Lake Washington Midwives

I cannot say enough good things about these women. From the first time we walked in the door they treated us like family, not just another patient. All of our appointments were an hour long, never felt rushed and always got all of our questions answered. My husband who hates anything medical felt calm, comfortable and empowered through out the whole process. These women are intelligent, compassionate and love their profession.
If you’re reading this review then you probably are already considering an out of hospital experience for your birth. I highly recommend Lake Washington Midwives and will continue to recommend them to all of my friends and family who are having babies.
Check them out, you won’t regret it!

I have used the Lake Washington midwives at Puget Sound Midwives and Birthcenter since 1998. My first baby with a midwife was baby #4. Leanne Shelley was my midwife and Valerie was her student. It was the best experience ever! Had the baby in a relaxed unobtrusive way in room 1, my favorite.
Baby #5 was with Leanne and Valerie again, only now Val was a full midwife. Had baby at home and unfortunately Leanne didn’t make it, so hubby caught the baby.
Baby #6 was born at home with Valerie. Another amazing experience.
Baby # 7 was born at home with Ali, Val’s partner midwife. It was great, except I didn’t want the student there as I didn’t trust her. Ali brought her. I labored in my tub for a while and delivered baby over toilet, just like with baby #5. Baby was sunny side up and broke my tailbone, which 7 years later is still not fixed.
I love these midwives, and will use them for the next baby as well.
Update: Baby #8 was born at home. My team consisted of Val, Ali, Melissa and Traci. All of them were great. Decided for a water birth last minute. Then while laboring decided I no longer wanted water birth, but was unable to tell anyone as contractions were taking my breath away. My tub just isn’t wide enough, I couldn’t get comfortable. I was more comfortable on the birthing stool. Still great positive experience. Val was calming and great to have there.

Valerie Sasson, LM, CPM, and Ali Tromblay, LM, CPM, are both founding members of Puget Sound Birth Center and Midwives and have been providing fantastic prenatal and birthing care since 1999 when the birth center opened for business. I was among Val’s first clients and I’m thrilled to be working with her again this pregnancy.
Prenatal appointments are always an hour long and are held at the birth center in Kirkland, in the spacious birth suites. Partners, kids, and other labor support people are welcomed at appointments, and all get a chance to ask their questions, to hear the fetal heartbeat, and to discuss the changes that are happening now. They believe in helping the whole family make the transition to having a new baby. These appointments are such a far cry from the rushed 5 minutes you’ll get with an OB you will be amazed.
No weigh-​ins either; you pee on a stick to check for protein, excess glucose, and your vitamin C status, and then they check your blood pressure and fundal height, but that’s it. Their low-​intervention style doesn’t mean that they are irresponsible from a medical standpoint; they TALK to you, and really listen to you, to find out what you’re eating and drinking, how you’re sleeping, how you’re feeling, how your guts are, and the whole deal. They will definitely follow up on anything that is a red flag.
Women and their families can choose to birth at the comfortable, sparkling-​clean birth center in one of three labor-​tub and full-​bath equipped birth suites, or at home. The birth center has a kitchenette and a family room for families to wait in/​hang out in… there are books, toys, videos, and a TV in there if labor is taking a long time and family members need a break.
If you choose to birth at home, the week 36 prenatal appointment will be held at your home so the midwife can familiarize herself with your surroundings and so she can help you make the appropriate preparations. Births that happen before 37 weeks do not take place at home.
Val and Ali take five women a month so you can be sure that you will get their full, undivided attention for as long as it takes once you’re in active labor. Hospital transfers are not very common but if you end up having one, if you request it ahead of time, the midwife will accompany you to the hospital with your full chart in hand to help you with the rest of the birth. There is a $ 750 charge for remaining for the rest of your birth if you have to transfer to the hospital, and I think it’s well worth it.
They also usually have a student midwife or two working with them and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of the work these women do and the educational qualifications they possess… the one we started the pregnancy with had her ND and another advanced degree already. They are unobtrusive during the birth but are an extra pair of hands if/​when needed.
The practice does global billing and after a $ 30 co-​pay (which depends on your insurance) the total amount for prenatal care, labor, and delivery is $ 3500. There are very minor additional facilities charges if you give birth at the birth center, but otherwise, that global fee covers nearly everything. Compare that to the $ 5 – 10,000 hospital bill you’ll have for an uncomplicated vaginal birth, which doesn’t include your OB’s global $ 3500 charge!