Midwifery Birth Center at St. Joseph

Our midwifery birth center is unique as it is the only outpatient birth center on a hospital campus in Washington state. We opened in 2016 to meet the unique needs of our families and offer another option other than home birth or inpatient hospital birth.

You’ll have a natural birth experience in a calm, luxurious setting with the peace of mind in knowing that, should complications arise, an expert team of specialists is nearby. Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) provide the compassionate support and expertise you need to create your best birth experience. We’ll be with you every step along the way to welcoming your family’s new addition.

Located at 1708 South Yakima Avenue on the St. Joseph Medical Center campus in Tacoma, the center provides a supportive, home-like environment for expectant mothers. With doulas or care assistants, CNMs and labor and delivery nurses trained in holistic approaches, our team will support your wish for an unmedicated and natural childbirth experience.

Register online for all of our family education, childbirth and parenting classes.

The Midwifery Birth Center at St. Joseph is designed for women who have a strong desire for an unmedicated, natural childbirth experience. Upon arrival to the center in active labor, you will have access to your own birth suite, with hydrotherapy birth/laboring tub, a comfortable queen-sized bed, and many of the comforts of home. You and your family will stay in the suite for your immediate post-delivery care until discharge 6-12 hours after birth.

• Support: Highly skilled, Certified Nurse Midwives stay with you throughout your delivery to offer coaching and support, along with an expert care team including doulas or care assistants and nurses who specialize in labor and delivery.
• Comfort: Spacious, luxurious birthing suites create a spa-like setting with deluxe queen size sleigh beds, rocking chairs, deep soaking tubs, hammocks, birthing balls, and beautiful art work—all in a home-like environment.
• Choice: Water birth, nitrous oxide, hammocks, birthing balls, and other comfort measures are available for you to manage your labor the way you desire. You can move around as you like and decide who and how many loved ones will be present in the room with you. Intermittent fetal monitoring is required.
• Safety: We offer a comfortable place for childbirth. When a higher level of care is needed, our midwives work closely with obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists. In addition, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is located just a sky bridge away, along with a team of highly skilled neonatologists.
• Security: In our controlled access facility, labor and delivery take place in the same suite so your baby never leaves your care (unless complications arise).
• Early discharge: You will typically be discharged 6-12 hours after delivery as long as you and your baby are both doing well.
• Follow-up newborn visit: Your baby will be scheduled a newborn follow-up visit the next day to complete all the newborn requirements
  
  • Infant weight
  • Feeding assessment
  • Jaundice check
  • Foot prints
  • Congenital heart screening test
  • Blood test for metabolic disorders

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.