Family Birthplace

The first baby was delivered at MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital in 1950, the year the hospital opened. Since then, Memorial has developed one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated maternity care programs in Washington.

For decades, Memorial has been the hospital Yakima’s families have continued to trust to bring new life into the world. In the last decade the hospital has delivered more than 28,000 babies. From the beginning of pregnancy through labor and delivery, and all the stages along the way, our team will help parents-to-be plan and look forward to the special time of childbirth. Register for one of our  birth and baby class offerings.

As one of the four perinatal centers in our state, we have a team of specialists nearby should there be any complications with mother or baby. Being designated as one of four perinatal centers in the state means that Memorial’s Family Birthplace also offers specialty care for at-risk infants. Nurses estimate more than a third of the babies who are treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were born to parents who expected a healthy delivery and did not anticipate that they might need extra care and skilled nursing. The fact that a neonatologist is just a floor away puts delivering mothers at ease.

MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthplace looks forward to helping families welcome their new little ones into the world.

Reception

If you arrive between the hours of 4pm and 7am, please go to the Emergency/Outpatient entrance of the hospital. This registration area is staffed 24 hours a day. During the daytime and early evening, use the main Inpatient entrance and stop at the registration desk. Be sure you have preregistered for the hospital. These forms can be obtained from your doctor’s office.

Waiting room

Fourth floor/Family Birthplace: Main lobby plus additional end wing areas are available for labor support person/s. Vending and seating are available on the sky bridge.

Additional waiting areas available for extended family include: cafeteria, public corridors and gathering spots on first floor or lower level, and day surgery waiting area.

Birth room

With 31 labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms available, each room is equipped to assist with a vaginal birth. From the time mom is admitted to the time she goes home, she can expect to stay with her labor partner and baby all in the same room. A couch or fold-out chair is available for the labor partner to sleep on. Siblings must stay overnight with another family member while mom and her partner are at the hospital.

C-section room

The Family Birth Place has two surgical suites for all cesarean sections. You can choose only one person to be with you during the operation.

In-room shower

Every birthing room comes with its own bathroom/shower. The shower is equipped with a seat for your comfort to use during labor, or after the baby is born.

Jacuzzi

The Family Birth Place has two Jacuzzi tubs located on the floor for hydro therapy during labor.

MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital has a 15-bed newborn intensive care unit that cares for babies ranging from extreme premature infants to very ill newborn babies. It is the only place in Central Washington that offers specialty care for at-risk infants supported by an advanced on-site neonatal intensive care unit.

The unit is tied to every room on the labor and delivery, recovery and postpartum unit, so the specially trained doctors and nurses can immediately respond to emergencies.

The fact that a neonatologist is just a floor away puts delivering mothers at ease. As the family is valued as part of the care team, we encourage all families to become involved in the care of their baby when they arrive on the unit. As the baby grows stronger and healthier, our team works with the families to ease the transition home.