The Seattle Indian Health Board provides comprehensive maternal and infant health services. These services are:

• Preconception Care
• Free Pregnancy Testing
• Prenatal Medical and Dental Care
• Maternity Support Services
• Home Visits
• Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program and Nutrition
• Prenatal Meetings/Childbirth Education
• Labor and Delivery
• Well Child Exams
• Dental Exams for Infants

It is recommended that all women visit their health care provider at least annually. Before becoming pregnant, a woman should take a multi-vitamin and avoid alcohol and smoking. Your doctor can advise you which medications should also be avoided if you are planning to become pregnant.

Free pregnancy testing is available five days a week, during regular clinic hours. Please call 206-324-9360, ext. 2511 for an appointment.

If you are pregnant, you can receive care from one of our highly skilled family practice physicians. It is recommended you see a physician as soon as possible after learning you are pregnant. Prenatal care involves a series of visits with your physician to monitor your health and the health of the developing baby, including coordination of specialty procedures, such as ultrasound and consultation. Prenatal care also includes a team of expert providers, including your physician, a nurse, nutritionist and social worker to help you during your pregnancy.

It is important that pregnant women see a dentist. Dental caries is an infectious disease most often passed from mother to child. In order to prevent transmission, the Seattle Indian Health Board recommends pregnant women make an appointment for a dental exam. The Seattle Indian Health Board has an onsite dental clinic in its Leschi Center. For an appointment, please call: 206-324-9360, ext. 2301.

A social worker is on staff to help families identify resources for basic needs such as food and housing. The social worker is available to help with support during this time of physical and emotional transition. For more information call: 206-324-9360, ext. 2607.

Our community health nurse and Maternity Support Services social worker are available to visit you in your home before the birth and after the baby is born. Support is provided for birth preparation and breastfeeding.

Nutrition and WIC services are located onsite in the Seattle Indian Health Board Leschi Center. The nutritionist helps pregnant women choose good foods to eat, how much weight to gain, provides guidance for breastfeeding, and helps with problems like nausea, heartburn or eating disorders. WIC checks and food resources are available for pregnant women and families with young children. For more information, please contact 206-324-9360, ext. 2644.

Prenatal meetings are held once a week on Thursday. During this meeting, lunch is provided to pregnant mothers and families. Perinatal Outreach Specialists and a childbirth educator are available to answer questions about your pregnancy, birth preparation, newborn care, and breastfeeding. The Perinatal Outreach Specialists can help you apply for medical coupons. The Maternity Support Services Social Worker is also available during these meetings to help families with any resources they may require.

The Seattle Indian Health Board believes in continuity of care. Our family practice physicians have privileges at Swedish Hospital in downtown Seattle. We work in small teams so that the physicians you see in the hospital are the same familiar faces you see in our health center. In most cases, the physician that you see for prenatal care will be the same one that delivers your baby. Our community health nurse will coordinate your care between Seattle Indian Health Board and Swedish Hospital, especially if ultrasounds or increased monitoring are needed.

Your physician will schedule well child exams after the birth of the baby. These exams include immunizations and checking on the overall health of the baby. The first well child exam should be scheduled within the first week your baby is born.

The Seattle Indian Health Board has an onsite dental clinic. Infants should be seen by a dentist by their first birthday or when they get their first tooth. For a dental appointment please call: 206-324-9360, ext. 2301.