Tender Gifts Midwifery & Birth Center’s Superior Care, Althea Hrdlichka and Her Team Have Mastered Out-Of-Hospital Birth Safety

Fort Collins, CO. Oct 27, 2022 – According to the American Association of Birth Centers, women who received care in birth centers had better outcomes than in hospitals across the nation, particularly when it comes to low-risk, vaginal births. 

Other studies have also found that birth center care is associated with improved maternal satisfaction and a more positive childbirth experience. Women who give birth in birth centers often report feeling more in control of their birth experience and having better communication with their care providers.

Tender Gifts Midwifery & Birth Center focuses on giving the mother and family a comfortable environment that promotes emotional stability, and in turn makes for a healthier, happier birthing and postpartum experience. Quite the opposite of how hospitals treat women in labor.   

Healthcare in today’s society is perceived as the best medical practice we’ve ever had. However, hospitals are still way behind in providing care for women’s health, especially for those who choose a natural, unmedicated birth. Many times hospitals treat birth as a medical procedure rather than a natural occurrence, often making the birthing process uncomfortable and mechanical. When these procedures happen, many times it rolls into a cascade of interventions that turn into medical emergencies due to the woman’s body and baby being unable to handle them. 

Often, hospitals will restrict mothers from moving around, forcing them to remain on their backs while giving birth, making labor and delivery unnecessarily more painful. Hospitals deny or limit mothers’ food and water while giving birth, despite any medical evidence that this helps with labor. And in actuality, it is quite the opposite because when this happens, a woman’s fight or flight hormones move into overdrive which can then stall labor and create an unstable environment for birthing, thus, causing the need for more interventions. Tender Gifts describes this type of birth as a “conveyor belt” birth that can lead to unwanted outcomes, such as using more medications, cesarean births, etc. 

In contrast, birth centers often allow for more freedom of movement and a more relaxed environment during labor and delivery. Many birth centers encourage mothers to move around, change positions, and use hydrotherapy (such as laboring in a tub or shower) to help manage pain and promote progress during labor. Birth centers may also allow mothers to eat and drink during labor, as long as it is safe for both the mother and the baby. Allowing mothers to move freely and have access to food and water during labor can help create a more positive birth experience and may reduce the need for interventions. This type of care, often referred to as “physiologic birth,” can help support the natural process of childbirth and can lead to better outcomes for both mothers and babies.

At Tender Gifts Midwifery & Birth Center, owner Althea Hrdlichka, has dedicated their practice to the health, safety, and empowerment of giving birth. At Tender Gifts, you’ll find certified and licensed professionals who will be with you every step of the way. From preconception through prenatal care, labor and delivery, newborn care, postpartum, and even well-woman care, Hrdlichka and her team will provide the medical and emotional support every mother and family needs. 

In addition to providing care throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery, Tender Gifts also offers a range of services to support women and families after birth. This includes newborn care, postpartum support, and well-woman care.

The team at Tender Gifts is committed to working with each woman and family to ensure that their childbirth experience is as positive and empowering as possible. They strive to provide the medical and emotional support that every mother and family needs to feel confident and supported during this important time.

Safety is of the utmost importance at Tender Gifts Midwifery & Birth Center. In the rare case of health emergencies that require hospital care, their location is only 1.9 miles away from the nearest hospital, making transferring patients quick and easy. However, the rate of patients needing transfers continues to decline. 

The freedom mothers have at Tender Gifts brings humanity back to giving birth. Hrdlichka strategically planned all the best practices to guarantee safety and comfort, even down to how furniture is spaced! She not only has 4 children herself, but she has also attended over 600 births and knows firsthand how much of a difference having a family-friendly, empowering facility and team can make for every mother and newborn.