Denver Doula & Midwife Support
Denver Doula & Midwife: Costs, Hospitals & Medicaid
True Joy Birthing is a free birth plan app and doula directory for first-time moms in Denver. Whether you're looking for a doula or midwife in Denver, building your birth plan, or figuring out what support even looks like — everything here is free.
Doulas, midwives, hospital policies, and costs, broken down so you can walk in prepared. This guide covers how much doulas cost, whether Medicaid covers a doula, and which hospitals welcome birth partners. New here? Learn what a doula actually does.
Birth doula support in Denver starts at $1200
Free · No account needed · Works on iPhone
Denver's major birth hospitals cluster along the central corridor: Rose Medical Center on East 9th Avenue, Presbyterian St. Luke's near City Park, and Denver Health on Bannock Street downtown. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital sits east in Aurora on the Anschutz campus, about 20 minutes from downtown via I-225. The Birth Center of Denver on Franklin Street and Colorado Birth & Wellness in Lowry give families out-of-hospital options in the city core. Light Rail and I-25 connect most of these locations, but plan for traffic on I-25 and I-270 during rush hour.
Free app
Build your birth plan step by step in the app
Nine guided sections. Hospital preferences, pain management, who's in the room — all walked through so nothing gets missed.
- Step-by-step guidance for every section
- Update your plan anytime — not a static PDF
- Share directly with your care team or doula
Coming soon Free · No account needed to start
Free app
What the Free App Offers
9 guided sections
Hospital preferences, pain management options, who's in the room, feeding preferences, postpartum plans — each section walks you through what each choice means so nothing gets missed. Answer a few questions at a time, save your progress, and come back whenever you want. Your plan builds as you go, so it never feels overwhelming.
Find local doulas
Browse and connect with doulas and midwives serving Denver right inside the app. See their services, cost ranges, and availability without searching elsewhere. Many Denver parents use the app to message providers directly and find someone who fits their schedule and personality.
Printable PDF birth plan
Export your finished plan as a PDF to share with your provider, doula, or hospital. Easy to update anytime — not a static document you fill out once.
Completely free
No account needed, no credit card, no time limit. Works on iPhone. Download it, build your plan, share it — that's it.
Video guide
Denver Doula & Birth Plan Guide: Costs, Hospitals & Medicaid (First-Time Mom)
Watch the full city guide — 4 hospitals, 2 birth centers, doulas, midwives, costs, and Colorado Medicaid, all in under 7 minutes.
Local support
Doulas & Midwives Serving Denver
Real people, real support: here are doulas and midwives who serve Denver families. Every listing is a practicing provider, not an ad.
No doulas match your filters.
Krystal Cown
Certified Birth Doula
Doulas of Denver
$1,500-$3,500
Founder of Doulas of Denver, a premier Denver doula agency offering birth doula support, overnight newborn care, daytime family care, and sleep coaching. The agency maintains excellent relationships with local care providers and has served Denver families for over a decade with professionally trained labor doulas and newborn care specialists.
Serves Denver, CO, Aurora, Lakewood, Centennial
Merrie Hiett
Certified Birth Doula
Intuitive Birth Doula Agency
$1,800-$3,500
Founder of Intuitive Birth, a Denver doula agency built on shared standards and a medically-informed, intuitive approach to birth support. Merrie trained as a student midwife at a freestanding birth center before founding the agency, and personally handpicks and trains every doula on her team. Intuitive Birth offers childbirth education ($199) and nursing and newborn care classes alongside comprehensive doula care.
Serves Denver, CO, Boulder, Aurora, Lakewood
Eloise Howell
DONA Certified Full-Spectrum Doula
Grounding Touch Doula Services
$1,500-$3,200
DONA-certified full-spectrum doula, childbirth educator, parent coach, and integrative bodywork practitioner with over 200 labors attended. Eloise specializes in holistic, trauma-informed care including unmedicated physiologic birth, VBACs, high-risk pregnancies, and bereavement support. She offers hands-on comfort techniques including HypnoBirthing, Spinning Babies, rebozo, and acupressure.
Serves Denver, CO, Boulder, Broomfield, Golden
Katie White
Certified Birth Doula
Denver Born Doulas
$1,200-$2,800
Owner of Denver Born Doulas with over 7 years supporting Denver-area families. Katie is known for her VBAC support and has attended both hospital and home births. She provides prenatal education, 24/7 on-call availability from 38 weeks, labor support, and postpartum care. Her approach is agenda-free, focusing on empowering families to feel seen, heard, and encouraged.
Serves Denver, CO, Aurora, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Parker
Tara McDougal
RN, CD(DONA)
The Birth Service
$1,500-$3,000
DONA-certified birth doula and registered nurse with 12 years of bedside nursing experience, including 9 years at Children's Hospital on the cardiac progressive care unit. Tara has attended over 200 births alongside her partner Sara Raab, including hospital, birth center, and home births. She brings deep clinical knowledge combined with compassionate, faith-centered support for families.
Serves Denver, CO, Parker, Aurora, Centennial
Sara Raab
CD(DONA)
The Birth Service
$1,500-$3,000
DONA-certified birth doula who co-founded The Birth Service with Tara McDougal in 2012. Together they have attended over 200 births including hospital, birth center, and home births. Sara transitioned from hospital nursing to birth work after experiencing the transformative power of doula support during her own pregnancy, and is passionate about supporting women in achieving physiologic birth.
Serves Denver, CO, Parker, Aurora, Centennial
Kaylan Sharp
RN, BSN, IBCLC, CCCE, PCD(DONA)
Baby Mama Co.
$1,200-$2,500
Registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and DONA-certified postpartum doula who founded Baby Mama Co. in 2021. With a nursing degree from Duke University and experience in the ICU, Kaylan leads a team offering birth doula services, postpartum care, lactation consultations, sleep support, pelvic floor physical therapy, and massage therapy. Baby Mama serves all families inclusively, including surrogacy and adoption journeys.
Serves Denver, CO, Aurora, Lakewood, Englewood, Littleton
Sanctuary Doulas Collective
Certified Postpartum Doulas
Sanctuary Doulas & Family Care
$50-$65/hr
Denver's largest postpartum doula agency with a team of 65+ care providers offering day and overnight postpartum support. Sanctuary 'mothers the mother' with evidence-based care including newborn feeding support, soothing, post-natal healing guidance, and sibling adjustment help. They also operate Sanctuary CARES, a nonprofit arm providing free and low-cost in-home postpartum doula care to low-income families, with most families receiving 12-24 hours of support.
Serves Denver, CO, Boulder, Broomfield, Aurora
Find a doula or midwife near you
The True Joy Birthing app lets you search for doulas, midwives, and birth professionals in your area. Filter by certification, services offered, and insurance coverage, so you can find the right support before your due date.
Try the free app →Listed providers are independent practitioners. True Joy Birthing does not endorse any specific provider.
Are you a doula or midwife serving Denver?
Get listed on True Joy Birthing and reach expecting families in your area.
Get listed →Hospitals & Birth Centers in Denver
Here's what you need to know about the hospitals where Denver moms deliver.
4567 E 9th Ave, Denver, CO 80220
Known as 'Denver's Baby Hospital,' HCA HealthONE Rose has been delivering babies for over 70 years and is one of the busiest birth hospitals in the metro area. The Level III NICU provides 24/7 neonatologist coverage, and the hospital offers certified nurse-midwives, doulas, and a dedicated doula services program with credentialed doulas. Rose is a popular choice for families across Denver and accepts Medicaid. Use our free hospital birth plan template to prepare for your Rose Baby.
Doulas: Doulas welcome. Rose-credentialed doula program
12605 E. 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz campus in Aurora is the only hospital in metro Denver offering waterbirth, attended by CNMs at the Center for Midwifery. The Level III NICU cares for infants born as early as 22 weeks gestation, and the hospital was first in Colorado to offer nitrous oxide for labor pain relief. It is recognized as a Center of Excellence for obstetric anesthesia by SOAP. Doulas are welcome and the hospital serves high-risk pregnancies with maternal-fetal medicine specialists.
Doulas: Doulas welcome
1719 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Presbyterian St. Luke's is home to Rocky Mountain Children's Hospital, the only Level IV NICU in the Rocky Mountain region with 84 beds and 24/7 on-campus neonatologists. This is the highest level of neonatal care available, making it the destination hospital for the most complex pregnancies and premature births. The hospital accepts Medicaid and welcomes doulas as part of the birth team. Use our free Joyful Birth Plan if you're delivering here.
Doulas: Doulas welcome
777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204
Denver Health is the city's safety-net hospital and a national model for equitable doula care, with an in-house doula program that provides support at no cost to patients. The Level II NICU has 25 beds, and approximately 85% of birthing patients are on Medicaid, making it the largest Medicaid birth hospital in Denver. Colorado Medicaid covers doula services under HB 23-1027, and Denver Health's doula program is directed by DONA-certified doulas who provide labor and birth support free of charge to patients.
Doulas: Doulas welcome. in-house doula program
Colorado Birth & Wellness
Colorado Birth & Wellness, located in the Lowry neighborhood, is Denver's only women-owned freestanding birth center. The center offers midwifery care, water birth, prenatal and postpartum care, and well-person care in a spa-like setting with four private birth rooms featuring queen-sized beds and birthing tubs. The practice accepts Cigna, Medicaid, and United insurance and has a full team of midwives, doulas, a chiropractor, perinatal mental health therapist, and lactation specialist. A second clinic-only location in Southwest Denver serves the broader metro area.
Birth Center of Denver
The Birth Center of Denver, located at 1830 North Franklin Street, is the only hospital-owned freestanding birth center in Denver, operated by Intermountain Health. It offers a home-like setting for unmedicated birth with comprehensive prenatal, childbirth, and post-pregnancy care. As a hospital-owned facility, it provides a unique middle ground between home birth and hospital birth, with transfer protocols in place for higher-risk situations.
Hospitals listed for reference only. True Joy Birthing does not endorse any specific provider. Always call ahead to confirm doula and visitor policies during your hospital tour. For more questions, see our doula FAQ or our birth plan checklist.
Reviewed by Shelbi Kohler
How it works
What Doula & Midwife Support Looks Like in Denver
Not sure what the difference is?
A midwife is your medical provider: she can deliver your baby, write prescriptions, and monitor your health. A doula is your support person: she keeps you comfortable, informed, and emotionally held, but doesn't do medical tasks. You can have both, and many Denver moms do. Learn more about what a doula actually does →
Denver has one of the most robust birth support communities in the Mountain West, driven by a health-conscious, outdoorsy population of nearly 3 million in the metro area. The city offers an unusually wide range of birth options: multiple hospitals with Level III and IV NICUs, two freestanding birth centers, hospital-based midwifery with waterbirth at UCHealth, and a deep network of independent and agency doulas. Colorado's progressive Medicaid doula coverage under HB 23-1027 makes supported birth more accessible here than in most states, and Denver Health's in-house doula program is a national model for equitable care.
Continuous labor support
A doula provides continuous support from early labor through delivery. No shift changes, no handing you off to someone else.
Evidence-based comfort techniques
Breathing, counter-pressure, position changes, proven to reduce C-section rates and shorten labor.
Advocacy before and during birth
Your doula helps you understand your options and practice saying what you want, before you're in the delivery room.
Postpartum follow-up, too
Most Denver doula packages include at least one postpartum visit, because birth support doesn't end at delivery.
Whether this is your first baby or you're preparing for a VBAC, understanding what a doula does, and how a doula can change your birth experience, can help you decide what support is right for you. Planning for a specific scenario? Read our VBAC birth plan guide or our C-section birth plan template.
How Much Does a Doula or Midwife Cost in Denver?
In the Denver area, birth doula packages typically range from $1,200 to $3,500. Midwife fees vary by type and setting — home birth midwives usually charge a global fee of $4,000–$8,000, while hospital-based CNM care is billed through insurance like a doctor's visit. Curious what doulas charge in your area? Our cost guide covers typical ranges, what's included, and what to ask about. If you're also thinking about support after baby arrives, learn what a postpartum doula does and how one can help.
If that number feels steep, you're not alone, and there are options:
- Medicaid: Good news: your state covers doula services through Medicaid. See the details below.
- HSA/FSA: Many families don't realize that doula services can often be paid for with HSA or FSA funds, since birth support qualifies as a medical expense under most plans. Check with your plan administrator.
- Sliding-scale doulas: Many Denver doulas offer payment plans, sliding-scale fees, or reduced packages. Don't be afraid to ask.
- Student doulas: Doulas in training often attend births at reduced rates. It's a great option if budget is tight.
How Much Does a Doula Cost in Denver?
In Denver, a birth doula typically costs between $1,200 and $3,500. This usually includes two prenatal visits, continuous labor support, and at least one postpartum check-in. Prices vary based on experience, the number of visits included, and whether add-ons like childbirth education or placenta encapsulation are bundled in.
Birth Doula
$1,200–$3,500
Prenatal visits, labor support, and postpartum follow-up.
Postpartum Doula
$25–$45/hr
In-home newborn care, feeding support, and recovery help.
Doula rates in Denver typically reflect the local cost of living, with experienced doulas charging more as they build their practice. It's not uncommon for doulas with 10 or more years of experience to charge at the higher end of the range, while newer doulas may charge less as they build their client base. The personal connection matters too. Families who chose a more experienced doula often say the investment was worth it.
In markets like this, we've seen birth doula packages ranging widely, with the biggest variables being experience level and what's included in the package. Some doulas offer sliding scale pricing or payment plans, so it's always worth asking, even if the listed rate feels out of reach. We've heard from doulas who volunteered a payment plan before the family even raised cost as a concern.
We've heard from families who successfully used their HSA or FSA to cover doula services with a Letter of Medical Necessity from their doctor. It can take persistence, especially if office staff push back on the paperwork, but many families get it approved. If a nurse or gatekeeper declines to pass the form along, bring it to your next in-person appointment and discuss it directly with your provider. We've also seen families request in-network exceptions from their insurance for doula care, though results vary widely by insurer and even by which representative you speak to.
For a full breakdown of what is included in a doula package and what to ask about during consultations, see our complete doula cost guide.
By the Numbers
Birth in Denver: By the Numbers
Key birth statistics for CO families — because knowing the landscape helps you make informed choices about your birth.
30.5%
Cesarean Rate
Percentage of births via C-section
18
Maternal Mortality Rate
Deaths per 100,000 live births
2.3%
Home Birth Rate
Percentage of births at home
0.9%
Birth Center Birth Rate
Births in freestanding birth centers
Data from CDC NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, 2023.
Does Medicaid or Insurance Cover a Doula or Midwife in CO?
Yes — Colorado Health First (Medicaid) covers doula services under HB 23-1027, effective January 2024. Colorado Medicaid reimburses doulas up to $750 per pregnancy ($150 prenatal, $150 labor/delivery, $150 postpartum, plus $300 in extended postpartum visits). Denver Health's in-house doula program provides free doula support to all patients regardless of insurance. Doulas must register with the state as Medicaid providers.
Colorado is one of the few states where both Medicaid and some commercial insurers cover doula services. Colorado law also requires coverage for licensed midwife services at birth centers. Check your specific plan for doula and birth center benefits. Cigna, United, and Kaiser Permanente Colorado all have some doula or birth center coverage.
Not sure what to look for in a doula or midwife? Here's how to choose a doula who fits your birth preferences, your personality, and your budget. For a full breakdown of which states cover doulas and midwives through Medicaid, see our Medicaid doula coverage guide.
What About a Midwife in Denver?
Colorado licenses Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) and Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), giving Denver families regulated midwife options for home birth, birth center birth, and hospital-based midwifery. The Center for Midwifery at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is the only hospital-based midwifery practice in Colorado offering waterbirth, and Colorado Birth & Wellness provides midwife-led out-of-hospital births as Denver's only women-owned freestanding birth center.
In Colorado, Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are licensed by the state to attend out-of-hospital births, giving Denver families regulated midwife options for home and birth center births. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) practice at multiple Denver-area hospitals including UCHealth and Denver Health.
Not sure whether you need a doula, a midwife, or both? Our doula vs. midwife guide breaks it down clearly.
- Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) work in hospitals and birth centers and are covered by Medicaid in all 50 states.
- Midwives vs. OBs: Midwives spend more time with you: longer appointments, more conversation, less rushed. OBs are surgeons trained for complications. Both are valid choices for different situations.
- You can have both: Many Denver practices pair midwives and OBs so you get midwifery-style care with a doctor backing you up if needed.
- Birth centers: Denver has freestanding birth centers where midwives attend births in a home-like setting. See the details above.
Planning ahead
When to Start Looking for a Doula or Midwife in Denver
Start looking around 12 to 20 weeks. That gives you time to meet a few doulas, compare approaches, and lock someone in before their calendar fills up — popular Denver doulas often book up by the third trimester. Already past 20 weeks? Start now. Most doulas have room in their schedule and would rather work with you late than not at all.
The earlier you connect, the more time your doula has to learn your preferences, understand your hospital's policies, and build trust before labor day. Use the free app to browse doulas serving Denver and start reaching out today.
What local moms ask
What Denver moms want to know
How much does a doula or midwife cost in Denver?
Expect $1,200 to $3,500 for a birth doula. Colorado Medicaid covers doula services.
Can my doula come to the hospital with me?
Most Denver hospitals allow doulas. Always confirm your hospital's policy ahead of time.
Does Medicaid cover a doula in Denver?
Yes. Colorado Medicaid covers doula services. See the details above.
What does a birth plan actually do?
It helps you think through your preferences before labor, so you can walk in confident instead of overwhelmed. Grab the free template.
Walk Into Your Birth Feeling Prepared: Not Anxious
The #1 thing Denver moms tell us they wish they'd had? A clear plan they'd actually thought through, not just a form, but a process that helped them understand their options before the contractions started.
The free Joyful Birth Plan app walks you through every decision: who's in the room, what happens if things shift, what matters most to you, so you walk in confident. Prefer paper? Download the free PDF template instead.
Free · iPhone app or printable PDF · No account needed
Keep Reading
Related Resources for Denver Families
Everything you need to know, from what a doula does to whether Medicaid will pay for one. These guides walk you through each topic so you can make decisions with confidence.
What Is a Doula?
What doulas do, how they help, and why families hire one. Covers the three types of doula support so you can decide what fits your birth.
Read more →
Benefits of a Doula
How doula support improves birth outcomes and satisfaction. Backed by research showing fewer C-sections, less pain medication, and shorter labors.
Read more →
How to Choose a Doula
Interview questions, red flags, and what to look for. A step-by-step approach to finding someone you genuinely trust with your birth.
Read more →
Doula Costs
What doulas charge and how to make it affordable. Covers typical ranges, payment plans, and whether your insurance or Medicaid helps cover the cost.
Read more →
Postpartum Doula
Support after birth: feeding, recovery, and adjusting. Learn how a postpartum doula helps with nighttime support, newborn care, and emotional recovery.
Read more →
Joyful Birth Plan Template
Free template to write down your birth preferences. A simple guided format that covers pain management, labor environment, and postpartum wishes.
Read more →
Doula FAQ
Common questions about hiring and working with a doula. Quick, honest answers to what first-time families ask most often.
Read more →
Doula vs. Midwife
The key differences and why you might want both. Breaks down who does what so you know exactly which provider you need for your birth plan.
Read more →
Medicaid Doula Coverage
Which states cover doulas and how to use your benefit. Step-by-step guide to Medicaid doula reimbursement by state.
Read more →Looking at Nearby Cities?
Your Questions About Doulas & Midwives in Denver
The things Denver moms ask us most, answered honestly.
How much does a doula cost in Denver?
Denver doulas typically charge $1,200 to $3,500 for birth doula packages, with most around $2,200. Postpartum doulas charge $50 to $65 per hour. Medicaid-covered doulas are available at no out-of-pocket cost to qualifying families under Colorado's HB 23-1027. Grab the free Joyful Birth Plan and start thinking about what matters most to you.
Does Colorado Medicaid cover doulas in Denver?
Yes! Colorado Medicaid covers doula services under HB 23-1027, up to $750 per pregnancy. Denver Health also offers an in-house doula program with free support for all patients. Here's your next step: call your Medicaid plan and ask "Do you cover doula services?". they'll walk you through it. You deserve support, and now your insurance helps pay for it.
Which Denver hospitals have the highest-level NICU?
HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke's has the only Level IV NICU in the Rocky Mountain region. the highest level available. with 84 beds and 24/7 on-campus neonatologists. Rose Medical Center and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital both have Level III NICUs. Use our free Joyful Birth Plan to prepare for your delivery.
Does Denver have a birth center with water birth?
Yes. Colorado Birth & Wellness in the Lowry neighborhood offers water birth in a freestanding birth center setting. UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital also offers hospital-based waterbirth through the Center for Midwifery, the only hospital in metro Denver to do so. Grab the free Joyful Birth Plan to think through whether a birth center or hospital birth is right for you.
Can doulas attend births at Denver hospitals?
Yes. doulas are welcome at all major Denver birth hospitals including Rose Medical Center, UCHealth, Presbyterian St. Luke's, and Denver Health. Rose Medical Center even has a credentialed doula program. Denver Health provides free in-house doulas through its nationally recognized program. Confirm your hospital's current visitor and doula policy during your tour.
Are there home birth midwives in Denver?
Yes. Colorado licenses Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) for out-of-hospital births, and several CPMs and CNMs serve the Denver metro area. Colorado Birth & Wellness also offers birth center births with midwives. Grab the free birth plan template to think through whether home birth is right for you.
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Download PDF directlyExplore Birth Support in Other Cities
More cities with doula costs, hospital info, and Medicaid coverage.
Browse all cities in Colorado or explore other states: Arizona · California · Florida