UCHealth Birth Center - Yampa Valley Medical Center

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Before visiting someone,
please read our visitation policy to help with the planning of your visit.

Hours
Monday: All Day
Tuesday: All Day
Wednesday: All Day
Thursday: All Day
Friday: All Day
Saturday: All Day
Sunday: All Day
Your team
Elaine Stickrath, MD
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Obstetrics and Gynecology

Jeffrey Chamberlain, MD
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Obstetrics and Gynecology

Kathryn Feller, MD
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Obstetrics and Gynecology

Laurie LeBleu Vaszily, MD
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Obstetrics and Gynecology

Jennifer Allen, CNM
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Certified Nurse Midwife

A variety of options for every birth experience

Every family and every birth experience is unique. At the UCHealth Birth Center – Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs we provide a variety of birthing options. Whether you and your family select a medicated or non-medicated delivery our trained labor and delivery team are there to guide and support you through the process.

Call us to find out about delivery pre-registration.

What to expect during labor and delivery

  • Labor rooms are equipped with tubs for hydrotherapy during labor, birthing balls, glider rockers, and wireless waterproof fetal monitoring so patients can stay mobile during labor.
  • Following vaginal deliveries, infants are not separated from their mothers unless the infant’s health requires special care.
  • Skin-to-Skin is highly encouraged for patients following a vaginal delivery or a Cesarean section.
  • YVMC now has two midwives on staff that can help provide a more holistic approach to your prenatal care and labor and delivery experience.
  • Once you have delivered your baby, you will be transferred very close by to one of our private postpartum rooms. All of these rooms have a sleeper chair for your support person.
  • Due to COVID-19 visitor guidelines, we are only allowing two visitors per patient at a time; this would include any doulas.

Birthing options

  • Labor and Delivery RNs are trained in a variety of techniques to guide and support the family choosing un-medicated and medicated labor and delivery.
  • Birth doulas (non-medical birth assistants who offer emotional support and encouragement throughout labor and birth) are very welcome at the Birth Center.
  • YVMC now has two midwives, in addition to our OB/GYN MDs on staff, who can help provide a more holistic approach to your prenatal care and labor and delivery experience.
  • Other pain options (for those who qualify):
    • Epidural
    • IV analgesia
    • Nitrous oxide

Note: VBAC’s (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) are not provided at YVMC.

Birth Center tours

Join us for a tour of the UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center Birth Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed for you and your family!

We will be providing scheduled Birth Center tours every Monday and Tuesday starting at 10:00 a.m.

Breast milk donation

Do you produce milk in excess of your baby’s needs? If the answer is yes, you may be able to help babies both locally in the Yampa Valley as well as in the state of Colorado.

Every year, thousands of newborn babies are unable to receive the healthy benefits of breast milk due to some mothers not being able to produce breast milk or other circumstances. By donating milk, newborns will be able to receive beneficial nutrients and antibodies only found in breast milk.

UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center is a proud partner and donation site for Mother’s Milk Bank of the Rockies.

Breast milk donor eligibility

To be eligible to donate breast milk, a donor must:

  • Be confident in her milk supply and produce milk in excess of her own baby’s needs.
  • Be willing to donate a minimum total of 150 ounces throughout her time as a donor with us.
  • Be in excellent health without any chronic illnesses or history of major medical issues or cancer, including leukemia.
  • Be a non-smoker and refrain from using tobacco or marijuana products of any kind.
  • Be motivated to practice exceptional hygiene and carry out careful milk collection and storage methods.
  • Be willing to undergo blood testing.
  • Be less than 18 months postpartum when collecting the milk.
  • Consume less than 24 ounces of caffeinated beverages a day (2-3 cups of coffee).
  • Not have any medical condition that prohibits her from giving blood (there are exceptions to this rule – please contact us if this applies to you).
    • Have no history of hepatitis after age 11 or positive tuberculosis tests.
    • Have not received blood or blood products or organ or tissue transplants in the past 12 months.
    • Have no history of intimate contact with anyone at risk for HIV/AIDS.
  • Not be taking vitamin supplements that exceed 2000% Daily Value (DV)
  • Take only approved medications and herbal supplements/teas.
    • Mothers’ Milk Tea, fenugreek and any lactation support product containing fenugreek or other herbs is NOT compatible with donating.
  • Wait 12 hours after drinking any alcoholic beverage to collect milk to donate.

To become a breast milk donor, please call the Mother’s Milk Bank at 303.869.1888.

YVMC now offers hospital-grade breast pumps for rent and donor breast milk for purchase, both through the Outpatient Pharmacy. Please call 970.875.2771 for more information.

Resources

Childbirth education classes at YVMC

Childbirth is a natural process, but it is not second nature to many of us. The inside knowledge and experience of birth, breastfeeding, and caring for babies is generally not role-modeled from generation to generation. Be empowered through education to make informed choices and gain trust in your inner wisdom.

Online classes are available for registration.

Please visit this page to register.

Our in-person classes have returned!

Please visit this page to register.

  • If you have questions, please contact the Birth Center at 970.871.2412.

Some of the topics covered are:

  • Assisted and Cesarean deliveries
  • Medications and anesthesia
  • Physical and emotional changes of pregnancy
  • Positioning and comfort measures during labor and birth
  • Postpartum and newborn care and expectations
  • Relaxation and breathing techniques
  • Role of the labor companion
  • Signs and stages of labor
  • The newborn’s first 48 hours
  • Variations of normal labor
  • Basics with lactation support
Lactation services and classes at YVMC
  • Lactation consultation services are provided by our certified lactation consultants and lactation counselors on staff.
    • To schedule an appointment with the lactation consultant, please call 970.871.2412
  • The Lactation Club. The Lactation Club (TLC) has returned! In this weekly breastfeeding support group, you will have an opportunity to meet other moms, ask questions, weigh your baby and address concerns with a lactation consultant.
    • Our Steamboat TLC group meets every Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
    • Starting September 12, 2022, we will be starting TLC every Monday at the Craig UCHealth medical office from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
    • Please email Liz Graham or Brenna Lynam with questions.
  • Breastfeeding Basics. In-person class has returned! Sign up for one of our monthly classes. Please visit this page to register.
    This two-hour class is taught by one of our internationally certified lactation instructors. Some of the topics covered are:

    • Benefits of breastfeeding
    • Establishing and maintaining milk supply
    • Feeding techniques
    • Breast pumps and milk storage
    • Avoiding common problems
    • This curriculum follows the InJoy breastfeeding booklet provided in the class
    • This class includes a support person (or two!)