COLVILLE, Wash. – As a first-time mom, Alia George and her husband, Jeff, were thrilled about the news. But at 20 weeks during a routine check-up, Alia was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Living in a rural area, like Colville, sometimes can lack the specialty resources that urban settings have to offer. However, Alia was pleased to learn Providence Mount Carmel Hospital had the care she needed – like a nutritionist to help develop food plans and tracking methods to manage her blood sugar levels.
“One thing I really appreciate was that I was able to see a nutritionist right away,” Alia said.
Alia also needed weekly ultrasounds and stress tests, so she alternated between Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, and Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah. Alia said she was given the option to get specialty care in Spokane, but she trusted her care team closer to home, like her doctor Deborah Montowski, M.D., a family medicine obstetrician.
“Bigger is not always better,” Dr. Montowski said. “We will refer people to Spokane who need a higher level of care, but I think we do a really nice job of low-risk pregnancies and respecting the patients' desires.”
Alia would agree. She said there’s too many logistical plans to make for the hour and a half trip to Spokane, and at nine months pregnant none the less. She said she values the familiarity that comes with a small town.
“We’re five minutes away from the hospital,” she said. “There are a lot of people in Stevens County who live further, so a drive to Spokane is a burden.”
At 39 weeks, Alia was induced but had to have an emergency caesarean delivery because the baby was experiencing an unsafe heart rate. Thankfully, baby Martin or “Marty” arrived safely into the world at six pounds, six ounces on April 18, 2024.
"Jeff was able to be there the whole time and that made all the difference so that I wasn’t alone during a scary time,” Alia said.
Alia and Jeff stayed in the recovery suite for four days before heading home. Now, one year later, Marty is walking and talking. Alia said if she has another pregnancy, she’s staying with Providence.
“That’s the hope,” she added.
The maternity unit at Mount Carmel Hospital features state-of-the-art amenities, like a jacuzzi tub, birthing chairs and more. Not to mention a specialty team of physicians, nurses, nutritionists and educators.
“I think a lot of people appreciate the care that we have across the board,” Dr. Montowski said. “Sometimes we need input from the specialists in Spokane, and it’s great that we have that resource.”
Learn more about the maternity center at Providence Mount Carmel by visiting our website.
