Lane County
Midwives

Licensed Homebirth Midwives serving Lane County, Oregon. Offering waterbirth, VBAC and natural childbirth, all in the comfort of your own home.

ABOUT US

At the core of our philosophy is the belief that every pregnant mother and parent possesses an innate ability to care for their baby. We strongly advocate for shared decision-making, empowering parents with informed consent throughout their journey.

Our expertise lies in supporting low-risk, healthy pregnant people who desire the intimate and nurturing environment of a home birth. With a passion for creating a safe and personalized birthing experience, we strive to ensure the well-being of both parents and baby by staying up to date on the most current evidence based practices, paired with a holistic approach and preventitive care.

Christy Pellicer is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and an Oregon Licensed Midwife (LDM). She attended Florida State University and The Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. She felt called to become a midwife after the transformational home birth of her daughter, Juniper. Christy has been practicing midwifery in Oregon since 2016. She was the regional representative for the Oregon Midwifery Council from 2018-2024. Christy lives with her husband and two teenagers on a small family farm a bit south of Eugene, Oregon. She enjoys hiking, yoga, reading multiple books at a time, and all things gardening, canning and pickling.

Lydia Douglas (Martinez) is a dedicated Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and Licensed Direct Entry Midwife (LDM) based in Eugene, Oregon. With several years of experience as a licensed midwife, I am committed to providing inclusive prenatal and midwifery care to individuals from all walks of life.

She serves as the Regional Representative for the Oregon Midwifery Council, helping to support and elevate midwifery care across the state.

She lives in Eugene and loves spending time with her 3 children - riding bikes, cooking and playing board games.

Lane County Midwives LLC

Homebirth Midwives serving Eugene, Oregon and surrounding areas.

Prenatal Care

Midwifery-led care operates on a schedule that mirrors that of an OB's office, ensuring you receive the best care. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

We'll start off with an initial appointment. The first appointment is usually about 1.5 hours, giving you all the time you need to ask questions and to review your health history and needs/wants for this pregnancy and birth. Following that, we'll meet every 4 weeks during the first and second trimesters. As you reach the 28-week mark, we'll meet every 2 weeks, ensuring we stay closely connected. When you hit the home stretch at 36 weeks, we'll meet weekly to check on both you and baby.

During each prenatal appointment, we will spend about an hour together. We'll be there to check your vitals, carefully listen to your baby's heartbeat using a fetoscope or doppler, and address any concerns you may have. If lab work is needed, I can conveniently draw your labs either at your place or my office. As for ultrasounds, they'll be ordered and done at Maternal Fetal Medicine in Springfield. I actively encourage older children and other family members to join in on appointments. Their involvement is invaluable, and I'm here to ensure everyone feels engaged and supported throughout this special time.

We also offer prenatal care to those desiring to birth at the hospital, feel free to reach out for more info.

Homebirth

We provide personalized midwifery care in the comfort of your own home. We attend every birth with a trained assistant or 2nd midwife. During labor, you are free to eat, walk, rest, hydrate, or do whatever makes you comfortable, whether it's dancing, napping or watching TV.

Throughout the process, we closely monitor both you and your baby, checking vital signs and intermittently listening to the baby's heartbeat. We routinely provide delayed cord clamping (we often cut the cord after the birth of the placenta). After the birth, we conduct a thorough examination of your baby. We will weigh and measure, and do a complete head-to-toe exam to ensure your baby is assembled properly. Once everyone is stable and ready for a well-deserved nap, we'll tuck you into bed, clean our equipment, and head home. The next day, we return for routine postpartum care to ensure your recovery is going smoothly.

Postpartum Care

Midwives truly excel in providing exceptional postpartum care, setting us apart from OBs. During the first week after birth, you can expect to see us three times, all in the cozy comfort of your own home. At each visit, we make sure to check the vital signs of both mom and baby, perform weight checks for the little one, and provide any necessary support for breastfeeding. If any breastfeeding complications arise that need extra expertise, we will gladly refer you to one the incredible lactation consultants in our community.

We see you on day 1 (24-36 hours postpartum), day 3, and day 7 right at your home. At 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks, at our office. If a pap smear is required, we can take care of that at the 6-week postpartum visit.

We will be here every step of the way to ensure your postpartum journey is smooth, comfortable, and well-supported.

"I believe with my whole heart that Lydia was put on this planet to do exactly what she did for us. Help mothers deliver new souls into this world. I would recommend Lydia to anyone and everyone that is seeking a home birth."
- Damien, an anxious dad

Pricing

For folks with private insurance or without insurance, our total global fee is $6,200. A non-refundable $500 deposit is required at your second prenatal visit. We are out-of-network providers with all insurance companies (except medicaid).

We encourage clients to work with a third party biller if they choose to pursue reimbursement through their insurance. We can also provide a superbill at the end of care, that you can submit to insurance on your own.

Covered services include:

- Prenatal care (scheduled and emergent appointments), birth services (regardless of how long the birth takes), postpartum care and lactation support.

- Newborn metabolic screening kit.

- Birth kit containing essential disposable supplies for birth (chux pads, gloves, cord clamps, sitz bath herbs, peri bottle, postpartum pads, etc.)

* Please note that lab work is typically covered by insurance. However, if it isn't, the lab will send a bill directly to the patient. Additionally, ultrasounds and fees associated with consultations or appointments at other providers offices are not covered.

*No refunds given after 36 weeks gestation, regardless of location of delivery.

If you have any further questions or need clarification, please reach out to info@lanecountymidwives.com. We are here to help you navigate the financial aspects of your care and ensure transparency throughout the process. If you are experiencing financial hardship and need to work out a payment plan beyond the birth of your baby, we do offer payment plan options on a case-by-case basis. Don't hesitate to give us a call to chat about your needs.

What if there's an emergency?

We completely understand that the question of what happens in case of complications is a valid concern for many parents. Ensuring the safety of your baby and yourself is always our top priority. Extensive research supports the safety of out-of-hospital births with trained and licensed professionals, but emergencies can still occur. That's where our expertise comes into play.

As licensed midwives in Oregon, we're equipped with life-saving medications. We carry essentials like Pitocin, Misoprostol, Methergine, along with other supplies like IV fluids, oxygen, antibiotics, suturing materials, and equipment for newborn resuscitation if needed.

We renew our Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification and CPR training every other year, as required by our licenses.

With thorough training and experience, we are well-equipped to handle various birth emergencies, including managing shoulder dystocia, hemorrhage, and helping babies breathe. During labor, we closely monitor both the parent and baby, keeping an eye out for any signs that may indicate something isn't quite right. If a situation arises that goes beyond the scope of home midwifery practice, we will facilitate a smooth transfer to a hospital where a higher level of care can be provided.

Our goal is to ensure a safe and supportive experience for you throughout your entire birthing journey.

Your safety and the well-being of your baby are always our highest priority. Our goal is to provide excellent midwifery care, regardless of location of delivery.