Seattle Area Resources for Expectant Parents, New Parents, and Babies

 

Childbirth Education

Doulas

Hospitals, Birth Centers, and Home Birth

Midwives and Doctors

Breastfeeding Support

Support Groups

Parent Education

Resources for Low-Income Parents in Washington State

General Information and Referrals

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.

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Doula Referrals (for a full discussion about doulas, see Doulas 101.)

·    Birth Doulas:

o   Pacific Association for Labor Support(PALS Doulas): (206)325-1419.

o   Referral List with current availability: www.kimjames.net/Referrals.htm

o   My list (includes birth and postpartum).

o   Plus, nationwide resource lists.

·    Postpartum Doulas: Northwest Association for Postpartum Support (NAPS) (206)956-1955. www.naps-doulas.org

 

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 23-36%)

·    Birth Centers. Best Beginnings in Lynnwood, Cascade in Everett, Community Family and Birth Center in Montlake area of Seattle, Eastside Birth Center in Bellevue, Puget Sound Birth Center in Kirkland, Seattle Birth Center on Capital Hill, and Seattle Home Maternity in Columbia City neighborhood.

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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.

 

Breastfeeding Support / Lactation consultants (For information on how to breastfeed, see my breastfeeding home page.)

·    Breastfeeding Hotline by Community Birth and Family Center. Get all your questions answered! Free. Pager: (206) 615-8078. Their lactation consultants also offer clinic appointments and home visits.

·    King County Breastfeeding Resource Guide (2004): www.breast-friends.org

·    Listings for lots of local resources: www.metrokc.gov/health/breastfeeding

·    Most hospitals have lactation consultants available, call yours for information.

·    La Leche League Support Groups in King County

·    Breastfeeding hotlines by local hospitals, and national organizations.

 

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Support Groups for New Parents

·   A chart summarizing several options: htm to view online, PDF to print

·   Some of my personal favorites

1.    PEPS – Program for Early Parent Support. “Newborn Groups” of 10 – 12 parents and their babies. Led by volunteers. Groups begin when babies are under 4 months and meet once a week for three months. $125 for daytime moms’ groups, $175 for evening couples’ groups. Must register in advance.

2.    First Weeks. Drop-in group. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, noon to 2:00 pm at Community Birth and Family Center. For parents and their babies under 12 weeks of age. Informal Q&A / discussion, led by a nurse. Recommended donation $5 per meeting.

3.    Listening Mothers. Support groups led by professional therapists. Explore the emotional experience of the early parent-child relationship. Groups include up to seven moms, and their babies age 0 – 6 months. Meets for 90 minute sessions, weekly for 8 weeks. $120

·    ICAN – International Cesarean Awareness Network. Provides support for cesarean recovery and planning for VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Two meetings per month. Contact icanseattle@juno.com

·   Family Support Centers: offer discussion and support groups, referral, recreational activities for parents/children, classes on parenting, child care, child development activities. Most activities are free. See Parent Trust for Washington Children for a listing of all the centers. Or call Family Help Line.

·   Mom2Mom program: new moms are matched with a volunteer peer mentor, and meet one on one about 4 – 6 times over the first few months after their baby is born. Best to sign up in third trimester of pregnancy. (206)861-3146

·   Support groups for infant loss: www.psofpugetsound.org/local.html

·   Information about other groups and their meeting times can be found in the calendar of NW Baby and Child newspaper (distributed free at many locations in Seattle, or online at http://www.nwbaby.com/pdf/calendar.pdf) and in the calendar for the Puget Sound Adlerian Society, Puget Sound Adlerian Society

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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:

·    North Seattle C.C. (206) 206-528-4625. www.northseattle.edu/parented/index.htm

·    South Seattle C.C. (206)938-2278. http://dept.seattlecolleges.com/homelife/welcome.htm

·    Bellevue C.C. (425) 564-2365; www.bcc.ctc.edu/parent%2Ded/ 

·    Lake Washington Technical College, www.lwtc.ctc.edu/community/parentcoop/

·    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

·    PEPS Family Resource Guide. Lists hotlines, support groups, food banks, childcare referrals, etc. www.pepsgroup.org/familyresources/default.htm

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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 and Chiropractors who work with pregnancy-related concerns.

Parent Coaches and Consultants to help you problem-solve your challenges.

 

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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

Compiled by Janelle Durham, 2003, Most recent update, May 2008