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At the Childbirth Center at Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, we understand that every pregnancy is different, and every woman is unique. That's why Northwest Hospital physicians and nurses are dedicated to giving you and your baby individualized, personal care. Many people call Northwest "The Baby Hospital," a nickname that grew from our family-friendly innovations, such as being the first in the Seattle area to offer labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum suites (LDRPs), or Birth Suites. Here are some special highlights of the Northwest Hospital experience:

Birth Suites
Our LDRPs were designed with your comfort in mind. Each suite is designed to provide you with a comfortable bed, table, chairs and a Jacuzzi tub or shower. A television and cassette/CD stereo system are also available for use in your room during your stay. Storage space is available for your personal belongings.

Special Care Nursery
Northwest Hospital has neonatologists available 24-hours a day. The Childbirth Center at Northwest Hospital includes a Level II Special Care Nursery available for any infants who need additional care or observation. We have nurses with specialized training who are able to provide expert Level II care. If the need should arise, a transport team - that is also available around the clock - will be contacted to move babies to a nearby neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, facility.

24-Hour Epidural Service
To make the birthing process more comfortable, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center offers 24-hour anesthesiology so that mothers-to-be and their physicians have the option to manage labor anytime, day or night.

Cesarean Delivery The Northwest Hospital Childbirth Center is equipped to handle Cesarean ("C" section) deliveries, whether they are planned or necessitated by an emergency. Two specially equipped surgery suites for this type of delivery are located at the Northwest Hospital Childbirth Center.

Newborn Photos
Parents can choose to have professional photos taken of their newborns, including both traditional and candid photos. These can be posted on the virtual nursery Web site, www.our365.com, for viewing by family members who are unable to attend the birth.

Safety at Northwest
Privacy and safety are our utmost concern. The Northwest Hospital Childbirth Center maintains a security system, including banding for each baby, the mother and one support person, as well as other measures. Our systems helps ensure a safe and secure environment for our moms and their new arrivals.

A Special Gift
Babies can lose valuable warmth when their heads aren't covered, so at Northwest Hospital, every baby receives a hand-knit hat, lovingly created by volunteers at the Hearthstone retirement home in Seattle. The Hearthstone knitters have donated over 22,000 hats to babies born at Northwest Hospital's Childbirth Center. In addition, babies who spend time in our Level II Special Care Nursery are each given a cozy, hand-made quilt, donated by the Needle and I sewing group.

Additional Resources
Before you arrive in the Childbirth Center, take advantage of the many childbirth and parenting classes offered by Northwest Hospital in partnership with the Great Starts program of the Parent Trust for Washington Children.