Seattle Area Resources for Expectant Parents, New Parents, and Babies
Hospitals, Birth Centers,
and Home Birth
General Information and Referrals
Resources
for Low-Income Parents in Washington State
More: Prenatal Yoga,
Photographers, Therapists, etc.
Childbirth
Education
(For a full discussion about options for birth education classes and how to
choose the best one, etc., see Childbirth Classes 101.)
·
Great Starts Birth & Family Education.
·
Summary of all the class
options
in Seattle, both hospital classes and community based classes. (also in pdf) Contact info for registering for classes at any of the
class locations.
Doula
Referrals
(for a full discussion about doulas, see Doulas 101.)
·
Birth
Doulas:
o PALS Doulas – Seattle Area; www.pals-doulas.org/: (206)325-1419.
o www.doulamatch.net Search
for doulas nationwide who are available for your due date, review training and
qualifications, and compare doulas.
o Other nationwide
resource lists.
·
Postpartum
Doulas:
o Northwest Association for
Postpartum Support (NAPS) (206)956-1955. www.napsdoulas.com
o www.doulamatch.net Search
for and compare doulas.
Hospitals,
Birth Centers, and Home Birth
·
The
Great Starts Guide
offers
1.
Articles
about options for birthplace, and why women might choose hospital, home birth
or birth centers. Articles about care providers, and why women might choose
doctors or midwives.
2.
Charts
comparing all the birth place options in Seattle, rating them on how closely
they align with recommended maternity care practices.
·
Information
about local birthplaces: cesarean rates from 2006 (range from 23-40%)
·
Birth
Centers. Best Beginnings in Lynnwood, Cascade in Everett, Eastside Birth Center in Bellevue, Puget
Sound Birth Center in Kirkland, Seattle Birth Center on Capital Hill, and Seattle Home Maternity in Columbia
City.
Midwives and Doctors (see definition of a midwife at www.washingtonmidwives.org/midwife_define.shtml)
·
Finding
a Licensed Midwife for a Home Birth or Birth Center Birth www.washingtonmidwives.org/directory/index.shtml
·
Finding
a Certified Nurse Midwife (generally, for a hospital birth, though some attend
out of hospital births): www.midwife.org/find.cfm or http://www.midwivesofwa.org/find.html
·
Hospitals
with nurse-midwives: Group Health Central, UWMC, Swedish Ballard, Valley
Medical, Evergreen.
·
For
listings of local nurse-midwives and licensed midwives, with comparisons of costs,
policies, and intervention rates, see the Great Starts Guide.
·
To
find an OB/Gyn or a family practice doctor who offers maternity services, check
out the website for the hospital of your choice. They all have “find a doctor”
search tools.
·
For
reviews of local providers and birth places: www.thebirthsurvey.com
Breastfeeding
Support / Lactation consultants (For information on how to
breastfeed, see my breastfeeding home page.)
·
Breastfeeding
Hotline by Birth & Beyond. Get all your questions answered! Free. Pager: (206) 615-8078. They also offer
clinic appointments and home visits.
·
Breastfeeding hotlines by local hospitals, and
national organizations.
·
Breastfeeding 9-1-1. Drop-in groups for support
with breastfeeding. Every Friday, 11 am – 12:30 pm at Birth and Beyond.
·
Breastfeeding and Back to Work class. Learn about pumping,
storing, re-heating, and making it all work. Can bring baby to class. Monthly
at Birth & Beyond.
·
Listings
for lots of local resources: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/breastfeeding/resources.aspx
·
La Leche League
Support Groups in King County
Support
Groups for New Parents
Parent
Education Programs for Parents and Children
Several
local community colleges offer parent education programs for parents and their
children, from birth through age 5. Programs may include: mom and baby
playtimes, toddler groups, and co-operative pre-schools. Generally a fairly low-cost
opportunity for recreation, socializing, making new friends, art and music
activities for kids, and learning parenting skills. Contact:
·
·
·
Bellevue
C.C. (425) 564-2365; www.bcc.ctc.edu/parent%2Ded/
·
·
Shoreline
C.C. (206) 546-4593. www.shoreline.edu/parentcoop.html
·
Seattle
Central (206)587-6906; Edmonds (425) 640-1665; Everett (425) 388-9300; Green
River (425) 833-9111; Highline 878-3710 x3460 Renton Technical College,
(425)235-2352.
General
Information and Referrals
·
Family
Help Line at Parent Trust: For parents who need support, information, referral
to support groups and other resources. Parent support line open 9 am - 11 pm
1-800-932-HOPE (4673) or (206)233-0139. Resource database at www.parenttrust.org
·
Children’s
Hospital Resource Line, for basic health information: (206)526-2500
·
Crisis
Line: 24 hour phone support for any personal/family crisis. (206)461-3222
·
Within
Reach referral line: For information about public health services, free or low
cost medical coverage, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, health care providers,
WIC food and nutrition program, referral to lactation consultants, free or low
cost immunizations, birth control information, smoking cessation programs, and
resources for families of children with special needs. 1-800-322-2588, or www.withinreachwa.org
Resources
for Low-Income Parents in Washington State:
Note, some of these resources are available for people
with incomes up to $47,000 a year.
Prenatal Yoga
Classes in the Seattle Area. Many of these locations also offer mom and baby classes for
after the birth.
Photographers
specializing in Pregnancy, Birth, and Babies.
Therapists
and Counselors specializing in pregnancy, birth, and new parents.
Videos
you can check out at local libraries.
Acupuncturists,
Chiropractors,
and Naturopaths
who work with pregnancy-related concerns.
Parent Coaches and
Consultants
to help you problem-solve your challenges.
To update any of
this information, or to suggest an addition to this site (all listings are
included at my sole discretion!), email
me at janelyntemp@hotmail.com
Back to home page for “Childbirth Education on the Web”
Compiled by Janelle Durham, 2003, Most recent update, March 2010.