Frequently Asked Questions

Opened in 1998, Andaluz is the longest continually operating free-standing birth center in the state of Oregon. Our midwives collectively have over 40 years of experience!

Continuity of care is of utmost importance to us. Clients meet with all three of our midwives for prenatal visits. That means that when you go into labor, midwives who you have already had a chance to build a relationship with will be there for you to help you welcome your baby into the world.

We also provide a uniquely blended style of care that incorporates the best of modern evidence based medicine with traditional treatments and remedies to offer you truly holistic experience.

We feel that continuity of care is important. You will have a team of three midwives. Your team will care for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum, and during your prenatal visits you will have a choice to get to know all three of your midwives. During birth, you can expect to be cared for by one or two of your midwives, as well as a birth assistant. Our midwife team consists of a multidisciplinary mix of CPMs and CNMs.

Midwives are healthcare providers for pregnant people and infants and have been integral in providing prenatal, birth, and postpartum care for hundreds of years across the world. Midwives are experts in normal birth, and midwifery is the art of safeguarding the natural process of pregnancy, labor and birth.

Midwifery is recognized as an empowering model of maternity care that is client-centered with an emphasis on informed choice and shared decision-making, and is supportive of the pregnant person’s right to give birth in a setting of their choice.

The Midwifery Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The application of this family-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Compared to standard medical management, the Midwifery Model of Care is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth which includes:

• Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing year

• Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, continuous care during labor, delivery, and postpartum

• Minimizing technological interventions

• Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention

Our team of experienced midwives include both CPMs (Certified Professional Midwives) and CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives). CPMs have completed direct-entry midwifery education and have experience-based training in birth outside of hospital settings. CNMs are nurses with additional education in midwifery who are trained in hospital settings, but may choose to practice outside of the hospital.

Our birth center is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC). All of our midwives are licensed by North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and also licensed by the state of Oregon.

We can safely care for most people with low risk pregnancies, including those hoping for a VBAC. At your first appointment with your midwife, your medical history and records will be discussed to ensure you meet the criteria required for care at the birth center. If you have any specific questions about your eligibility you can email us any time.

Start with scheduling a free tour by calling us at (503) 885-0228, or sending us an email.

At the tour you and your partner can view our birth rooms in person and get answers to your questions. After the tour you will connect with your team of midwives for prenatal care.

Yes! Around 75% of births at our center happen in our deep and spacious birth tubs, which accommodate movement and position changes while providing pain relief and encouraging relaxation. We lead Oregon professionals with our experience and skill in waterbirth. Click here for more information about the benefits of waterbirth.

Having a baby is a highly personal experience and we feel you should be able to share it with anyone you choose. This may include your partner or other primary support persons, as well as a doula, children, other relatives, and friends. Your support team is welcome to join you in the birth room, and may actively participate in the birth experience. We ask that if you have children present at the birth that you have a support person other than your partner to care for them.

You will stay at the birth center for several hours until you and your baby are stable. The postpartum stay typically lasts from 6-12 hours, during which time you can establish breastfeeding, bond with your baby, rest, have a soothing herbal bath, and receive a delivered meal from a local restaurant of your choosing.

We do not separate families from their babies. We believe that the first hours after birth are important for bonding and establishing a good breastfeeding relationship. We postpone doing a newborn exam until an hour or two after the birth and many things done in this exam may be performed while the baby is in your arms.

Following birth, primary care is offered for families and newborns for up to 6 weeks. Postpartum check-ins typically occur at 24-48 hours, 1 week , 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks.

Postpartum care plans can be modified for your individual needs.

Of course, your midwives are available for you 24 hours a day by phone for any questions or concerns you have between visits about you or your baby.

We will do a thorough newborn exam within the first few hours after birth. We will provide you with information regarding Oregon requirements for newborns, such as antibiotic ointment for baby’s eyes, newborn metabolic screenings, newborn hearing screenings, and Vitamin K injections. If you accept these treatments, they can be done at the birth center.

Our midwives provide well-baby care through the first six weeks after birth. The midwives are available for questions in those early weeks regarding your healing and your baby’s health. You may also bring your baby to the birth center for ongoing breastfeeding support and weight checks.

We recommend that you choose a family practice physician, naturopathic physician, or pediatrician for your baby by two months of age. We provide a list of supportive providers that see our clients, or you can make an appointment with our staff Naturopathic Physician.

Our midwives are trained to handle emergency situations. Our birth center has medications and necessary equipment on hand to treat common complications. We also partner with area hospitals for consultations and emergency care.

If you need medical intervention beyond what we can provide at the birth center, we will transport you to a nearby hospital. Your midwife will accompany you to the hospital to facilitate a smooth transfer of care. Our transport rate during labor is just under 12%, and most of these transports are non-urgent.

Most insurance companies reimburse midwives and birth center claims. If you’d like a verification of your insurance benefits, with an out-of- pocket cost for care estimate with us, call or email us and our billing team will contact your insurance directly.

Our experienced billing team knows the right questions to ask and will break down your benefits in a way that is easy for you to understand. Our billing team is also available throughout and after your care to explain any issues or questions that may arise regarding the financial portion of our services.

Our birth center charges a $200 registration fee to help us remain sustainable and cover administration costs. Insurance does not cover this fee.

Insurance also does not cover the use of nitrous oxide in labor. If you are interested in using nitrous for pain management during birth, please ask our front desk about pricing.