Author Alice Walker once said, “how we come into this world, how we are ushered in, met, hopefully embraced upon our arrival, impacts the whole of our time on this Earth.” We find this to be true at the birth center and it inspires the care we provide every day. After a high-risk pregnancy, hospital birth, and challenging breastfeeding journey with her first child, Jessa knew she wanted a birth center experience for her second child. She was looking for a calm and relaxed environment with minimal medical interventions. When Jessa toured Our Community Birth Center, she knew she had

For Kelsey’s first pregnancy, she wanted the support of a midwife and doula and she was interested in a home birth. Because she lives rurally, Kelsey decided that the birth center was a better fit for her so that she could be closer to a hospital just in case. While researching options, Kelsey was excited to learn that Our Community Birth Center provides a home-like option with Certified Nurse Midwives, childbirth prep classes, lactation support, postpartum home visits, and opportunities to build community with other parents. She was also encouraged to hear that birth center parents get uninterrupted skin-to- skin

Long before I was ever pregnant, I knew exactly how I would birth my baby. I always believed I would have a water birth, do it with little to no intervention, and without pain management drugs. When my husband and I found out we were expecting, we were overjoyed. Also, immediately overwhelmed with having to make a care provider choice. I talked to some girlfriends at work and was recommended to an obstetrician group. For the first seven months, I received care at a busy office with a large waiting room. With many receptionists and patients coming and going, the

Congratulations to Bethany and Mike on their new baby and birth center birth this month! Bethany is our first client to give birth at Our Community Birth Center who was a previous client of the Nurse Midwifery Birth Center. Baby Reilly is enjoying lots of snuggles at home from his parents and three siblings. By the way, postpartum homevisits are absolute cuteness overload when the big siblings (including the toddler) help out the midwife. This birth was also special because Bethany finally got the waterbirth she had been wanting in her previous pregnancies!

Sarah moved through her labor with so much patience and strength. It was long and exhausting, but even after several hours you would not have guessed what she had been through by her calm and determined expression. After we used all the strategies and tools at Our Community Birth Center, a few times over, Sarah gracefully accepted the tools available at the hospital and the thoughtful care of McKenzie Midwives. When we arrived at the hospital her unwavering strength continued as she walked down multiple long hallways at 8 cm dilation until arriving to her birth room. Sometimes an epidural

We've been busy and have a bit of catch up to do on sharing birth announcements! Birth doesn't always end up being at the birth center, but we still count each family and baby as part of our community and we provide the same postpartum care and support for the parents and baby after birth Thank you to Sumi and Dylan for sharing photos and this story of their experience! "When we initially made our decisions regarding care and birth location, Our Community Birth Center was not yet open, but when it did open we decided to switch from our

Parents Morgan and Monte welcomed Baby Kane into the world earlier this week at Our Community Birth Center! Morgan had been planning to give birth at the birth center since we broke ground on our remodel back in summer 2021. Despite going 11 days past her due date, Morgan persevered and had a beautiful and empowering birth center birth just like she had hoped for. We comfortably fit 8 people in our birth room to support Morgan's labor and birth! Afterwards Morgan said that each support person was there at just the right moment when she needed them to help

We are overjoyed to share news of the first baby born at Our Community Birth Center last week! Meet baby Zion and his amazing mom Lindsey. Zion was born in the birth pool (we love our birth center pool so much!). We've already done two postpartum homevisits to check in on the family and Zion is thriving and adorable.

Even though I started my birth center experience late into my pregnancy (we moved to Oregon when I was six months along), I was instantly put at ease by the intimacy of the birth center and the genuine attentiveness of the midwives. I vividly remember being so surprised when a midwife called me (on a Friday evening!) to discuss lab test results. I appreciated not only the personal attention to this borderline issue, but also the birth center’s approach, which was to monitor rather than jump to a diagnosis. Everything resolved on its own and I am so thankful for the midwives walking with me on the

At the birth center, I never felt rushed and the midwives always took time to talk to me about my life, my work, and my general state of mind, not just the fact that I was going to have a baby. What I really remember most fondly about seeing the midwives is laughing. I genuinely enjoyed my appointments and I looked forward to them. Even though I saw quite a few different midwives, I felt like I got to develop a real connection with each one." - Sheela Bora Hadjivassiiliou Photos of Sheela, Greg, and Demetri  

I chose the birth center during pregnancy with my first child, and it was the best decision I could have made. The space was always so welcoming and home-like, which immediately put me at ease, but more importantly, were the midwives and nurses who I got to know so well throughout my pregnancy. I really enjoyed working with each and every one of them and looked forward to my appointments. I ended up having some complications during my 3rd trimester, and the midwives went above and beyond to let me know they were there for me. There were many things