At CommonSpirit St. Anthony North Hospital, an expert team of birth specialists is ready for anything.
A low-intervention birth with specialists on standby in case of emergency? Covered. A high-risk pregnancy with hypertension or diabetes involved? Ready. A mother who needs extra support with breastfeeding or with accessing mental health resources? No problem.
The Westminster, Colorado hospital is dedicated to covering the full spectrum of maternity care and, ultimately, improving birth outcomes for Colorado mothers and babies. As Coloradans’ pregnancy and birth needs continue to shift, CommonSpirit and St. Anthony North are meeting mothers where they’re at with the technological solutions, deep expertise, and personalized options they need for safe, healthy pregnancies.
“Unexpected complications can occur in the most low-risk pregnancies, so choosing a facility that is able to handle a full range of complications is crucial,” said Dr. Tracy Jones, an OB/GYN at St. Anthony North Hospital. “Hopefully, your birth will be smooth and easy, but if it isn’t, you want to be at a facility that can recognize and react appropriately.”
Expert Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
As an OB/GYN of 21 years, Dr. Jones has attended more than 5,000 births and helped countless Denver women through their pregnancy journeys. That experience also means she’s watched trends in Colorado birth outcomes over the years.
The No. 1 shift on her mind is the “sharp increase” in maternal behavioral mental health issues, she said. Those challenges span mental illness to substance use disorders, and the issue isn’t just anecdotal.
Accidental overdose is the second-leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum Coloradans, while one report found that although 1 in 3 birthing Coloradans had or were diagnosed with a mental health condition during their perinatal period, only 1 in 5 accessed any kind of mental health care visit. Meanwhile, Dr. Jones is also seeing more newborns who have been exposed to substances or are diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, a condition that occurs when a newborn is withdrawing from in-utero drug exposure.
At St. Anthony North, mothers dealing with mental health conditions or substance use disorders have access to behavioral health resources, along with specialized high-risk pregnancy care. Dr. Jones and other obstetricians work closely with community maternal fetal medicine partners to provide patients carrying high-risk pregnancies with quality, evidence-based care via high-level sonograms, chronic condition monitoring and management, and behavioral health support.
That level of care is essential at a time when Dr. Jones is also seeing more pregnant patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. Colorado birth statistics from 2020-2024 show that just over 11% of mothers presented with gestational hypertension during that time, and 6.5% presented with gestational diabetes, conditions that can raise a mother’s likelihood of preterm birth.
Fortunately, along with advanced imaging and genetic testing, CommonSpirit offers electronic health record services that enable patients and their care teams to stay on top of chronic conditions.
“Patients with diabetes and hypertension are able to load blood sugars and blood pressures directly into their charts for real time review by obstetric care providers,” Dr. Jones said. “This allows us to identify issues and intervene earlier for improved outcomes.”
Reaching Rural Coloradans
While women in urban areas can access Colorado pregnancy care close to home at facilities like St. Anthony North, the same isn’t always true for pregnant patients in other parts of the state.
A 2023 March of Dimes report found that 37.5% of Colorado counties were defined as maternity care deserts, where nearby hospitals or medical facilities don’t offer obstetric care. More than 6% of Colorado women had no birthing hospital within 30 minutes of them.
The increase in maternal health care deserts is partially due to a challenging cycle, Dr. Jones said. As birth rates decline, small, rural Colorado hospitals’ labor and delivery units struggle to stay open, forcing rural Coloradans to travel for obstetric care.
That lack of nearby obstetric care access is paired with the fact that early, consistent prenatal care creates positive birth outcomes for Colorado infants and mothers alike, Dr. Jones said.
“Respectful maternity care is crucial, (including) treating mothers with dignity and providing compassionate, supportive care throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period,” she said.
At CommonSpirit, rural hospitals are served by rotating specialists who ensure that patients in every corner of the state can access expert care. St. Anthony North also offers telemedicine options that allow pregnant patients to connect with their care teams from a distance.
Cutting Edge Care at St. Anthony North
High-risk and rural pregnancies are just some of the birthing needs St. Anthony North is prepared to meet. With a full obstetrics team, a dedicated birth center, and a Level II NICU, the Westminster hospital is ready for any outcome — and any preference.
St. Anthony North’s “comprehensive, family-centered” care approach means that physicians start by offering options. Parents can customize birth plans, which can focus on low intervention, natural delivery, or even pain management plans.
“We offer a flexible, patient-centered approach to the labor process,” Dr. Jones said. “We are open to natural methods, but able to intervene with the most up-to-date evidence-based care should the need arise.”
The hospital also provides a wraparound suite of pregnancy and postpartum care and education options, which include:
- The Nurse-Family Partnership program, which pairs eligible first-time parents with a trained nurse who will do home visits from pregnancy until a baby is 2
- Lactation consultations up to a year after birth
- A schedule of in-person and online classes that cover labor and birth preparation and breastfeeding, and even a weekly breastfeeding support group for those who need the support
- Group prenatal care that pairs expectant parents with other pregnant parents to share care experiences
Regardless of a patient’s preferences or specific pregnancy needs, St. Anthony North’s team is dedicated to providing safe, healthy pregnancy and birth experiences for Colorado women — and their babies.
“We respect each patient as an individual and try to honor birth preferences, we prioritize open communication with our patients, and we engage in best practices and evidence-based care to help assure a safe experience for all patients,” Dr. Jones said.
Learn more about St. Anthony North's Birth Center, including how to schedule a tour.
