Raquel & Tiffany's Birth Stories: BCH Family Birth Center

Raquel’s Birth Story

At 33 weeks pregnant, a routine check up found Raquel’s blood pressure was so high she was immediately sent to labor and delivery at BCH Foothills hospital for evaluation. Unaware of pre-eclampsia and already managing gestational diabetes, Raquel and her husband, Jose, were scared and uncertain about what this meant for her and their baby girl.

Raquel was hospitalized for a week, receiving 74 hours of magnesium drips and steroid shots that would help her baby breathe independently after birth. Baby Artemisia (Misia) was born six weeks early, weighing 3 lb. 7 oz. “She was the smallest baby we had ever seen. She looked so fragile but so strong at the same time,” said Raquel.

In total, Raquel spent 39 days at BCH, with Misia never leaving her side thanks to their private NICU suite. Jose had to go back to work after two weeks, but Raquel never felt alone. “We were being taken care of by our angels in disguise,” she said. From nurses and physicians to cleaning staff, kitchen staff, and lactation consultants, every person they encountered shared their knowledge and care. “We need to let the world know how grateful we are for them.”

Tiffany’s Birth Story

After a complicated pregnancy, Tiffany went into early preterm labor at 31 weeks and delivered her baby boy one week later. After 36 hours of labor and an emergency C-section, Kahele was born weighing 3 lb. 17 oz. Tiffany and Kahele spent a total of 32 days in the NICU at BCH, with Kahele never leaving Tiffany’s side.

“Having a preemie was not easy, but having a live-in room attached to our baby’s private NICU really relieved us mentally. Our experience and mental health would have been drastically different if we had to say goodbye to him every night for a month, especially as first-time parents,” said Tiffany. Over time, Kahele made steady progress – gaining weight, overcoming jaundice, needing minimal oxygen, and quickly learning to feed on his own.

“The doctors, nurses, and NPs at both the Family Birth Center and NICU took such amazing care of our little guy and were unbelievably supportive to my husband and me,” Tiffany shared. Having been born at BCH herself, she was grateful her son was born there too. Today, the family continues care at BCH’s Pediatric Center and always makes time to visit Kahele’s NICU “aunties.”

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BCH Family Birth Center & NICU

Boulder Community Health's award-winning Family Birth Center at Foothills Hospital offers personalized, family-centered maternity care designed to support each family's unique birth experience. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, the center features private labor and delivery, as well as recovery and postpartum suites with stunning Flatirons views, Special Care Nursery (NICU) operated with Children's Hospital Colorado, and 24/7 access to neonatal specialists. With lower-than-average C-section rates, queen size beds for family bonding, physician and/or midwife support, "Baby-Friendly" and "Birthing-Friendly" CMS designations, the Family Birth Center combines exceptional clinical expertise with comfort, compassion, and a commitment to keep families together through their childbirth experience.

The Future of the BCH Family Birth Center

Boulder Community Health is reimagining the Family Birth Center to meet the needs of the next generation of families. Planned renovations will enhance patient comfort, introduce the latest technology, and improve care delivery by creating a more seamless experience for patients, families and clinical teams. To learn more about the fundraising campaign for the renovation, click here. Donations of $1,000 or more will be permanently recognized on the Family Birth Center donor wall.