Glamorous midwives accused of cover-up after two baby deaths rock trendy Colorado birthing center… but whispers among wealthy clients blame sinister ‘witch hunt’
A luxury birthing centre in Fort Collins, Colorado has come under investigation following two infant deaths, leading to the arrest of its owner and chief midwife in September. Althea Hrdlichka and Brecklen Ables face charges of tampering with evidence and attempting to influence a public servant, though specific details remain sealed. The case raises questions about the safety of alternative birthing facilities that lack on-site obstetricians, particularly for women with medical risk factors.
Tender Gifts Birthing and Wellness Centre, housed in a chic shopping mall, costs less than $10,000 per birth—significantly below the $15,000 average for hospital deliveries in Colorado. The centre employs midwives and nurses rather than obstetricians and offers minimal medical intervention. However, some wealthy clients have rallied to support the accused, with one supporter dismissing the investigation as a "witch hunt" targeting the clinic's alternative approach to childbirth.
- Two infants died at luxury Colorado birthing centre; owner and chief midwife arrested
- Facility costs less than hospital births but lacks on-site obstetricians
- Supporters claim prosecution targets alternative birthing practices
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Tender Gifts Birthing and Wellness Centre, a luxury facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, has come under investigation following the deaths of two infants. The centre's owner and chief midwife, Althea Hrdlichka and Brecklen Ables, were arrested in September and face charges related to evidence tampering and attempting to influence a public servant, though specific details of the case remain sealed by the courts.
The centre provides birth services using midwives and nurses rather than obstetricians, with minimal medical intervention. Its fees of less than $10,000 per birth undercut the typical $15,000 cost of hospital delivery in Colorado, attracting affluent clients seeking a less medicalised approach to childbirth.
The investigation has prompted different reactions. Some authorities and medical observers have raised concerns about the safety record of alternative birthing centres lacking on-site doctors, whilst some of the clinic's wealthy clients have publicly defended the accused, characterising the investigation as a "witch hunt" against the clinic's alternative approach.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Two infant deaths at a facility without on-site obstetric care represent a legitimate safety concern warranting investigation. Pregnancy and childbirth involve inherent medical risks; complications can emerge suddenly in any birth, and immediate specialist intervention can be life-saving. The charges of evidence tampering and attempting to influence public servants suggest potential obstruction of justice. A facility charging substantially less than hospital care whilst handling medically complex situations raises fair questions about whether cost savings compromise emergency preparedness and proper staffing to manage serious complications.
The case against
Midwife-led birth centres represent an evidence-based model employed successfully across many developed nations, with outcomes for low-risk pregnancies comparable to medicalised care. Infant mortality involves unavoidable complications; adverse outcomes do not automatically indicate negligence or wrongdoing. The charges reference procedural matters rather than clinical decision-making, and with clinical details sealed, the investigation risks conflating legitimate alternative practice with malpractice. Many clients testify to safe, satisfying experiences; alternative practitioners face documented bias within medical establishments, and this investigation may unfairly undermine a care model that many families genuinely prefer.