Both an Oregon and California Licensed Direct-Entry Midwife, and Certified Professional Midwife. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Holistic Midwifery. She is trained in neonatal resuscitation, IV therapy, and suturing. In addition, she is an herbalist and massage therapist. Ellie was initially trained in the apprenticeship model and believes in carrying on this valuable tradition. Therefore, she provides apprenticeship training and has taught Gynecology, Hematology and Basic Skills for the last 7 years at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon. Ellie has been attending births for more than 17 years and has served over 600 women and their families. She is licensed in Oregon and California. She specializes in vaginal birth after cesarean VBAC, herbalism and gynecological care.
"I started my path as a licensed massage therapist. I soon added herbalism as a specialty attending a school for herbalism and undergoing an apprenticeship. During this time I began to have more contact with pregnant women, doing a lot of pregnancy massage and getting invited to attend births as a labor coach. I added doula training to my studies, and attended home and hospital births. I soon found it very hard to support women's wishes and the natural birth process in the hospital environment so I accepted the calling to be a midwife. I attended the Oregon School of Midwifery and received my bachelor's degree in Holistic Midwifery at New College in California. I trained under a traditional midwife whose approach to birth taught me patience and faith in the birth process and in women's ability to give birth. I am licensed in California and joined a busy practice attending eight to twelve births a month. At the same time I had a GYN practice for three years doing birth control exams, infection checks and treatment, ultrasounds, and lab work. I opened my own practice in California for two years and then chose to move to Portland and started practicing in 2002 and have attended several hundred families in the area."
"I am a mother, wife and midwife. I understand and have experience as a midwife and woman with many different aspects of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I had my son Morgan in 2006 I labored at home with him but he was a shoulder presentation and I transported to the hospital for an emergency cesearean. I had a home birth after cesarean HBAC/VBAC with my daughter Lavender in August of 2010."
She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She is also a Teaching assistant at the local midwifery college, teaching student midwives IV skills, blood draws and gynecology skills. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 2005 to become a homebirth midwife. She was trained as an apprentice as part of her Certification in Midwifery from Birthingway College of Midwifery. Currently, she is completing requirements for Oregon state licensure. She is a certified doula (labor coach) and has been attending births since 1998. She specializes in guided relaxations and support for postpartum depression.
“In the ten years since attending my first birth, I have read, investigated and sought out hands-on participation in all the mysteries of fertility, pregnancy and birth. My work began in California where I trained as a doula, helping women have their birth their way. I advocate for informed choice. I believe we have the right to make personal choices for our health care. Families make better decisions when they understand the implications of all choices available. My backround in women’s healthcare includes working at an infertility clinic, counseling pregnant and parenting teens, and offer free labor support in several hospitals.”
“As a hospital doula, I met with women during their pregnancy offering childbirth information, pregnancy photographs, help with breastfeeding, and new mother support. I am always there with and open heart and hands to hold.” “Childbirth is both a natural event on the continuum of a woman’s life and a portal to the mysteries of the universe. I believe the midwifery model of health care is the best way to begin for both parent and child. Incorporating touch, minimizing intervention and eliciting personal responsibility supports positive childbirth outcomes.”Sahara has completed her studies at Birthingway College of midwifery and is receiving a bachelors of science in midwifery. During her time at Birthingway she has been trained in IV skills, CPR, neonatal resuscitation, blood draws, well woman care and received a well-rounded understanding of the child bearing years.
She is an herbalist and studied at Columbine’s School of Botanical Medicine and Blue Iris Botanicals as well as with other respected herbalists. She has focused on native plants as well as traditional herbalism and enjoys incorporating herbs in her midwifery practice. She is the creator of Tigerlily Botanicals, making natural herbal remedies for mothers and babies.
In 2000 she completed a doula course and shortly after attended her first home birth with a traditional midwife. She immediately knew that’s how she wanted to practice and began to pursue her path in midwifery. Since then she has attended many births. She has also provided post partum care to new families at a local birth center gaining experience in newborn care and interned at a local clinic providing well woman care. She has been an advocate for women’s health and works towards increasing access to midwifery care for all families. She has an ever growing passion for serving women and families and providing attentive, compassionate and individualized care.She would be honored to be part of your family’s birth experience.