Allegra lilly, LDM, CPM

What an amazing journey pregnancy and birth can be! Becoming a parent for the first time or welcoming another member into your family is an extraordinary event. Ever since birth work drew me in I have fallen in love with it more and more. I love building relationships with clients before their big day, helping families to make informed evidence-based decisions about their care, supporting women, clients, partners and families through birth and helping them to adapt to life with a new baby.

I found my passion for midwifery through hearing my mother recount her birth stories as a young child. Through her stories I realized that she encountered interventions, providers she did not know and routine care that she did not need for a safe and healthy birth. During my childhood I also had the privilege of knowing a community midwife in Portland, Oregon who ignited my curiosity about empowering women and others during their pregnancies, births and postpartum experiences. As I entered into adulthood these stories and influences sparked a passion in me and I knew that I wanted to be a midwife! After traveling the United States from 2008-2011 with my husband, I returned home ready to sink my feet into birth work.

In 2012 I began my education at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, OR. While in my first year at midwifery school, I completed doula certification and started attending births. In 2015 I began my midwifery apprenticeship at Alma Midwifery serving families having home births and birth center births. I was fortunate to learn under many amazing midwives here. As my apprenticeship came to an end I was invited to stay on as an assistant midwife where I continued to gain experience and work alongside my mentors. 

All three of my children were born at home. Two in water and my last on land. Each of their births was profound and powerful- reminding me that my body was capable of such beautiful feats, strength and softness.

I am a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and a Licensed Midwife in the state of Oregon (LDM), a member of the Oregon Midwifery Council (OMC) and maintain certifications in Neonatal Resuscitation, adult CPR and Legend Drugs and Devices (LD&D)

I believe having a midwife or dedicated support person through each step of your care and birth can greatly improve your journey as you navigate through labor and the transition into parenthood. I believe you are strong and capable of anything and deserve someone dedicated to helping you accomplish the birth experience you desire. I deeply believe women and all birthing people deserve respect, autonomy and non-bias treatment through their medical care experience. Birth is a unique, life-changing event for every woman and client who journeys through it’s unfolding. It is with great gratitude and excitement that I look forward to meeting you and supporting you on the journey ahead!

amber wells, assistant midwife

My journey towards midwifery can only be described as serendipitous. I had my first born son in a hospital with a Certified Nurse Midwife and the empowerment I felt after his birth moved me and continues to change my life. Making the decision to go with a midwife for our first pregnancy happened simply by chance. After several attempts of conception through intrauterine insemination, it was a midwife who I went in to see because of the lack of availability in an entire practice of OB/GYNs, immediately highlighting one of the special pieces to midwifery care. Continuing with that midwife really opened my eyes to the down to earth, comfortable and hands-off birthing experience that can be provided by a midwife, which I strongly believe is the best approach to birthing. Upon moving to Oregon 3.5 years ago from Alaska, where I was born and raised, I toiled with the idea of becoming a midwife myself. The decision would not come easy to me as I already have a background in construction, having gone through a five year apprenticeship to become a licensed electrician and now with a total of 14 years in the trade. Furthermore, in a time when I was seriously considering pursuing midwifery I tragically lost a baby who, late in my pregnancy, was diagnosed with trisomy 13; in my grief I questioned everything. However, it was the nurse who was there for me that day that I kept thinking about. I want to be there for other families like she was there for me and mine. Eventually, it got to a point where I couldn’t ignore the signs. They say midwifery is a calling and I had to follow mine through. I began by reading anything midwifery-related that I could get my hands on through the local library. Eventually friends and family were gifting me more books. I started volunteering at St. Charles in Bend and have been there over two years working in Family Birthing Center and the NICU in multiple positions. I met Allegra at a community baby shower and jokingly asked her if she needed an apprentice and, to my surprise, she said yes. I couldn’t believe it! Despite being pregnant with my third at that time I started by doing prenatal and postpartum appointments with Allegra and have supported her in many births since.

In working with Allegra I have validated my love for midwifery. I have made huge goals for myself and believe the challenges I will face will be worth it. Every woman deserves the opportunity to make decisions about their birth and should feel fully supported in her decisions. I am preparing to apply to the nursing program at COCC this spring with the long term goal of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife.

When I am not busy chasing my dreams I enjoy playing ice hockey, snowboarding and road cycling. I also look forward to attending live concerts again.

Ellen morningstar, student midwife

Speed Dating Format: For you "straight to the point" personality types.

Ellen. Student Midwife. Filmmaker Extraordinaire. Nitty Gritty Birth Photographer. Wife. Mother. Friend. Homebirther. Funny Farm Have'r. Boots. Buckles. Enneagram 2 (if you're into that). Deep Feeler. The "lay it on me thick" Conversationalist. Bodily Autonomy Soldier. Hype Woman. Tough as a Mother. The End.

The Meat and Potatoes Format: For you "deep diver" types.

How did we go from Filmmaker to Student Midwife? I can explain...
Birth is such an incredibly transformative and sacred event in a persons life. So much so that it changed my life in ways I have trouble putting words to it. Being a traveling filmmaker for many years gave me one great gift; relationships. The amazing people I've met throughout the years and the deep conversations we've had is what put the fork in my filmmaking road. When I recall having Allegra as my midwife I remember opening myself up to the process that is pregnancy and birth. And with her knowledge and skillsets she helped educate me and give me the understanding that I have choices, that I have autonomy, that I am the keeper of my birth. I was able to become vulnerable and fully trust in my body and my baby; a relationship that's palpable at its core. The relationship Allegra and I developed over the course of my care is what led me on this midwifery journey. Midwifery is very much relationship based care. Being heard and seen is at the heart of midwifery and what an honor it is to see you be transformed by your body and your birth. You can call us your care team, your cheerleaders, your hype women, but what we truly are, are believers. We believe in you, in your baby, in your right to choose. And whatever path you and your baby decide to go down, we'll be here holding that space for you.