Federal Way Birth Center (FWBC) is the first freestanding community birth center in the state of Washington, owned and operated by a Black midwife. Families can get all of their pregnancy care, from prenatal, labor and delivery, to postpartum care at FWBC, or just come to birth with their midwife. FWBC partners with independent midwives, such as Licensed Midwives (LM) and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), from the community to have their clients birth at our beautiful facility. Midwives practicing at Federal Way Birth Center abide by the standards and practice guidelines of the Midwives Association of Washington State.
Federal Way Birth Center, we believe that every pregnant person, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or income, is entitled to a safe and healthy birthing experience and should have the knowledge and support to feel empowered to advocate for their own healthcare.
“Choosing a birth center for our natural childbirth was empowering. The focus on minimal intervention, natural pain management, and a comfortable setting made it an incredible journey.”
–Sarah
Families can get prenatal care from a number of independent midwifery practices. During labor, they will be cared for by their midwife at the Federal Way Birth Center in birth suites that have been professionally built to support a natural, healthy birth. The rooms are large and quiet, and they have extra-deep bath tubs that are great for meeting your baby.
The First
Hello and welcome! I’m Faisa Farole, and I’m proud and honored that Federal Way Birth Center is the first-ever Black-owned and operated birth center in Washington state. This is historic and unprecedented. I have worked tirelessly and dedicated my entire life to dismantling the systems that create barriers and perpetuate disparities for Black women in maternal healthcare. I have worked in the perinatal sector for over 20 years in one capacity or another, and have founded a nonprofit organization that provides doula services to low-income black, refugee and immigrant pregnant people. I have trained over 100 doulas from various communities who combined speak over 17 different languages.
Over and over again, I kept hearing the unfortunate statistic that Black women are 3-5 times more likely to die in pregnancy-related complications than whites. And that the Black infant mortality rate is 2.1 times that of white infants. I have made it my life’s mission to change that, with this birth center, as the first black-owned and operated birth center in our state. That being said, FWBC is here to serve every pregnant person regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or income. Every birthing person is entitled to a safe and healthy birthing experience.
We need your support
Join us in empowering our community by supporting the first Black-woman owned and operated birth center in Washington state. Your donation helps provide essential maternal care and fosters a safe, inclusive space for all families. Every contribution makes a difference. Donate today and be a part of this groundbreaking initiative!
To achieve our goals and continue the vital work of promoting maternal health in our community, we are seeking your support. We are reaching out to individuals and organizations who share our vision and understand the profound impact that quality maternal healthcare can have on the well-being of families. Through our fiscal sponsor, Global Perinatal Services you can now donate to us through Fidelity Investment.
Our immediate goal is to raise one million dollars to fund the Federal Way Birth Center adequately. This funding will be allocated towards state-of-the-art medical equipment, staff training, community outreach programs, and other essential operational needs. Your contribution will not only make a significant impact on the success of the birth center but also contribute to a positive shift in maternal healthcare practices.
We invite you to join us in this historic endeavor by making a generous donation to support the Federal Way Birth Center. Your contribution will not only empower the Black midwifery community but will also help create a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare environment for all.
Thank you,
Faisa Farole