the web site or call 206-781-9871 for more information.

Does the facility offer anesthesia services 24 hours a day?
An M.D. anesthesiologist is available 24 hours a day at Northwest Hospital.

Does the facility encourage and follow birth plans?
At Northwest Hospital's Childbirth Center, we encourage moms to work with their providers to develop a birth plan, and most importantly to discuss and understand each potential birth situation. If we are informed of your birth plan prior to delivery, and you and your provider has decided on a plan, our staff will work to fulfill your requests. In the event of emergency, some elements of a birth plan may have to be forfeited in order to respond quickly to safety issues that may arise.

Does the facility offer warm water therapy?
Northwest Hospital has Jacuzzi tubs or showers available for laboring and postpartum moms in our newly remodeled birth suites.

Does the facility offer trained assistance with lactation and infant feeding?
Northwest Hospital offers infant feeding classes and bedside teaching after your baby arrives. If you require personalized care after you leave the hospital, our staff will provide you with a list of resources available to you in the community that can help with any questions you may be having about yourself or your baby including infant feeding or care.