EVERETT — When Snohomish County couple Joshua and Tessa discovered they were expecting their first child, they chose Providence’s Family Maternity Center (FMC) in Everett because it was close to home and accepted their insurance. What they did not expect to find was a one-stop shop for every step of the pregnancy care process, friendly and knowledgeable nurses, and state-of-the-art neonatal care right in their community.
“I’ve got to say, our experience overall has been superb,” says new, and proud, father Joshua of he and wife Tessa’s experience with the Labor and Delivery team. The newest member of their family, Bernadette, was born on Sunday and was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) postpartum. “She has been in the NICU ever since, which should have been more nerve-racking for us, but it’s been perfect. Round the clock, every doctor and nurse is caring and explains everything that they’re doing and what’s going on.”
The Pavilion for Women and Children offers comprehensive services including obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, a Centering Pregnancy Program through the midwives, Family Practice Providers, Birth and Family Education, specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, a milk depot, and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
It can be scary to learn that your newborn baby is in need of extra medical attention, but Joshua states, “I can’t imagine a better experience here. I feel like I trust everyone here 100 percent.”
The 59 patient rooms at Providence’s FMC welcome more than 4,800 babies into the world each year. The family-centered approach to care provides a nurturing environment for growing families and is designed to ensure they are providing the safest care and environment for parents and newborns.
Mother Tessa and baby Bernadette, affectionately called “Bernie,” are doing well and discovering that exceptional care at the Pavilion doesn’t end after labor and delivery. “Bernie’s been down in the NICU the whole time. My wife and I stayed here for two nights and it’s been just awesome. They’ve been very helpful, and it’s been comfortable overall. It’s been a real pleasure to have their support,” says Joshua of their postpartum experience and the caring nurses at Providence. “I can’t imagine a downtown Seattle hospital doing anything differently, or it being any better at all.”
Joshua even speaks of the latch and lactation services provided to them postpartum. “She [Bernadette] was on a feeding tube at first, because she wouldn’t take the bottle, but now she is.” Bernie’s change in attitude towards her feedings came down to the new parents warming up the milk first. “We were giving it to her at room temperature,” Joshua says laughingly, and adds, “We tried breast feeding, which went well, and spoke to a lactation consultant who was very helpful and advised us on how to pump.” The lactation consultants are all International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant Registered Nurses, which is the highest certification and only internationally recognized lactation credential.
Joshua says he would recommend the Family Maternity Center to anyone expecting a newborn and describes the center as a “well-oiled machine.” Expectant parents can watch a virtual tour of the facility here, or call 425.261.2000, to learn more about services offered at the center.
