Choosing the right birth partner is essential for a positive and empowering pregnancy and birth experience. In Portland, OR, you’ll find a range of exceptional professionals—from certified nurse midwives to experienced doulas and top-tier medical centers—offering personalized care and compassionate support. Whether you’re seeking holistic prenatal care, hands-on labor assistance, or postpartum guidance, these trusted experts are here to help you navigate your journey into parenthood with confidence.
• Women’s Healthcare Associates (WHA) – Comprehensive Midwifery Practice
WHA has one of Oregon’s largest and most trusted midwifery teams, serving families across Portland, Tualatin, Oregon City, Newberg, and Hillsboro. Their midwives support a wide range of birth plans—from natural to epidural-assisted—and are known for truly listening and supporting moms’ choices.
Services: Prenatal care, hospital births, postpartum care, breastfeeding support, wellness care for women
• Legacy Midwives at Legacy Emanuel – Midwifery with Medical Integration
The midwifery team at Legacy Emanuel offers a holistic, family-centered approach to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care—all within the safety of a hospital setting. Known for their calming presence and support for unmedicated or low-intervention births, they also collaborate seamlessly with OBs for higher-risk pregnancies.
Services: Prenatal care, hospital-based birth, postpartum care, water birth options, VBAC support
• Birth First Doulas – Full-Spectrum Doula Care
Birth First Doulas is a collective of experienced birth and postpartum doulas who offer nurturing, hands-on support from pregnancy through the early days of parenting. With a deep understanding of Portland’s birth landscape, they help families navigate their options and birth with confidence.
Services: Birth doula support, postpartum doula care, childbirth education, birth photography, placenta encapsulation
• Glow Midwifery – Holistic Home Birth Care
Glow Midwifery specializes in intimate, individualized midwifery care for families planning home births. Their team of licensed midwives offers evidence-based guidance and warm, hands-on support through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, with a strong emphasis on informed choice.
Services: Prenatal care, home birth, postpartum visits, water birth, newborn exams
• OHSU Center for Women’s Health – Academic Excellence & Midwifery
OHSU’s midwives offer the best of both worlds: personalized midwifery care paired with access to the advanced resources of Oregon’s academic health center. Their collaborative model ensures continuity of care, even for families with evolving medical needs.
Services: Prenatal and postpartum care, labor and delivery support, VBAC, group prenatal visits, referrals for high-risk care
• Providence Portland Medical Center – Family-Centered Hospital Birth
Providence Portland offers a nurturing hospital birth experience with midwives and OBs working side-by-side. Known for their calm, respectful care and flexible birth plans, their maternity team supports everything from medicated births to low-intervention and water birth options.
Services: Labor and delivery, NICU access, breastfeeding support, postpartum recovery care
• Summit Birth – Birth Doula Support, Childbirth Classes, Car Seat Checks
Led by Jill Pullen, CD(DONA), CLC, CPST, Summit Birth Doula Services offers comprehensive support to families throughout the Portland area. Jill brings a wealth of experience, having supported over 130 births across various settings, including hospitals, birth centers, and home births. Her services encompass prenatal consultations, continuous labor support, postpartum follow-up, childbirth education, lactation counseling, and car seat safety checks. Jill’s approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and a deep commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that every family feels empowered and supported throughout their birthing journey.
“Hiring Jill was one of the absolute best things we did during my pregnancy… My husband and I describe her as a warm hug of a person you also don’t want to mess with, and in my opinion, that’s the perfect kind of person you want by your side during such a vulnerable time… We highly suggest connecting with Jill and recommend her 100 times over!”
Services: Birth doula support, prenatal consultations, postpartum follow-up, childbirth education, lactation counseling, car seat safety checks
• ItsaBelly – Comprehensive Birth and Postpartum Support, specializing in multiples
ItsaBelly is a dedicated team of birth and postpartum doulas serving families in Portland, Oregon, and surrounding areas. Their mission is to provide personalized, compassionate care tailored to each family’s unique needs. With a focus on inclusivity, many team members have personal experience with multiples and represent diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ communities. This diversity enables ItsaBelly to offer empathetic and specialized support to all families.
“ItsaBelly saved us! When our first child was born, we were immediately overwhelmed by the gravity of raising an infant.”
Services: Birth doula support, postpartum doula care, multiples care and education, childproofing services, parent classes, lactation counseling, car seat safety checks
• Wildwood Birth – Holistic Doula Collective
Wildwood Birth is a Portland-based doula collective offering compassionate, hands-on support through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Known for their calming presence and personalized care, their doulas help families feel informed, grounded, and empowered—whether you’re planning a home birth, hospital delivery, or something in between.
“The Wildwood team was a lifesaver for the birth of my second daughter. We asked for a lot of support days and they went above and beyond as a team to make sure we have the coverage we needed, and were so thoughtful about pairing us with people who fit our vibe at home.”
Services: Birth doula support, postpartum care, childbirth education, lactation guidance, and birth photography
• Bridgetown Baby – Inclusive Support for the First Year
Bridgetown Baby is a Portland-based collective of postpartum doulas and lactation consultants dedicated to nurturing families through the fourth trimester and beyond. Known for their compassionate, judgment-free care, their team helps parents navigate newborn care, feeding challenges, recovery, and emotional wellness with calm confidence. They also offer specialized support groups, including family-building and loss support.
“Having Bridgetown Baby’s postpartum doula support really helped – I was able to carve out time for myself and really listen to my body and my heart…”
Services: Postpartum doula support, lactation consulting, newborn care education, overnight care, emotional support groups, birth and family-building counseling, loss support
What to Look for in a Birth Partner
Finding the right birth partner—whether it’s a doula, midwife, or maternity care provider—isn’t just about credentials. It’s about trust, connection, and feeling truly supported through one of the most transformative experiences of your life. Here are a few things to consider:
✔ A provider or doula who respects your birth preferences and helps you feel empowered in your choices
✔ Experience supporting the type of birth you envision—whether that’s unmedicated, medicated, hospital-based, or home birth
✔ Positive reviews and testimonials from other families about feeling safe, calm, and well-cared for
✔ Clear communication and availability—especially during labor, when things can shift quickly
✔ A warm, grounded presence that helps you feel calm, confident, and supported throughout your journey into parenthood
Embrace Your Journey with the Right Birth Partner
Selecting the right birth partner is key to creating a positive and empowering pregnancy journey. In the Portland, OR area, you’ll find professionals offering expert, compassionate, and personalized care. Whether you’re planning a home birth, water birth, or a holistic hospital experience, these trusted partners are here to support and guide you every step of the way.
Before your baby arrives, ensure you’re prepared with the education and support you deserve. Register for New Mom School’s 8-week newborn class for expert advice and a supportive community. Pre-register today to ease your transition into motherhood.