Giving Birth at Deaconess in Spokane

What to know about labor and delivery at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, and how a doula can support you there from early labor to your first feed.

QUICK FACTS

  • Where: MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, 800 W 5th Ave, Spokane, on the lower South Hill near downtown
  • Size: a 388-bed hospital, founded in 1896, one of Spokane's oldest
  • NICU: Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • Specialty care: a Maternal Fetal Medicine program for pregnancies that need extra attention
  • Part of MultiCare, the same health system as Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley

Hospital details change. Always confirm current policies with the hospital directly. Spokane Family Doula is an independent doula practice and is not affiliated with this hospital.

Choosing between the downtown hospitals

Deaconess and Sacred Heart sit only a few blocks apart, and many families wonder how to choose. Usually the decision comes down to where your OB or midwife delivers and which health system your insurance favors, more than the building itself.

Deaconess offers a Level III NICU and a Maternal Fetal Medicine program, which covers most babies who need extra care after birth. If your provider expects a very complex situation, they may talk with you about the Level IV NICU at Sacred Heart instead. Ask early, so you are not deciding in the middle of labor.

How a doula helps at Deaconess

Hospital nurses are wonderful, but they care for more than one patient and change at shift turnover. A doula stays with you the whole time. At Deaconess, that looks like:

  • Early labor at home. I help you decide when it is time to head in, so you are not sent home after a long drive downtown.
  • Settling into your room. Dimming lights, music, a birth ball, and position changes so the space feels like yours.
  • Inductions. Inductions can take a long time. I help you stay comfortable, rested, and patient through the slow parts.
  • Your voice in the room. I never make medical decisions or speak over you. I help you ask questions and understand your options, so your choices are truly yours.
  • The first hour. Skin to skin, the first feed, and a calm start, plus a check-in on how you are feeling.

Questions to ask before your due date

  • How many support people can be with me in labor, and does a doula count?
  • Can I move around, use a birth ball, or change positions while being monitored?
  • What happens if my baby needs the NICU, and can my partner go with the baby?
  • What lactation support is available after birth?
  • Where do I enter if I arrive in labor at night?

I am happy to help you think through these before your hospital tour or your next prenatal visit.

Questions families ask

Can a doula come with me to Deaconess?
Yes, families can bring a doula. Support-person policies can change, so ask the hospital how many people are allowed in labor and whether your doula counts toward that number.
Does Deaconess have a NICU?
Yes. Deaconess has a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which cares for most premature and sick newborns.
Should I choose Deaconess or Sacred Heart?
Most families choose based on where their provider delivers and what their insurance covers. If your pregnancy is very complex, ask your provider whether they recommend one hospital over the other.
What if I want an epidural?
A doula supports every kind of birth. If you choose an epidural, I help with positioning, rest, and comfort, and stay with you through pushing and the first hours with your baby.

Other Spokane-area birth guides

Sacred HeartHoly FamilyValley HospitalKootenai HealthServices & PricingIVF & Infertility

Delivering at Deaconess? Let's talk about what kind of support would help you feel calm and prepared. Consultations are always free.

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