Midwives

Appointments with midwives at Valley Women’s Healthcare Clinic include generous time for questions, learning about your pregnancy, monitoring your health and baby’s growth and assistance in creating a personalized birth plan. Many women choose our midwives as an alternative to an OB/GYN physician or family doctor because of the personalized, attentive maternity care offered.

Serving Women Throughout South King County

The midwives at Valley Women's Healthcare Clinic offer women throughout the Seattle area supportive obstetric and gynecological care, focusing on their unique physical, social and emotional needs. VMC midwives are Certified Nurse-Midwives specially trained to provide comprehensive, safe and individualized care in a positive, supportive environment. It is our philosophy that each woman's physical and emotional needs are best met by this personalized approach.

We provide comprehensive gynecological care and oversee complex patient care when necessary. Our clinics offer in-house ultrasound, lab services, urology/gynecology and other providers including OB/GYN and nurse practitioners. Our consulting VMC physicians are board-certified or board-eligible OB/GYNs, available 24 hours a day for consultations or emergencies.

Valley Women's Healthcare Clinic offers three convenient locations: our Talbot Street office, across from the main hospital; our Time Square office, just a few blocks north of IKEA; and our Auburn office.

Services

Women often choose nurse-midwives because of the highly personalized level of care offered through all stages of pregnancy and birth. Valley's midwives offer individualized care, as well as access to state-of-the-art technology, including a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Valley Medical Center. When indicated, we do not hesitate to refer patients to specialists, or use ultrasound, amniocentesis and other technologies that are available to assist us throughout your pregnancy.

Prenatal care
Labor and delivery
Postpartum care
Vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC)
Annual gynecological exam
Family planning needs
Treatment of sexually transmitted infections
Care during teen years
Menopause care

What Does a Midwife Do?

Prenatal Care
We are committed to quality prenatal care. Regular appointments with your midwife include generous time for questions, education and complete monitoring of your body's health and the baby's progress. Pregnancy and childbirth are healthy, normal experiences. With our guidance, we encourage you to actively participate in decision-making and be a responsible partner in your prenatal health care. We also recognize that having a baby is a family affair and welcome you to bring your husband, partner or older children to your appointments.

Birth and Delivery
Women receiving care from our midwives take great comfort in knowing that a nurse-midwife will support them from early labor through delivery. You deliver your baby in the safety and comfort of The Birth Center at Valley Medical Center. We provide beautiful private birthing suites equipped with a whirlpool tub, TV, free WiFi, stereo, refrigerator and a daybed for your support person.

If the delivery is a Caesarean, your nurse-midwife will assist the physician during surgery, as well as provide emotional support for you and your family. In the event of an emergency during labor or delivery, our nurse-midwives are well trained to handle the situation until an obstetrician arrives.

You are welcome to have your baby stay with you in your room and your partner is also welcome to stay. Valley Medical Center also employs lactation consultants to assist with breastfeeding, as needed.

Maternity Support Services
As a patient of the Midwives Clinic, we help connect you with services and resources that help keep you and your baby healthy, including:

Mental Health Services: to help you adjust to pregnancy and your new baby, strengthen relationships with family & friends, and talk through feelings about being stressed, sad or anxious
Education, Counseling and Treatment Programs: for drugs and alcohol
Pregnancy & Birth Education
Breastfeeding Support
Moms' Support Groups
Interpreter Services
Referrals: for prenatal aquatics and other exercise programs, doulas and alternative childbirth education

Women's Health
In addition to prenatal care and delivery, our clinic offers the following services:

Routine gynecological care, including annual exams
Family planning and contraception

Mission Statement & Values

Our mission is to provide expert care in a compassionate, culturally sensitive, holistic manner. Through education and teamwork, women are empowered and families are strengthened.

Trust: We strive to provide a warm, nurturing and safe environment
Respect: We treat each woman and her family with dignity, honoring her beliefs, values and community
Excellence: We draw on our specialized education and experiences to offer high quality, individualized care in a safe environment
Midwifery Tradition: Celebrate the experience of pregnancy and childbirth as a normal and healthy event