Boulder Nurse Midwives

My wife and I signed up with Boulder Nurse Midwives to deliver our first baby. Unfortunately we just found out today that they are shutting down before our baby is due, apparently because the Nurse Midwives were unhappy with how much they were being paid! We are very upset about having been left in the lurch like this, with the baby’s due date imminent.
I would not recommend using Boulder Nurse Midwives or any of the midwives from that practice (Merrilynn Artman, Kala Kluender, Sarit Schneider, Nicole Lassiter, Susan Mitchell, Erin Crawley, Lindsey Rudolph), or any birth center that would hire them.
UPDATE: Now they are refusing to refund us the money that we prepaid for the delivery of our baby.

I’ve read some horrible reviews about this office, and after five months of appointments, I find myself agreeing with nearly every negative comment I’ve read so far. I’ve been kept waiting over 45 minutes past my appointment time more than once – despite being on time. The first time, they acted like it was perfectly normal and I was being unreasonable. They actually asked me, «Is there somewhere you need to be?» as if my time and my job don’t matter. The second time, they apparently just «forgot» I was there – despite the fact I had already checked in and made my monthly payment. Both times, they offered no real apology and acted as though I should have said something sooner. I could have let both of those incidents slide, but then, after an unusually hormonal and emotional visit (they had just weighed me, I was overly tired, and I was stressed about several things going on in my life like work, an impending move, and a flight scheduled for the next day), the midwife Kala asked me how I was doing, and I made the mistake of being honest. She then proceeded to bully me into agreeing to let her refer me to a community support program to «help» me manage my stress. I clearly said, «No, thank you» and then finally, begrudgingly agreed, just so she’d stop talking and let me get out of there and back to work. I got a call a couple weeks later from a medicaid-​funded program focused on supporting single, underage, low-​income mothers. (I am happily married, I am nearly 30, both my husband and I are well educated and make a comfortable living, and our health care coverage would be considered «Cadillac» by most standards.) This medicaid program wanted to come to my home and check on me once a week until well after the baby was born and then once a month until s/​he was two years old, like I couldn’t be trusted with the care of my own child and needed a social caseworker supervising us. I was utterly offended and repulsed. The whole reason we wanted a midwife was to avoid the invasive and impersonal approach of a traditional OB/​GYN. We wanted a very natural, supportive experience, not someone adding stress. Both my husband and I are extremely healthy individuals (no processed foods, lots of exercise, zero health complaints, etc.), but despite having an extremely easy and uneventful pregnancy, they were pushing vaccines (I never catch the flu) and unnecessary blood tests (such as for STDs) from the first visit, while simultaneously downplaying ultrasounds and tests for UTIs, glucose, and protein – despite my family medical history. I should have realized right then that we’d made the wrong choice. When I’ve asked about natural remedies for headaches and sore muscles, they’ve continually pushed Tylenol, and even Imitrex for my occasional migraines, and they have no problems with prescribing antibiotics for relatively minor things – like slight imbalances in vaginal flora. Some of their equipment is outdated, and their office is not the cleanest (just take a wipe to their floor – yikes) and reminds me of a vet’s office; I was actually relieved to learn at my first visit that I would be giving birth across the street at the actual hospital. However, this latest incident with the medicaid program was the last straw. I started looking for another midwife/​birthing center immediately following this last visit.

I have never been treated more rudely by a receptionist in my life. Not only was this woman incredibly rude, she had absolutely no knowledge about anything that was going on in the practice. I had some VERY BASIC questions about my first appointment and she told me that she «had no idea» how to answer my questions. I am pregnant for my first time and obviously a little bit unhinged by this whole process and I was treated with zero respect when I called this practice. I cannot believe that they would employ such a person. I haven’t even had my first appointment and I am already thinking about switching providers.

I switched to Boulder Nurse Midwives after becoming aggravated with the OB practice I was seeing at the time. I had an all natural birth with my first son, so I figured why not give it a shot w/​midwives? I was anxious about switching to something unknown to me, but from the very first visit I felt welcomed and at ease. I knew immediately that I would switch.
I love all the midwives here, every single one of them. They always made me feel very welcome and calm. They were always reassuring and helpful with answering all of my questions and worries.
When I was full term and got closer to 40 weeks I requested cervix checks, which they don’t normally do, (and I agree they don’t tell you much– but I was curious!), and they didn’t question me about it or make me think I should do otherwise, just agreed to do them for me. They also discussed the use of Vit K after delivery, and the eye ointment– asking me how I wanted to handle it rather than telling me how it would be done. (We skipped the ointment, no issues).
I went into labor very early in the morning and labored in the tub with Shaunti by my side, and then when shifts changed, Angela was there with me. They let me do my own thing, and when my contractions completely went away after hours of active labor and 2 CM dilation later, I was given choices for what I wanted to do. Instead of feeling any pressure to augment or take steps to make labor start again, it was left totally up to me. We decided my mind was a little stressed out and I was over-​thinking everything, and wanted to go home to try to relax a bit and see if labor picked back up again.
My water broke the very next morning after a night of on and off contractions, and I was greeted again by Shaunti. I was straight into transition with constant no-​break contractions and everyone was very reassuring to me and helpful. I was ready to push within about an hour or maybe less of arriving, and I was allowed to do so without any annoying counting or direction. Shaunti suggested a way that might be quicker so I followed her direction and everyone was amazing. Every time my eyes searched the room for help I was greeted with her looking back into mine, reassuring me that I could do it.
My son ended up being very big for my frame (9.7, my first son was 6.13), and his shoulder got stuck. We dealt with a shoulder dystocia for 2 minutes, which was very, very scary for all of us but she handled it wonderfully and called for back-​up as soon as she felt that it was needed. I was crying and got a huge hug afterward and lots of help and kind words from everyone.
I just finished my 6 week postpartum visit, and she was there for me once again, reassuring me as I talked to her about PPD.
I just can’t recommend Boulder Nurse Midwives enough. No regrets whatsoever about switching to them halfway through my pregnancy. I am so thankful for the love and support I have gotten from them all.

My first daughter was delivered by an OB and although I delivered her naturally, with my second daughter, I was determined to have a different experience.
I chose Boulder Nurse Midwives and couldn’t be happier with the care I received from beginning to end. The midwives are all friendly, knowledgeable, caring, and excellent listeners. Each visit, I felt like the midwives took as much time as I needed to provide my care and answer my questions.
Although I saw four different midwives over the course of my pregnancy, the care was comprehensive and consistent. My file was always complete and the midwife came into my appointment prepared and attentive; we didn’t have to spend time reviewing information that I had already shared. I felt cared for by and completely trusted each of the midwives; in the end, it would not have mattered to me who delivered me.
The midwives were also very reassuring and supportive. My daughter was large and I was two weeks late, but there was no pressure for me to induce early or to consider intervention due to her size. If anything, the midwives were far more relaxed than I was!
During my delivery, my midwife worked with me and let me take the lead in terms of how my delivery progressed. She provided support and suggestions but allowed me to express what I needed. When my labor stopped progressing, she gave excellent help to move things along, and when I decided I needed medication to take the edge off of the pain, it was given to me without judgment.
My after care was also excellent. The midwife focused on my recovery and spent plenty of time with me reviewing how I was adjusting both physically and emotionally to my new arrival.
I would recommend Boulder Nurse Midwives to anyone looking for a more holistic birth experience who still want the protection of a hospital delivery.

I think that this practice is truly the best of both worlds. You get very personalized care in the secure setting of a hospital delivery. In case of complications, they have doctor support of Boulder Women’s Care Physicians Group. The nurse/​midwives are all excellent listeners and medical providers. They make you feel like you are in charge of your birth experience and help you make it whatever you’d like it to be. They do not push an agenda for any particular kind of birth — natural or otherwise. They are totally open. They spend more time with you in your appointments and are great about getting back to you with questions over the phone.
Unfortunately, I will be unable to deliver with the nurse/​midwives because my pregnancy has become high risk. It made me really sad to leave their practice. If you feel like you are not getting the personal attention that you’d like from your OB practice, you should check out the nurse/​midwives. They have a great reputation and my personal experiences with them were all excellent.

Amazing and thoughtful practice. Truly follows the midwife model of care. If you are someone who wants the kind of focused, intelligent, caring, and respectful healthcare that you’d receive from a home birth midwife, but wants to have a birth in the hospital go here. My birth plan was read and respected not only by the midwives, but by the nurses at the hospital, and they took amazing care of us. I’d give them ten extra stars if I could. All the midwives in the practice are just as wonderful as the next, and the backup docs at Boulder Women’s Care were excellent when we needed to see them.