For Mom
Maddie’s Place is designed to feel just like a cozy home, much different than a hospital can offer. You and your baby are the only focus of our attention and all of our staff are here to support you and help you care for your baby. There are many ways to comfort and care for your baby that can help you bond and help your baby through the first difficult weeks. We have nurses on site at all times, and pediatricians just a phone call away if a medical need arises during your stay at Maddie’s Place.
Yes! We want you to stay with your baby! We want to support you as you learn your baby’s rhythms and enjoy the very beginnings of a precious relationship.
Yes! Our staff has extensive experience and relationships with DCYF in our region. We can help you navigate this experience, stay organized and engaged, and help you gain the confidence and support to be on the right path when you leave us.
Our goal is to have you with us for as long as you need to be. We are passionate about you and your baby connecting and feeling ready to face the world together. The time this takes will be different for everyone, we want to be sensitive to every unique situation.
Each of our baby rooms can accommodate one parent 24/7. Mom or dad can stay, but not both together. We do have space for visits outside of the care area so you and your baby don’t have to leave the building to visit with those you love.
We have community relationships that will help! Let us know that this is a concern for you during your intake and we can discuss the best option for you and get to work setting it up!
Our Family Advocacy team will work very hard while you are with us to have all the supports you need ready for you when you leave Maddie’s Place. You will have access to our staff 24/7 for one year through a text line, we are here to help you! We will be offering support groups, pediatric care, and ongoing developmental assessments and therapies over the first year as well. You will always be welcome at Maddie’s Place!
General FAQ's
NAS is the term for a group of conditions experienced by newborns who were exposed to addictive substances during pregnancy. Once the umbilical cord is cut, the baby no longer receives these substances and their bodies begin to withdraw. Their symptoms can be similar to those of an adult in withdrawal; tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, etc. but due to an immature nervous system and the inability to communicate their discomfort, it is a particularly distressing experience for them.
Our hope is that every baby in Spokane who has been substance exposed before birth comes to Maddie’s Place. The term NAS, originally developed to describe babies withdrawing from opiates, has been expanded to describe the withdrawal process from any addictive substance. Methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, anti-anxiety/depression medications, nicotine and others can all cause physical withdrawal symptoms for a newborn, and behavioral changes that interfere with the early beginnings of bonding and connecting with their caregivers.
Newborns who experience withdrawal within the first days and weeks of life face particular challenges that can affect their entire lives. This means there is tremendous opportunity to invest in these little ones and perhaps influence the trajectory of their lives. A newborn who is overstimulated and suffering can not be available to connect with its mother, or anyone for that matter. In addition, the part of the brain hijacked by substance use is the very part of the brain that engages in attachment and connection with others. The result is a fragile relationship between mom and baby, often complicated by other challenges. Maddie’s Place provides valuable time, space and support needed for a more secure and relationally sound connection between mom and baby before they face the world together.
No. Any parent that stays with their baby around the clock at Maddie’s Place must be currently engaged in substance use treatment in the community. We do not want to interfere with that relationship and will assist parents in maintaining their sobriety while at Maddie’s Place.
Each of our baby rooms can accommodate one parent 24/7. Mom or dad can stay, but not both together. We do have space for visits outside of the care area so you and your baby don’t have to leave the building to visit with those you love.
We offer a support line 24/7 for our families for one year. We also offer support groups for parents, ongoing education opportunities, pediatric care and developmental assessment through the first year of life. Our goal is to maintain relationships with all of our families and remain a trusted source of love and support.