Resources & FAQs

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

• Childbirth and parenting classes 

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.

• Experienced lactation consultants: Breastfeeding is a learned skill that doesn’t always come naturally, but your care team can help you succeed. Our registered nurses and educators—most of whom are certified as International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants—provide experienced support with a compassionate touch.
  
  
• Frenotomy and treatment options for babies with tongue-tie

• 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.

• Find out if you are eligible for 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.

• Health and nutrition education
• Prenatal and breastfeeding support
  • A Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program that provides individual counseling for breastfeeding support
  • A breast pump loan program, offering three different types of breast pumps to suit moms' needs
  • Referrals to our Virginia Mason Franciscan Health certified lactation consultants
• Registered dietitian consultation for our high-risk participants
• Preventive health care and referrals
• Referrals for community resources for health and nutrition
• Nutritious food and WIC-approved infant formula each month, and a temporary increase for fruits and vegetables of $24-$47 per participant
• WIC Shopper app with loads of healthy tips and access to your WIC benefits
• Vouchers for fruits and vegetables to purchase from local farmers during the summer months
• Growth monitoring and measurements

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:

• VMFH WIC — Belfair
  21 NE Romance Hill Road
  Belfair, WA 98528
  Phone: 253-290-8052

• VMFH WIC — Lakewood
  11216 Bridgeport Way SW
  Lakewood, WA 98499
  Phone: 253-588-9597
  Phone: 253-589-9450
  
  
• VMFH WIC — Parkland
  121 South 132nd Street
  Tacoma, WA 98444
  Phone: 253-531-2460
  Fax: 253-531-2370
  
  
• VMFH WIC — Tukwila
  13030 Military Road South #107
  Tukwila, WA 98168
  

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.