What are the benefits of giving birth at the birth center?
You will have the benefits of Nurse Midwifery care in the Wellness Model, in which we provide relationship-based care where you get to know your midwife and your midwife gets to know you. To facilitate this care, each of our prenatal appointments are at least 20 minutes long. The wellness model means we believe in prevention through education of how to best care for yourself and your family. Our midwives work with you during your pregnancy to give suggestions and options to help keep you as healthy as possible. We are also the only local facility that offers water birth! We believe YOU are in charge – it’s your body, your pregnancy, your family, your birth, your baby – YOUR care. We provide you with information, and you decide what to do with it. With the exceptions of labs, regular attendance at prenatal visits, a 20 week ultrasound, and listening to the baby intermittently with a doppler during labor, all care is yours to accept or decline.
When do you start seeing clients for prenatal visits? How late are you willing to take on clients?
We like to start seeing our clients for their fist prenatal visit around 8-12 weeks of pregnancy. We will accept clients transferring their care from another provider/office up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond 32 weeks, we will consider a transfer of care from another provider/office on a case-by-case basis.
Why do you require a doula?
It is our experience that doula support makes a significant difference toward having a successful natural birth experience. In births where a trained professional doula was present there is a:
31% decrease in pitocin use (if pitocin is needed, a transfer out of birth center care is required)
28% decrease in risk of c-section birth (if a c-section birth is needed, a transfer out of birth center care is required)
12% increase in likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth (which means staying at the birth center)
9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief (which means staying at the birth center)
14% decrease in the risk of the newborn being admitted to special care nursery (which means mom and baby stay together at the birth center)
34% decrease in risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
This is why we require doulas especially for our first time parents and for those having their first VBAC, and why we strongly encourage having a doula for all our clients.
Can I choose my favorite midwife for my birth?
We practice as a team of nurse midwives with a rotating call schedule, so we need you to meet with each midwife multiple times throughout your prenatal care so you get to know them and they get to know you. Our goal is that you know the midwife who is on call who meets you at the center for your birth. The midwives rotate call so that the on-call midwife can be relatively rested to be able to provide the best possible care to you and your family. So, no, we can’t guarantee any certain midwife will be present at your birth.
How much does it cost?
Because the vast majority of our clients are using the insurance plan they contract with to help cover the costs of their care, the amount that will be due out of pocket varies widely. It typically depends on many things that your insurance plan dictates like: allowable amounts, deductible, co-insurance, copay(s), whether there will be a new plan year starting during your pregnancy and a new deductible due, whether baby will be covered under mom’s deductible, or will have their own deductible to meet after they are born, as well as other factors specific to certain plans. Again, the best way to find out specific information on *your* plan is to use the “contact us” form here https://beginningsbirthcenter.com/contact-us and request to pay the verification of benefits fee to have our verification company check your particular plan.
We do have a pre-pay discount option for those without any health care coverage. This option can’t be used if we are contracted with your insurance company. If you have questions about the pre-pay option please contact us here https://beginningsbirthcenter.com/contact-us
Do you take health insurance?
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes! As a courtesy to our clients, we will send billing for your care to the company you contracted for health care services in most cases. We have worked very hard to get contracts with most major plans, including Tricare Select (Tricare Prime with referral only), CHP+, Colorado Medicaid, United Healthcare, Cigna, Humana, Anthem BCBS, and Christian Care Medishare. We are considered in-network with *most* of the plans within each of these companies. We have also worked with clients with sharing plans such as Liberty HealthShare, Samaritan Ministries, Christian Care Ministries, and Altrua HealthShare. Aetna and Kaiser remain out of network – we attempt about every 6 months to request to be in-network and they both tell us every time their network is full. Aetna, however, has given “exceptions” to have care with us covered as in-network in some cases, and in other cases the out-of-network benefits with Aetna still result in lower out of pocket costs here at the birth center versus in-network OB/Hospital care. The best way to find out if *your* plan covers care at the birth center is to use the “contact us” form here https://beginningsbirthcenter.com/contact-us and request to pay the verification of benefits fee to have our verification company check your particular plan.
What do I need to bring to the Birth Center?
What are complications and risk factors that make birth center care and birth inappropriate?
Some conditions/situations that are risk factors and make a client an inappropriate candidate for birth center birth include the following (this is not considered an exclusive list, other conditions/situations may occur that require transfer of care).
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Preterm labor prior to 36.4 weeks with cervical change
- Post Term Pregnancy: pregnancy beyond 42.0 weeks
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- Polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios
- Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD)
- Incompetent cervix
- Placental complications including but not limited to placenta previa or placental abruption.
- Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes Prior to Onset of labor (PPROM).
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes requiring management with oral medication or insulin.
- Anemia unresponsive to treatment: hemoglobin levels below 9 despite iron therapy during the 3rd trimester
- Syphilis (primary)
- HIV Positive
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Conditions that require blood thinning medication be given throughout pregnancy (with the exception of low-dose aspirin in certain situations)
- Preeclampsia with or without severe features
- Gestational hypertension
What happens in an emergency?
We are equipped with medication and equipment to manage complications or emergent situations for mother and baby. Often we will be able to manage those entirely here at the birth center, or if not, we have access to emergency services to get you to the care you need at the hospital two miles away – UCHealth Memorial North. If we go to the hospital during labor, a birth center midwife or nurse will go with you to get you settled. Once a plan is in place with the provider at the hospital, we fully transfer care to the OB hospitalist on call. We can resume postpartum care as appropriate and as you desire for you and/or the baby after discharge from the hospital.
Can I have a water birth? Is water birth safe?
Yes – we are the only facility in Southern Colorado offering water immersion for labor AND birth. We have beautiful, specially designed deep tubs in each of our birth suites for facilitating water labor and water birth. Our staff is trained and certified in water birth by Barbara Harper through Waterbirth International. Immersion in water during labor and birth has many benefits for mom and baby including relaxation, pain relief, ability to move into different positions more easily, reduced energy expenditure, and is a more gentle transition into the world for baby. Babies naturally have mechanisms built in that keep them from trying to breathe while they’re under water, and these keep them safe for the handful of seconds they remain in the water after they’re born. Research studies with thousands of participants have shown in the past and in recent years that water birth is a safe and satisfying option for moms and babies. Many moms, including some of our own staff, would say that once they’ve given birth in water, they wouldn’t want to give birth any other way again. For more information – see Waterbirth International’s website here – https://waterbirth.org/faqs/
How often will I be seen?
First appointments are typically scheduled around 9 weeks gestation. An ultrasound is an option at this appointment. We see each client every 3-4 weeks until about 30-32 weeks when we start seeing you every 2 weeks. At 36 weeks, we will schedule birth center walkthrough to make sure you are familiar with the Birth Center facilities, and from there we will schedule weekly office visits until your baby arrives.
We will schedule a visit at the birth center 24-48 hours following your birth to check on both you and your baby. Then we will schedule birth center visits for 4-6 days and 10-14 days postpartum for both you and the baby, and 6 weeks postpartum for you. More postpartum appointments can be scheduled if needed.
What's the difference between a CPM and a CNM?
Do you provide ultrasounds during pregnancy?
Yes, we offer an early ultrasound to help make sure your due date is correct by our midwives in the office and also offer a later ultrasound for confirmation of baby’s position. The 20-week anatomy ultrasound is done at Colorado Springs Imaging – an outside facility – where they specialize in these more technical and very detailed types of ultrasounds – https://www.envrad.com/locations/colorado-springs-imaging/
Under what conditions will you accept a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) client?
We are able to accept VBAC clients who have had one previous cesarean birth with a low transverse incision who are also otherwise candidates for birth center care. We do require our clients to sign a VBAC consent form and have an ultrasound that demonstrates placenta is not anterior and low lying (which could indicate it could be over the scar from the previous surgery).
What do you provide for pain management?
We promote healthy bodies and well positioned babies which helps decrease the intensity of labor. Freedom of movement allows mom to work with her body uninhibited and hydrotherapy, such as the shower or the tub, is a proven pain relief method. If you absolutely needed to get through a tough spot, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) analgesia.
What kind of care do you provide for my baby?
How do I get a Birth Certificate and SS Number for my baby?
Do you provide tours of the birth center / meet and greets?
Yes! We welcome anyone to come learn about and visit our birth center during one of our scheduled group Orientation and Tours. It is important that clients feel our model of care is a good fit for them, so people considering coming to Beginnings Birth Center for pregnancy care are required to attend an orientation before scheduling their first appointment. If you would like to schedule an orientation and tour of the birth center, please fill out the contact form on our website here: https://beginningsbirthcenter.com/contact-us
Are kids allowed at tours and at my visits?
Yes, but we do recommend that you bring something besides food along to keep them happy and occupied because your visits with the birth center can range from 25 – 90 minutes. We do have some toys and a TV to help with this endeavor.
Loren Walz
A 5-Star Facebook Review
“Jolene genuinely cares for her patients! With our most recent mono-mono twin pregnancy, she delivered a grim and scary diagnosis with such gentleness and compassion.” Read more…
Shanthi Fujimoto
A 5-Star Facebook Review
“Birth is such an intimate experience and I really believe you have to have a connection with those who are present at your birth. I cannot express how thankful I am that we found Jolene!” Read more…
Jason Geraldine-Reynolds
A 5-Star Facebook Review
“We could not be happier with the care and service that we have received from Jolene. Jolene is level headed and rather quiet yet very professional and knowledgeable.” Read more…
Contact Us
Phone: (719) 367-9405
Fax: 719-434-9777
Email: info@beginningsbirthcenter.com
Office Hours:
Our Location:
9475 Briar Village Point Ste 100
Colorado Springs CO 80920
ACCREDITATIONS
Beginnings Birth Center is nationally accredited by:

Beginnings Birth Center is a member of
MOST RECENT BLOG POST
Celebrating Breastfeeding
We would like to give a nod to Breastfeeding! Hoorah for the labor of love! Of lactating, chest/breast feeding, pumping and hand expressing (just to name a few ways) that goes into feeding and nourishing our babies. At Beginnings Birth Center we encourage and support...
Hydrating with infused waters and electrolytes!
Hydrating with infused waters and electrolytes. A huge part of a healthy pregnancy and lifestyle is about adopting habits that promote ongoing wellness. For some of us this is simple and for others it takes a lot more effort! Drinking Enough Water to Hydrate...
COVID-19 Update for Beginnings Birth Center
We are keeping up with all the updates with the pandemic as they come. Thanks for hanging in there with all the changes so far! Along those lines, we will be going back to all office visits being in person starting Monday 4/27/20 if everyone in your home is well and...
ASSOCIATIONS
Beginnings Birth Center is a Member of
Birth Network National / Improving Birth
& The Colorado Springs Birth Network