As part of our commitment to building healthier communities, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is dedicated to supporting families as they welcome a new baby. We offer a variety of supportive services, resources and classes to help you before, during and after childbirth.
Our services include:
Breastfeeding support
Inpatient support and outpatient appointments with certified lactation consultants to help mother and baby bond.
CenteringPregnancy®: Prenatal Group Program
Sharing your pregnancy with other women who know exactly what you’re going through can be a great way to learn and feel confident about this wonderful journey. Our group-visit prenatal care program, CenteringPregnancy®, offers the three major elements of prenatal care: health checks, education and support. For more information or to sign up, call us at:
Burien: 206-965-4200
Federal Way: 253-835-8800
St. Clare Hospital or St. Joseph Medical Center: 253-274-7501
Educational classes in English and Spanish to help parents prepare for a new baby, with topics including childbirth preparation, water births and infant safety. Sign up online or call 1-888-825-3227 (se habla español).
Preparing for childbirth can be overwhelming. To help you get started, we’ve created a free downloadable guide that provides everything you need to know as you take your first steps toward motherhood with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Download the guide.
For new mothers, the decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed is very personal, with many factors to consider. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, our lactation consultants are part of your health care team to help you decide what works best for you and your baby.
Inpatient and outpatient breastfeeding support: Our lactation consultants can help you with breastfeeding while you and your baby are still in the hospital. We offer inpatient services and outpatient consultations in our clinics. To schedule an appointment, call 253-382-8580.
Breast pumps: You can rent or purchase breast pumps and other supplies/accessories through our lactation consultants. We also offer breastfeeding classes through our Family Education program. To sign up, register online or call 1-888-825-3227.
Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is where families like yours get healthy food and a lot more. WIC is for pregnant women, new and breastfeeding moms, and children under 5. WIC made a difference for more than 235,000 women, infants and children in Washington in 2019. Almost half of all babies in our state are on WIC.
Our WIC Program is designed to provide supplemental nutritional support for low-income pregnant women and families. At our clinics, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provides these services at no cost to pregnant or postpartum (after birth) women and Infants to children up to age 5.
If you’re pregnant or have a child under age 5, you may be eligible, as income guidelines are very generous and include working families on a tight budget, unemployed families, and families on public assistance or medical coupons.
For more information about our programs and eligibility, call or visit one of our clinics:
Learn more about WIC in Washington state.
In collaboration with Step by Step, a local community agency, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health helps women in need, during pregnancy and the weeks following childbirth. Step by Step services include:
Counseling
Education on family planning, nutrition and more
Financial assistance
Housing
Referrals for health care and community resources
Fun community events for you and your family
For wellness, gynecology and maternity care, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health offers expert services from experienced providers.