Exploring Life & Business with Althea Hrdlichka of Tender Gifts Birth & Wellness Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Althea Hrdlichka.

Hi Althea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a mother of four, I learned early on that the quality of my birth experiences was deeply tied to the support I received and how seen I felt as a woman—not just a “patient,” but a whole person. Each of my four births was different—ranging from hospital births to homebirth—and through those experiences, I discovered what was missing: a sense of respect, calm, and choice.

That realization shaped everything I’ve built since. I began my birth work journey in 2009, became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2016, and dedicated my life to helping families experience birth as something sacred and empowering, not clinical or rushed. At Tender Gifts, families aren’t treated as “patients” — they’re “clients” and partners in their own care, deserving of respect, autonomy, and individualized attention.

What began as homebirth work in Northern Colorado has now grown into something much larger. In 2020, I opened Tender Gifts Birth & Wellness Center in Fort Collins—the first and only CPM-owned free-standing birth center in the region. Now, I’m opening our second location in Grand Junction, expanding the vision to serve women and families across the Western Slope with the same holistic, personalized care that has defined Tender Gifts from the beginning.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering love and support of my husband and children, who have walked beside me through every long night, every birth, and every dream turned reality. It’s even better one a family affair! My son helps with financials sometimes with his best friend who’s our financial coordinator, and daughter and her friend is now interning with Tender Gifts, learning the ropes of birth work and leadership in addition she helped design the new birth center! My hope is that one day she will follow in my footsteps — whether as a midwife herself or in continuing to build and lead our centers with the same compassion and vision that built them.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the beauty of midwifery—and entrepreneurship—is that it’s never smooth, but it’s always meaningful. Someone once told me, “It’s the rocky road, not the smooth path, that leads to greatness.” That phrase captures this journey perfectly.

Being a midwife means showing up no matter what—through long births, sleepless nights, and the unpredictable rhythms of life and business. I’ve been stretched beyond comfort many times—as a mother raising four children, a leader managing growing teams, and a multi-business owner navigating regulations, finances, and construction projects that don’t always go as planned. There have been moments of deep faith-testing: securing funding for expansions, finding the right people who share our heart, and balancing the emotional weight of this sacred work.

Opening a second birth center has brought a whole new layer of challenges—traveling back and forth between centers, permits, architecture, state inspections, coordinating medical providers, and simply the patience it takes to build something the right way. Yet every obstacle reminds me why we do this: to create spaces where women feel safe, supported, and respected during one of the most transformative experiences of their lives.

Through all of it—financial uncertainty, exhaustion, or even moments of doubt—what keeps me grounded is knowing that this work is a calling, not just a career. I truly believe I’ve been placed in this field for a reason, and I remain open to being used wherever the Lord leads me. There’s peace in trusting that each step, even the hard ones, is part of a greater plan.

This path has demanded faith, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning and growing. I wouldn’t trade a single hard season, because each one has refined me—both as a midwife and as a woman with a mission to bring light, safety, and sacred care to birth.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m the solo founder of Tender Gifts Birth & Wellness Centers, a growing network of midwifery-led practices redefining maternity and women’s health care across Colorado. We offer holistic, relationship-based care that spans fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and family wellness. Our Fort Collins location opened in 2020 as Northern Colorado’s first free-standing birth center, and we’re now expanding to Grand Junction, creating a second center that blends clinical excellence with calm, home-like comfort.

What sets Tender Gifts apart is our collaborative and educational model — we’re not only a practice, but also a teaching facility, welcoming learners from high school internship programs to advanced clinical training for midwives and doulas. Our team includes Certified Professional Midwives, Certified Nurse Midwives, a full team of doulas, and Family Nurse Practitioners providing full-spectrum family primary care.

We’re known for our warmth, education, and commitment to informed choice. Our foundation is relationship and education. I’m most proud that the Tender Gifts name has come to represent trust, empowerment, and holistic excellence. As a serial entrepreneur, I’m continuing to expand this vision — building spaces, training programs, and a future foundation that ensure women and families everywhere have access to the care and support they deserve.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve always joked that I’m a bit of a serial entrepreneur — I see possibility everywhere, and I’m not afraid to take bold steps when I feel called to. For me, risk and faith go hand in hand.

Opening Northern Colorado’s first free-standing birth center was a huge leap — no blueprint, no guarantees, just conviction and a lot of hard work. Expanding into Grand Junction has been another major risk: bigger investment, bigger vision, and even bigger trust (quite the drive!) but it’s where I’m meant to be.

To me, risk isn’t recklessness — it’s purpose in motion. When you believe in what you’re building and stay rooted in your mission, even the hard parts become growth. I pray through every big decision and stay open to where the Lord leads. Every time I’ve stepped forward in faith, doors have opened that I could never have forced on my own. It is truly the most amazing thing to watch and experience!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tendergiftsmidwiferyandbirthcenter.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendergiftsbirth/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenderGiftsBirth