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Preparing for birth

Health View
Valley View Hospital

So, you’re having a baby! The beauty of the female body is that in a healthy pregnancy, a woman can give birth just about anywhere with little to no assistance. A woman’s body instinctually knows what to do, as does the baby, which is perhaps why birth is always described “a miracle.” But not everyone wants to have a baby at home or in an unplanned spot when labor sneaks up on them, which is why there are birthing centers to help a woman deliver a healthy child, in a safe, serene environment, with the exact birthing details the mom-to-be intends.

Women can create their own journey when preparing for their child — no matter if it is their first or fifth. Whether they are using a traditional obstetrician with comfort management via anesthesia options, or assisted by a certified nurse midwife or doula using integrated therapies such as hypno-therapy pools, aromatherapy, massage or any combination of the above, a warm and friendly birthing center will adapt and honor each woman’s own specialized birth plan.

The Roaring Fork Valley offers many options to help families prepare for birth, like neonatal nurse practitioners, nurse navigators, childbirth classes, lactation specialists and classes that range from birth planning and sibling preparation to delivery and breastfeeding with internationally certified lactation consultants.



“The goal is for each mother to feel empowered with knowledge of the experience before them, and possess the proper tools to craft a labor experience that will be positive and meaningful to her and her family,” said Laurale Cross, director of Valley View Hospital’s Family Birthplace.

Women can create their own journey when preparing for their child — no matter if it is their first or fifth.

And yet, if things don’t go exactly as planned, there are also specialists for women with difficult pregnancies. Specialists are available to partner with an expectant mother to provide her with the most up-to-date and accurate care for the entire length of her pregnancy. During birth, should medical intervention be necessary for the birth of a healthy child, and the safety of the mother, new moms may want to seek out facilities with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which can care for babies born as early as eight weeks before their due date, as well as full-term babies who may need extra care in the first few days of life. And while there are no local facilities with NICUs, the local hospitals all have close relationships with the NICUs in Denver and Grand Junction to ensure seamless care.



“Every birth is such a miracle,” says Cross. “It’s a privilege to be a part of each journey.”


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