Expectant parents preparing for pregnancy and childbirth in Colorado Springs often start by considering hospitals.

In Korea, you could simply ask other mothers which obstetrician is good, but in the U.S., you need to find an obstetrician separately, check the hospital where you will give birth, and consider insurance, which can be overwhelming at first.

A good place to start looking for a birthing hospital in this area is UCHealth Memorial Hospital North. Located in Briargate, it is particularly convenient for those living in the northern part of Colorado Springs. The hospital is well-equipped with obstetric and maternity facilities and can respond to situations requiring neonatal intensive care.

The second most commonly considered place is CommonSpirit St. Francis Hospital. Those who have lived here for a while may still refer to it as Centura, but Centura Health ceased operations in 2023, and it is now directly operated by CommonSpirit Health. It is located near Woodmen Road and is a comprehensive hospital where childbirth and neonatal care are significant focuses. Support services like breastfeeding consultations are also available after delivery.

UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central is also a large hospital, but when choosing a birthing hospital, it is important to first check the obstetric services currently offered and the hospital where your OB/GYN delivers. Central is a key comprehensive hospital in Colorado Springs with a Level I Trauma Center, making it a reliable option for serious emergencies or cases requiring collaboration among various specialties.

Korean mothers often worry about the language barrier. Even if you can speak some English, understanding medical terminology during childbirth is a different story. You can request, "Korean interpreter, please." Large medical institutions like UCHealth and CommonSpirit offer medical interpretation services via phone or video, so it's a good idea to inquire about the need for Korean interpretation when making an appointment.

There's a joke in the U.S. that the scariest thing about giving birth is not the labor pains but the hospital bills. If you give birth without insurance, the costs can be quite high, so it's advisable to check your insurance and eligibility for assistance as soon as you find out you're pregnant.

In Colorado, there is a Medicaid program called Health First Colorado. Pregnant women may have different income and eligibility criteria than regular adults, and if eligible, they can receive significant support for prenatal care and other pregnancy-related medical services. There are also cases where you can receive Presumptive Eligibility, a temporary qualification while waiting for formal approval, so it's best to check your eligibility before assuming you have to pay hospital bills right away.

If your income is above the Medicaid threshold, you might want to look into CHP+. It's a low-cost health insurance program in Colorado for pregnant women and children within a certain income range, which can significantly reduce your financial burden compared to private insurance.

Even if you don't qualify for regular Medicaid due to immigration status, there may be separate support programs applicable to pregnancy and emergency childbirth. However, don't assume that "if you're undocumented, childbirth costs are completely free." The eligibility for pregnancy-related Medicaid and Emergency Medicaid in Colorado can vary based on individual income and residency status, so it's safest to check with the hospital's Financial Counselor.

If you have no insurance at all, remember to consider Peak Vista Community Health Centers. It's a community health facility in Colorado Springs that many uninsured or low-income families use, and it has a Sliding Fee program that adjusts costs based on income. It can help you get advice on prenatal care and available support programs from the early stages of pregnancy.

Ultimately, if my Korean sister were to come to Colorado Springs while pregnant, I would probably say this: First, compare UCHealth Memorial North and St. Francis, which are close to home, and ask which hospital your preferred OB/GYN delivers at. And don't panic about not having insurance; start by checking Health First Colorado, CHP+, and Peak Vista.

In the U.S., if you don't know, you'll just get a bill in the mail, but if you look into it, there are surprisingly many programs available. You don't need to lose sleep over hospital bills while you're busy having a baby.