Update: We recognize that enduring a power outage can be challenging due to dropping temperatures, devices requiring charging, and other needs. If you are in need of heated shelter or power, King County has established a dedicated resource page to help you locate available warming shelters: kcemergency.com. Also, a community recharging location for Small Electronics and Medical Equipment at North Kirkland Community Center will be open today (Wednesday), 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where to Call If You Think You're In Labor

If you or a loved one are in labor, you should call the Family Maternity Center (FMC) in Kirkland directly at (425) 899-3501.

Ask to speak to a nurse; they will give you instructions. The nurse will contact the doctor on call.

Signs of labor:

If membranes rupture.
If this is your first birth and you have contractions occurring every 5 minutes for 2 hours. Time your contractions from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Labor contractions feel intense and require concentrating and breathing to get through them. You should not be able to talk through a labor contraction.
If you have had a baby before, and your contractions feel like you are in labor. Keep in mind that this labor may progress more quickly than your last labor.

You may want to keep this information easily accessible at home, posted on a bulletin board or on the refrigerator, and/or program the phone number into your cell phone.