For an out-of-hospital, natural childbirth experience
BCH is committed to making sure you have options when it comes to maternity
care for a low-risk pregnancy and childbirth. At The Birth Center of Boulder—BCH’s
freestanding birth center—you can have an empowering, low-intervention
maternity experience in a comfortable, non-medical, midwifery-led environment.
To learn more or to schedule a tour, please call 303-443-3993.
The midwifery model of care views pregnancy and birth as normal, healthy
life experiences and that support for natural processes and minimized
medical intervention offer the best outcomes. It’s a philosophy
that sets midwifery apart when it comes to care.
This means that the certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) at The Birth Center
of Boulder will take the time to get to know you and listen to your goals
and concerns, ensuring you’re well supported and feeling safe emotionally
and physically—no matter what challenges or surprises may come up
along the way. They also embrace holistic approaches, including alternative
and complementary therapies.
Prenatal Care Where You’ll Give Birth
The Birth Center of Boulder’s CNMs provide prenatal care at the same
location where you’ll give birth, so the facility and staff will
be familiar when it’s time for your little one to be born.
For tests and lab work—regular urine tests, fetal heart rate monitoring,
gestational diabetes screening, ultrasounds—midwifery follows the
standards of obstetric care. Prenatal care at The Birth Center of Boulder includes:
One-hour initial appointment, including a detailed medical history and
full physical
Half-hour follow-up visits
Onsite laboratory services for common maternal blood draws
Onsite ultrasounds for fetal heart rate monitoring, dating and position
The Birth Center of Boulder has three birthing suites with all the same
amenities: full-size bed, birthing tub, toilet and sink. Yet, they're
all a little different in their style. During your prenatal care appointments,
you can visit the suites and choose one that has special meaning or importance
for your childbirth experience.
During labor, you’ll be cared for by two compassionate CNMs who will
help you have a birth experience uniquely suited to you. You’ll
be able to labor and birth in the position of your choice, and allowed
to eat or drink throughout labor. The midwives will also support you with
stress-relieving holistic therapies and minimized medical interventions.
Waterbirth as an option: Research on waterbirths shows that it decreases time in labor, reduces
labor pain and supports fetal position changes. Many women find that immersing
themselves in in a birthing tub full of warm water also helps them relax
and feel more comfortable.
Close to Foothills Hospital for Peace of Mind: Our nurse-midwives have a close, collaborative relationship with the obstetricians at
Boulder Women’s Care and Foothills Community Midwives, who are available 24/7 to The Birth
Center of Boulder clients. We are located just 2.5 miles from BCH’s
Foothills Hospital. If the need arises for a higher level of medical care,
you will be directly transferred to the CNM or OB physician maternity
care team on duty. Should your infant have extra medical needs, Foothills
Hospital is also home to a
Special Care Nursery (NICU), with care by Denver’s renowned Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Clients of The Birth Center of Boulder have a home visit 24-48 hours and
an office visit one week after childbirth. You’ll also have a checkup
office visit six weeks later. During these postpartum visits, a Birth
Center of Boulder midwife will facilitate a healthy adjustment to parenting,
recovery from birth, family planning needs and a successful start to breastfeeding,
if desired. We will provide a virtual emotional intake and assessment
at four weeks, and recommend any needed referrals for postpartum emotional support.
As your health care needs return to the primary care, we welcome you to
continue your gynecological and preventive care at The Birth Center of Boulder.
Newborn Care
CNMs are educated and licensed to provide newborn care to healthy newborns
for the first four weeks of life.
A midwife will perform a full newborn exam prior to your discharge from
The Birth Center of Boulder and, if needed, recommend any follow-up care
for your baby. During your postpartum stay, a midwife will teach you about
breastfeeding, if desired, and newborn care.
At the home visit, which is scheduled 24 to 48 hours after childbirth,
we’ll examine your baby, weigh your newborn, assist with any breastfeeding
concerns and make recommendations for continued care.
Under normal circumstances, at the one-week office visit, The Birth Center
of Boulder will transfer your newborn's care to a pediatrician or family
practice physician and collaborate with your provider, as needed. We ask
that during pregnancy you choose a physician for your newborn, and communicate
with that provider about your estimated delivery date.
The Birth Center of Boulder offers prenatal treatments of acupuncture to
help ease morning sickness, relieve back or hip pain, improve fetal position,
mend insomnia and progress labor. It also supports new moms with postpartum
acupuncture for issues with lactation insufficiency and postpartum depression.
We have two acupuncturists:
Simba Eunhye Shim, LAc
Simba Eunhye Shim received a Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
from the Boulder campus of Southwest Acupuncture College. Born and raised
in Seoul, Korea, she has extensively studied Chinese classics, language,
astrology and Korean traditional medicine.
During her training, she was able to deepen and broaden her knowledge of
East Asian traditional medicine, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean
medicine with a special interest in internal, emotional and hormonal balance.
Tuesday Wasserman, DACM, LAc
Tuesday received her Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
from the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine. Initially specializing
in women’s health with an emphasis on the treatment of infertility
using Chinese medicine alone or as an adjunct to Advanced Reproductive
Technology (ART), it didn’t take long to transition to the management
of pregnancy and labor and birth.
Since becoming a certified doula in 2012, Tuesday has supported thousands
of pregnant women addressing pregnancy-related concerns including pain,
sleep, mental health and labor preparation.
At our Birth Center of Boulder, we don’t just help babies arrive.
We help women in our community thrive before, during and long after you
take your newborn home with these onsite services:
Simba Eunhye Shim, LAc
Tuesday Wasserman, DACM, LAc
