You may have already pictured the moment your baby is placed on your chest. The first breath. A pause before you hear, “It’s a boy!” or “It’s a girl!” Or you may just be starting to think about what that experience could look like for you.
Families can choose the options that matter most to them at Kootenai Health’s Family Birth Center. Some work closely with an OB/GYN while others may choose a certified nurse-midwife or a family medicine resident physician training in obstetrics. Our team supports unmedicated and medicated births, induction when labor needs help getting started, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) for eligible moms, and cesarean deliveries when surgery is the safest option for mother or baby.
Each private labor suite includes space to move, change positions, or use hydrotherapy tubs. You can labor with continuous nursing support, bring a doula, or choose pain relief options such as nitrous oxide or epidural. After birth, nearby postpartum rooms include large windows, a sleeper sofa, and a refrigerator so families can rest and spend time together.
The Family Birth Center is part of Kootenai Health, so advanced medical teams are close if needs change. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists, a Level III NICU, and a 24/7 obstetric emergency department make it possible for families across North Idaho to have their baby right here.
Before your baby arrives, a few simple steps can help you feel ready for your hospital stay.
Call (208) 625-6891
View test results and medical history anytime.
Check out MyChart Getting Started Guide or ask our nurses or front office to get started.
When Kira became pregnant a second time, she assumed a previous C-section meant she had no other option. At Kootenai Health, she learned about the VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) option and felt supported every step of the way.
With expert care and a comfortable, reassuring environment, Kira delivered naturally and was able to hold her baby immediately for skin-to-skin contact.
The Family Birth Center is the only place in the region where OB/GYN physicians, certified nurse-midwives, and family medicine doctors all deliver babies in the same hospital. Throughout pregnancy and labor, your care team keeps a close eye on you and your baby, explains what’s happening, and helps you decide what to do next if plans need to change. After birth, they check on your recovery, help with feeding, and answer the many questions that come with caring for a new baby.
Physicians who manage routine and higher-risk pregnancies and perform deliveries, including cesarean births. They also care for pregnancies that require additional medical expertise and coordinate with other OB providers when needed.
Certified nurse midwives care for women through pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and routine gynecologic visits. They emphasize education, prevention, and personalized care while working closely with your healthcare team.
Advanced practice nurses who care for low-risk pregnancies and deliver babies in the hospital. They often have additional time during prenatal visits for questions, education, and birth planning. If surgery or more advanced care is needed, midwives work closely with OB physicians.
Physicians training in family medicine who provide prenatal care, labor support, vaginal delivery, and newborn care. This model allows families to receive care for both parent and baby with continuity over time, under the supervision of experienced attending physicians.
Specialized nurses who stay with you during labor, monitor you and your baby, support comfort and positioning, and help guide you through each stage of delivery and early recovery.
Our Maternal-Fetal Medicine team provides specialized care for high-risk pregnancies, with advanced monitoring and support focused on the health of both mother and baby.
Physicians specially trained in newborn medicine who treat babies born early or with complex medical needs. Available 24/7 in the Family Birth Center’s Level III NICU, they provide advanced monitoring and treatment that allow many newborns to remain in North Idaho rather than being transferred to another hospital.
Our board-certified lactation consultants provide one-on-one support for breastfeeding, pumping, latching challenges, milk supply concerns, and feeding transitions—helping you find the approach that works for both you and your baby.
Our pediatric hospitalists provide expert, around-the-clock care for children up to age 18 across a wide range of conditions, with seamless coordination to higher levels of care when needed. Their focus on hospitalized children ensures consistent, specialized pediatric care throughout every stage of treatment.
