If you are pregnant, or considering having a baby, you will have to make many decisions. One of the most important is where to have your baby. The talented OB physicians on the medical staff at Valley Hospital have delivered thousands of little ones into the world and they entrust their patients to our hospital because of the dedicated and compassionate staff who care for new moms and babies in our warm, welcoming environment.

We believe new moms and babies should be surrounded with comfort and care. When you have your baby here, you’ll enjoy special comforts that include:

• The Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Post Partum (LDRP) model of care so mom and baby can remain in t he same room throughout their stay
• Spacious suites with cozy amenities, including refrigerator, television, gathering table and chairs for family, free Wi-Fi, a private bath and sleeping accommodations for a guest
• A Special Care Nursery for infants with more complex medical needs
• Support for all types of birth plans, from natural to planned C-sections
• Room service-style delivered meals, with a wide variety of menu choices and a complimentary meal for you and your guest after delivery
• A waiting room exclusively for families of OB patients
• Certified Lactation Services, including one-on-one counseling and supplies. Click Here to find out more
• Complimentary “Mommy and Me Club” weekly education and social group for all new moms. Click Here to find out more
• Childbirth education. Click Here for class dates and times

Call Us For A Tour

We personally invite you to tour Valley Hospital's family-oriented birthing center to see for yourself our high-quality standards of comfort and care. These free tours are offered at any time convenient to your family. To schedule a private, one-on-one tour of The Birthing Center and Special Care Nursery or to learn more about our programs, call 509-473-5475.

To find an OB physician based in the Valley, call 509-473-5785 or click here to search our Find a Physician database.

Meet The OB/GYN Physicians On Our Staff

Nathan P. Meltzer, MD “I believe that your time is as important as my time. I will always try to see you on time and give you my full attention.” Dr. Meltzer obtained his Doctorate from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina in 2006. He completed his residency at the University of Utah in 2010. He did his undergraduate coursework at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 1997. Dr. Meltzer spent part of his childhood growing up in Medical Lake and is a newlywed with a child of his on the way! Dr. Meltzer was named Valley Hospital’s “Golden Pen” award winner for the first quarter of 2011, in honor of his excellence in patient medical records.

Douglas L. Brown, DO “I will work together with you to ensure you receive the care, education and treatment that suit you best.” Dr. Brown obtained his Doctorate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri in 1986. He completed his residency at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Dr. Brown in a long-time resident of the Spokane area and he is board certified and licensed in Washington State. Dr. Brown is married with two children. He was the recipient of Valley Hospital’s “Physician of the Quarter” award for the first quarter of 2010, with over 15 nominations from hospital OB staff.

Olivia M. Sementi, MD “As a new mother myself, I know what it is like to be a patient. I will take time to listen and treat you as I would want to be treated.” Dr. Sementi obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2005, where she also completed her residency in 2009. She completed her undergraduate coursework at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Dr. Sementi grew up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and has strong ties in the Spokane Valley area with family. She is married with an infant daughter and enjoys being a new mom.

Craig M. Smentek, MD “I've been a physician in Spokane Valley for over 20 years. I take great pride in developing strong relationships with my patients that span many years and phases of a woman's life.” Dr. Smentek obtained his Doctorate from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1982. He completed his residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is board certified and licensed in Washington and Idaho. Dr. Smentek is married with two children. He enjoys providing guidance to first-time mothers or delivering siblings of former patients.

Lori F. Joy, MD “I have devoted my life to caring for women and I've enjoyed sharing births with local moms since 1997. I appreciate how valuable your time is and I will do my best to see you in a timely fashion, while still addressing your personal issues.” Dr. Joy obtained her Doctorate from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1993. She completed her internship at UC Davis in Sacramento and her residency at the University of Washington. She is board certified and licensed to practice in Idaho and Washington State. Dr. Joy is married with two children and she is an active athlete, participating in cycling, triathlon and running events.

THE DELIVERY EXPERIENCE AT VALLEY HOSPITAL

At Valley Hospital, we believe every birth is a special one, and we “go the extra mile” to make your birth experience a positive one, and as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We have designed our birthing facilities to meet the individualized needs of you and your family, and technology to ensure a safe delivery.
At Valley Hospital, you can expect many amazing benefits. Some of them include:

• Skilled and experienced staff – We take pride in our experience and the skill of our team in helping you bring your bundle of joy into the world.
• A tour of our OB Unit - For your peace of mind, you are welcome to join us for a tour, meet with our staff and ask any questions you have related to your delivery and new arrival.
• Information via our website through our Health Resources - When you visit our homepage and click on the Health Resources link, you have access to a wealth of current information on pregnancy and childbirth.
• The guidebook titled “A New Beginning” – A complete guide to postpartum self-care and baby care.
• Mommy and Me Club – A special bonding and educational group of new moms and their babies, led by our staff. In addition to socializing with new moms, club meetings feature education on everything from nutrition, CPR, behavioral tactics and more!
• Birthing Classes – We offer birthing and breastfeeding classes to new moms as well as those who need a refresher. Click here for times and dates.
• Lactation Consultant – We have certified, registered nurse lactation consultants on-staff to assist when needed.

We are strongly committed to a providing a family environment and family-oriented atmosphere in our Birthing Center. We encourage your family members to be present throughout the birthing process. Our visiting hours are very flexible for the convenience of family and friends.

When you arrive at Valley Hospital to have your baby, you will be put in your own private birthing suite. To make things as easy and as comfortable as possible, you will go through labor, delivery and recovery in your own suite. After your baby arrives, you may choose to keep your baby with you in your suite, or you have the option of using our nursery services if you want to get some uninterrupted sleep.

Our central fetal monitoring system allows the medical staff to check your progress on a continual basis. If unexpected complications arise, we have delivery/operating rooms located right within our birthing center, as well as OB Surgical Technicians on staff around the clock so that C-sections can be performed within a matter of minutes if needed. To make you as comfortable as possible while you are in labor, we have anesthetists available 24 hours a day to provide epidural anesthesia for mothers-to-be. And, our Special Care Nursery assures the health and safety of newborns with complications or special needs.

Our staff of medical professionals are highly trained and experienced in all areas of obstetrics and perinatal care. Our skilled nurses will be by your side throughout your stay -- helping you, and guiding you through the process of labor, delivery and recovery. And they will give you and your family the personalized attention for which we are known.

We look forward to making your baby's arrival everything you want it to be - a warm, secure and memorable experience to be shared for generations to come.