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Welcome to the Family Birth Center: What to Expect When You’re Expecting at Vail Health

Transitioning into motherhood and adding another member to your family are among the most significant changes a woman will experience. Your whole world shifts and is reordered. It’s beautiful and magical, yet it can also feel overwhelming or nerve-racking: you’re preparing for new routines, new emotions and the expansion of your family. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be so daunting.

At the Vail Health Family Birth Center, the goal is simple: to provide exceptional maternity care in Vail so that mothers feel supported, comfortable and cared for. Here’s what you can expect for labor and delivery services:

Where Mountain Views Meet Modern Care

The Family Birth Center is built around comfort and continuity. Ideally, instead of moving from one room to another during and after labor, mothers and their families most often stay in one of seven LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum) suites for their entire stay, depending on capacity. This means a seamless experience for prenatal and postpartum care, resulting in fewer transitions and greater peace of mind.

Each suite is intentionally designed to feel open, calm and welcoming. Oversized windows flood the space with natural light and offer a serene view of Vail Mountain. You’ll find thoughtful touches like a cozy rocking chair, a couch that converts into a bed for your support partner and a table for meals. Private bathrooms feature jetted tubs to soothe and relax laboring mothers, providing a comforting option during those intense moments.

The Family Birth Center is a Level II nursery equipped to care for infants 32 weeks and older. This is more than just a medical classification; it’s a reassurance. It allows families to stay together in their community, without the added stress of being transferred to Denver.

The People Who Make the Magic Happen

What makes the Family Birth Center at Vail Health so special? The people. 

“Our team cares deeply about our patients and wants them to have the best care possible,” explains Elizabeth “Z” McDaniel, director of the Family Birth Center. “Our staff is what sets us apart. We have a beautiful culture, and it shows in how we care for the patients and each other.” 

The team is deeply invested in your experience. Most of the nursing team (86%) has additional labor support training, focusing on comfort techniques, positioning strategies and pain management tools to help labor progress naturally. This extra training has contributed to a steady decline in C-sections in recent years.

To ensure families receive the highest-quality, evidence-based care, the team continuously updates its training and technology. Advanced tools and equipment provide more comfortable labor options and a smoother recovery, supporting patients every step of the way.

Little Luxuries, Big Impact: Amenities That Support You Before, During & After Birth

A Concierge-Style Start
Before your big day arrives, Vail Babies Nurse Navigator Program helps ease anxiety and answer lingering questions. Registered nurse Colleen Gosiewski offers personalized, one-on-one tours of the center, reviews your health history and helps parents plan their experience before they arrive.

Labor Comfort, Personalized
Upon arrival, you’ll receive the Labor Comfort Amenities Menu: a selection of tools and comfort items designed to help you relax and manage your pain.

These can include:

• Aromatherapy
• Handheld massager
• Northern Lights projector
• Sleeping mask and earplugs
• Artificial candles

Relaxation techniques can make a meaningful difference during labor by reducing stress and supporting labor progress. In addition to these calming items, the Family Birth Center offers multiple positioning tools, including birthing balls, a squat ball, a yoga mat and newly installed ceiling hooks for labor slings.

Everything You Need, Even If You Forgot Your Bag
New moms are carrying a lot (both mentally and physically), so the Family Birth Center offers personal care kits. From shower supplies to hair care essentials to breastfeeding pillows, you’ll have what you need, even if your hospital bag is still sitting on your dresser.

Support for the Fourth Trimester
Once your baby arrives (congratulations!), the support continues. Three days a week, a massage therapist is available to provide perinatal massages for postpartum patients and newborns. And before heading home, every family receives a meal kit. “It’s really hard as a new family,” McDaniel says. “If we can take one little thing off their plate, like what will you have for dinner tonight, it can make the transition easier for families.”

What to Bring: Pack Light, Stress Less

The number one takeaway for packing a hospital bag? “You don’t need to bring anything to be successful. Vail Health already has everything. Anything you bring is just a nicety,” explains Gosiewski.

Here are nurse-recommended items to personalize your stay:

• Comfortable clothing: Choose soft, loose and open-front options for easy breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.
• A going-home outfit for baby: Bring a couple of sizes and options for warmth. Your baby will wear a provided shirt and sleep sack while in the hospital for safe sleep and monitoring.
• Entertainment: Inductions can take time, so bring activities to help pass the hours. Consider books, board games, downloading movies or other things that will keep you entertained.
• Music: Labor moods shift. Bring a playlist for every vibe.
• Snacks: The cafeteria is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; bring snacks if you want food outside those hours. There is a communal refrigerator with limited space. 
• Your favorite pillow: Optional, but comforting.
• A baby car seat: This is the only true necessity. 

A Smooth Sendoff Into Parenthood

Becoming a parent and expanding your family is a monumental moment. At the Vail Health Family Birth Center, you’re surrounded by experienced hands, compassionate hearts and a team dedicated to making your birth experience as smooth as possible.

Whenever you’re ready, they’re ready for you.