The Best Birth Centers in Denver (and Boulder!)
When I first started attending births in Denver, I fell in love with Mountain Midwifery Center. MMC was Denver’s first free-stranding birth center, and it was such an intimate and special place to birth a baby. While MMC no longer exists here in Denver…the tradition of community based birth continues.
Midwifery care is special for so many reasons, but relationship is often at the very center. Birth center midwives do such an exceptional job providing continuous care to families throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Although birth center midwives do work in teams, they’re still able to connect with their clients through longer prenatal appointments and a more home-like clinic environment.
The care at birth centers is very family-focused, and throughout the entire process…the family unit is encouraged to play an active role .
Families in Denver choose birth centers because they’re not only more personal, but they tend to have lower rates of cesarean sections and other medical interventions compared to hospitals. If folks desire an unmedicated birth, I always recommend they consider either a birth center or a home birth.
We are lucky to have 4 exceptional birth centers in the Denver/Boulder metro area. I’ve worked at all four many times over the last ten years, and I’ve formed close relationships with the midwives and staff. These birth centers are different in some ways, but they all share the same goal: increasing access to safer, gentler, family-centered community birth.
What all four birth centers offer:
waterbirth: yes, you can actually BIRTH your baby in the water. While most hospitals do allow laboring in the tub, they do ask that you get out to give birth. All four birth centers provide birth tubs in each of their birth rooms that can be used for labor AND birth
nitrous oxide: while an epidural or IV pain medication is NOT an option, all of these birth centers do offer nitrous oxide during labor
well-woman/well-person care: these birth centers not only serve families during pregnancy and birth…they also provide gynecological care
Let’s take a look at each of these birth centers in more depth (and with some pretty pictures too!):
Birth Center of Denver - this birth center is the only hospital-owned, free standing birth center in Denver, CO. Because this birth center is owned by the neighboring hospital (St. Joseph’s of Denver) IF a transfer needs to happen…they are often quick and seamless. The nurse midwives who work at this birth center are passionate about unmedicated, physiological birth…and they provide education, centering groups, and other ways to connect and learn during pregnancy and beyond. Because this birth center is owned by a hospital, there are some differing restrictions on who can birth there (for example, VBACs are not allowed at the birth center) but there is also a very streamlined continuity of care.
Colorado Birth and Wellness - this woman-owned birth center is located in Lowry. With 4 beautiful birth rooms, CBW is a beautiful place to welcome a baby into the world. The midwife team is composed of both CNMs and CPMs (some with homebirth experience). Educational classes plus a variety of other resources are offered.
Seasons Community Birth Center - located just north of Denver, Seasons is such an important asset to the Denver birth community. They believe in providing exceptional, family centered support. “We believe that pregnancy is a state of health, and birth is a process that works best when we let families take the lead.” Seasons also provides some of the best gender-affirming care in the state of Colorado. They work hard to learn and collaborate to make community birth more accessible for all people
Boulder Birth & Holistic Health - offers midwife-led out-of-hospital birth and sexual health services to the community of Boulder for over a decade. This birth center was founded by some sweet friends of mine…and once again is operated by incredible women that I know and love. This birth center is one of my favorite places to attend births because it finds the way to provide incredibly competent care in a peaceful, natural environment.
Always feel to reach out to me if you have specific questions about any of these birth centers - I love sharing about my experiences and helping folks find the best birth location that aligns with their desires and values. And I also offer every single birth center family a discount off my birth photography and doula packages too!