Midwives in Portland, OR

Okay. I am going to try not to write a novel but I could talk about this for hours. I will make it very brief. Sarah was a hospital birth with midwives and a doula. She was also a VBAC which I fought long and hard for. Her birth was beautiful but she a lso at some point (no one knows how or why) lost oxygen. Some parts of her brain died. We spent a week at the children's hospital getting MRIs and 18 months giving her very powerful seizure meds. My worries went from cloth diapers and breastfeeding to will my child walk or talk on her own. It was a very dark time in my life and a lot of feelings around the fact that I had fought for a vaginal birth and, in effect, made my child disabled. But here is what I have learned. I made the best decision with the information I had at the time. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't the midwives fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. I am part of an amazing community of moms who's kids lost oxygen during birth. They are incredible people (and their children are amazing) and they all have different birth experiences. Some had home births, most had hospital births. Some had elective c-sections (yes. Brain damage and death can happen from C-sections too). Everyone blames themselves for a while, wishing they made different choices. But the sad truth is that shit happens. No one asks for their kids to be in danger. Everyone just does the best they can. I know some moms who had their second child at home after a traumatic birth at the hospital. Everyone gets to make their own choices. I love my friend Karissa's blog which talks about her decision to have another home birth after her first (which ended at the hospital). http://amazingjoshua.blogspot.com.au/.../birth-choices.html

To Amanda Graham 's point, regardless of method, there is no such thing as risk free in anything. And considering that the human race managed to drag itself into the 20 th century, mainly arriving with midwives and little else, I think its a little too e asily dismissed. For our kids, the medical interventions were needed. Abby was known a couple weeks out. We had a doula for James but Janet called an audible when the due date slipped past which in the end was the right call.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/.../j.1523-536X.../abstract

http://www.cmaj.ca/content/181/6-7/377.full.pdf+html

Chris Boreen is a naturapath and attends births. Rebecca Parker is a CNM who does home births and practices holistically.

Hi Stephanie, I have a friend that had a midwife that took payments I think. I had Chris Boreen for my first son and she had to have another midwife to actually birth and she attended. I didn't care for the midwife that she worked with, so I ended up having my son at the Natural Childbirth and Clinic up on 102 and NE Wasco. I used Dr. Ed Hoffman Smith and he is just awesome. I am not sure about the card situation through, I had an open OHP card.

http://oregonmidwiferycouncil.org/wp/?page_id=48. This organization was at our health fair and may be a good resource. Wonderful women. Also ICTC, http://www.ictcmidwives.org/aboutus.html

1. Join the Tongue & Lip tie support Australia. They are amazing support. They have provider lists. My daughter just had her ULT & posterior tie done on fri privately. To have private with no insurance is $60 consult & $250 for upper lip tie. If need p osterior which often do it's another $250. I saw Dr Mody in Woodvale. They do payment plans too. Also talk to Del Smith Ibclc lactation consultant in perth she is amazing for advice & will refer you to other people. Please get it done by recommends person in the list as they don't always laser enough off & you don't want to be doing it again. http:// www.woodvaleparkdental.com.au/our-practice/meet-dr-mody/

1. Also check this info out on upper lip ties & tongue ties. He is the guru on all related. http://www.drghaheri.com/.../diagnosing-tongue-tie-in-a... Beware your paediatrician as many aren't trained well enough to pick up & identify the Ties. My daughters was severe & missed by 2 paediatricians & 2 nurses. Do your research. It pays off.

1. Dr Russell-smith Kwinana medical centre Did my boy at 1 week tongue and upper lip and bulk billed.

1. We used Perth ENT Dr Bilish he was great it only cost us around $300 I think.

Wait, they're anti-midwife because of the *cost*? Compared to a hospital, I imagine it's cheaper, right? What is the even cheaper option the S-I-L has in mind? A hobo under a bridge?

Go to Alma on SE 17 th and Ankeny. They'll sit down with you or your sister or whomever, talk you through it, give you the gist of it, etc. My son was born there and it was a great experience all around. I think it cost $5400, but that was 2007 dollars.

Alma definitely offers doula services, but the doula at my son's birth was fantastic: Regina at A Gentle Beginning: http://www.agentlebeginning.com/your-midwives.asp If the mother has health insurance, yeah paying for a doula is just going to cost more than whatever it cost before. However, since they can help you advocate for yourself they can do a lot for the experience. Also, it's a supportive role so if your SO's sister isn't into it, it's not really going to help.

You can check out some of the resource links at Birthingway College of Midwifery (just google their website), they have a doula program and one of the course requirements for students is acting as a doula for a few patients for free, to gain experience. My roommate attends the college for their lactation consultant program and it seems like a good school, it's very thorough in what they teach, so I'd bet their doula's in training would still be a tremendous help.

Many of the hospitals have partnerships with doulas in training...OHSU was my experience. Just ask your OBGYN if they have any info. Also, OHSU and I think maybe Providence have midwife program. The baby is born in a hospital with all of the amenities of a hospital (access to pain killers, doctors, NICU services) but, you have the support of a midwife for the duration of labor. Best news is that most insurances with cover the costs because it is a program offered by the hospital. FYI, I didn't know this before having a baby, but once the baby is born, the hospital and the insurance will bill any care for the child to the child. Many insurances require that you meet the deductible for the child before they cover costs. Just something to plan for. Happy Baby!!!

Just want to say, I contacted a Portland non-profit - http://pdxdoulas.org/ - that was super helpful. They answered all my questions, and were nice enough to help me find exactly what I was looking for in the budget I had available. Their focus is on OHSU, but even though sister-in-law is not having her baby there, they went above and beyond to help me out.

Keisar-Permanente has a great nurse midwife program at Sunnyside Hospital.

Check Sistamidwife site for a listing and the ictcmidwives.org. There are ICTC Full Circle Doulas trained in Ohio. Email doulas@ictcmidwives.org for the request.

Kate Howe has a lady that she LOVES. Calls her the tooth midwife.

Not sure what tooth midwife is but I recently did a Yelp video for Dr Wiley and got a very good vibe from him and his staff: http://www.yelp.com/biz/wiley-david-dds-portland

Dr John Duncan is super sweet. His office staff can be a little off putting but he's a sweetheart. I found the same problem with OHP dental.

I get free dental but used to go to Pacific Dental Group on 5707 N Interstate Ave. Very nice Asian couple with very fair prices.

Dr. Mellum in St. John's. And, he takes payments!

Dr Denise Walthour on SE Powell. She is incredibly kind. When I knocked out a tooth on a Friday and the lab said they couldn't have a new one ready for a week, she made one herself at home that night and me meet her on Saturday at the closed office to fit it. I've loved her ever since.

We like dr Wagner (Wagner family dentistry). I've never had a big procedure there, but when my kid was scheduled for sealants I was nervous and one of his staff talked to me about it for a long time and even went and looked up all the ingredients in the epoxy and went through them with me over the phone to help me. Dr Wagner is very calm and all the hygienists are sweet and friendly. They're on ne 28 th near burnside.

I just saw Dr. Delong at Mint last minute for a tooth emergency on a Friday. They were super gentle and so kind! I'm super bummed they are out of network for us or I'd keep going there! They offer you a warm lavender neck pillow so it's almost like going to a spa for your teeth! Lots if crunchy mamas recommended them!

Kate's dentist is Anna Knecht. She is very nice, but doesn't do everything. Also only allows pymt plans once you've been a patient there for awhile. But Kate has literally described her as a tooth midwife before

I always thought Dr Tinkle was a urologist!

George Brant in Portland is awesome. And he takes payments...

Laurel Kitten is an absolutely amazing doula and support in the whole process- i really recommend getting in touch with her~ and congratulations on this beautiful revelation!

Dr. Vanessa Anderson. You will love her. She is a naturopath midwife specializing in children and women's care.

Liz Robinson. she is great!

I second Joy Jech! Beautiful birth warrior!!! I had the pleasure of having her at one birth as an apprentice and my last (VBAC) as a midwife.

I know several ND midwives. I don't have their contact info easily to hand (traveling, writing on phone) but you should easily find them via google search: Dr. Karen DeWitt is one, Dr. Carolyn Nygaard is another. I can come up with more names, if you need them. Congratulations!

Joy Jech true beauty

Elli Legare was my midwife delivered both River and Cypress I love her she is amazing. Excellent in emergency situations she saved River's life I had a shoulder distocia she was calm and a rockstar I think you would love her personality

Catherine Schaefer midwife and ND:)) she delivered our Austin in home.

Check out Andaluz Birth Center. Jennifer Gallardo is great!

I used providence and absolutely loved my experience. Loved these midwives http://oregon.providence.org/location-directory/p/providence-women-s-clinic-east-portland/

I used Vivante Midwifery, they are homebirth midwives and fully backed up at OHSU, their lead CNM is on the teaching staff there. They can help you navigate all the hesitant questions about homebirth and have hour-long appointments, giving you so much freedom and information to make educated science-based decisions for your prenatal care and birth experience.

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Please email me at christabillings@yahoo.com & I will discuss with you. ~Christa ICAN of Portland Chapter Leader

Ellie LeGare Right at Home Midwifery

+1 for Sara Ohgushi. We had our 2 cd at home with Dr. Sara.

I really like Jen Gibbons! She is a midwife and natropath

Alexandra Demetro!

Dana or Adelle Andaluz Waterbirth Center! Or any of them!

Kelli McIntosh with Full Bloom Midwifery. My Midwife and dear friend, I love her!!

Any of the midwives at Alma Alma Midwifery. They are all awesome.

Sacred Passages!

Dr Sara Ohgushi. She's a midwife and ND. You get wonderful prenatal care, a home birth, and can chose to see her for pediatric care as well.

Mau and Sasha ex-East Winders lived in Doniphan and ran the Golden Light Clinic in Doniphan and West Plains.

Sasha Daucus can speak more on this topic!

Mau and Tae delivered Erin July 1980. Terry was Mau's first underwater birth in May 1986.

It sounds like Dream worked with East Wind in about 1995. That was after Mau was working with East Wind as a midwife.

Diane Philipps was Juli Von Zur Muehlen and Rachael Dawn McKeethen 's midwife, and mine after I left community...

Golden Light?

Have you researched any midwife practices linked to a local hospital? I'm seeing a practice (up here obviously) that is 5 midwives that deliver at the hospital and have had AMAZING care (my first time seeing a midwife instead of an OB). I've been very happy and have noticed a huge difference in quality of the care!!!

Shelia Maia?

Sarah Jane Wright??

Hmarie Benson?

Is Good Sam too far for you? There's an awesome OB practice, called Bridgeview, I've worked with Dr. Murray and Dr. Miles a lot and really enjoy them. OHSU has some great midwives, Michelle LeChance is one of my favorites and Linda Glenn is intense, but has a good reputation. The challenge is that there are quite a lot of CNMs in that practice so it's fairly unlikely you'd have your chosen provider for delivery.

Yolanda Visser is an amazing midwife. She guided us through the home birth of our son about a year ago. She's amazing:)

Birth Song Midwifery, her office is in GR but she does a lot in Holland.