ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-07-04T20:42:26-08:00May 26th, 2021|
Today we were choosing paint colors, flooring, and counter tops for the birth center. It's all coming together and it's going to be beautiful! Thank you to our architect Kira Malone at 2fORM Architecture for helping guide us and for providing gorgeous options.
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-06-29T10:26:34-08:00May 16th, 2021|
We have a Social Justice Committee made up of board members, staff, and volunteers (doing mostly behind the scenes work) helping to ensure equity and inclusion are sown into the roots Our Community Birth Center. The Social Justice Committee is launching a series of kid book suggestions. In particular, we'll highlight books centering People of Color, inclusion, and gender diversity. Books are a wonderful way to inspire important conversations with your kid(s) about loving themselves and others in all of our uniqueness. Elena Aguero (she/her), Development Coordinator of Our Community Birth Center shared the following book suggestion: Little Feminist Picture
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-06-29T10:28:09-08:00May 15th, 2021|
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Build Up The Birth Center including the live zoom event and video tour, fun at home party packs, and the online auction! The event last week was a lot of fun and has given Our Community Birth Center a big boost toward our Startup and Remodeling fund goal. Build Up The Birth Center raised $25,411--surpassing our goal of $25,000 for this event! Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers and community supporters. You are bringing the new birth center to life and we appreciate you! Photo: Flower bouquets made by
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-25T16:20:52-08:00March 25th, 2021|
It's official, Our Community Birth Center has a new home! Our Community Birth Center has officially signed on to lease a building for the new birth center. Design and remodeling will start soon to convert this lovely home-like space adjacent to Island Park in Springfield into a birth center and clinic to serve our community. We cannot wait to welcome parents and babies into our new center where they will receive client-centered care and wrap around support through their journey to parenthood and beyond. All hands-on deck to help get the doors open! Our community has helped raise $204,331 for
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-13T07:47:06-08:00March 13th, 2021|
Even though I started my birth center experience late into my pregnancy (we moved to Oregon when I was six months along), I was instantly put at ease by the intimacy of the birth center and the genuine attentiveness of the midwives. I vividly remember being so surprised when a midwife called me (on a Friday evening!) to discuss lab test results. I appreciated not only the personal attention to this borderline issue, but also the birth center’s approach, which was to monitor rather than jump to a diagnosis. Everything resolved on its own and I am so thankful for the midwives walking with me on the
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-13T07:47:55-08:00March 3rd, 2021|
At the birth center, I never felt rushed and the midwives always took time to talk to me about my life, my work, and my general state of mind, not just the fact that I was going to have a baby. What I really remember most fondly about seeing the midwives is laughing. I genuinely enjoyed my appointments and I looked forward to them. Even though I saw quite a few different midwives, I felt like I got to develop a real connection with each one." - Sheela Bora Hadjivassiiliou Photos of Sheela, Greg, and Demetri
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-02T22:52:58-08:00March 2nd, 2021|
Lane County recently closed its CHC Prenatal Clinic which was the only FQHC prenatal care option locally. We are sad to see more gaps opening up in our local perinatal health care system. Story by KLCC on 2/26/2021: "Pregnant people often chose Lane County’s federally qualified Prenatal Clinic because of its wrap around services, easy access to care, and integrated Spanish speaking staff. With this crucial service gone, Our Community Birth Center is preparing to step in. AlexAnn Westlake is Executive Director of the non-profit and a certified nurse midwife. She said they’ve held focus groups with Latina community members.
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-13T07:42:12-08:00February 25th, 2021|
I chose the birth center during pregnancy with my first child, and it was the best decision I could have made. The space was always so welcoming and home-like, which immediately put me at ease, but more importantly, were the midwives and nurses who I got to know so well throughout my pregnancy. I really enjoyed working with each and every one of them and looked forward to my appointments. I ended up having some complications during my 3rd trimester, and the midwives went above and beyond to let me know they were there for me. There were many things
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-13T07:52:15-08:00February 25th, 2021|
County Closes Prenatal Clinic; New Birth Center Needed Español: Comunicado: Cambios en el cuidado prenatal en el condado de Lane, febrero 2021 Closure of County Prenatal Clinic underscores need for autonomous, nonprofit birth center Lane County, OR – February 2021 – Community Health Centers of Lane County closed its Prenatal Clinic at the end of January. This clinic primarily provided Medicaid and uninsured clients with prenatal and postpartum midwifery care at the Charnelton Health Clinic (CHC) in downtown Eugene. Before the closure, pregnant people in Lane County often chose the Prenatal Clinic because of its wrap around services, easy access
ocbc_adm1n_b1rth1nG2021-03-13T07:42:33-08:00January 30th, 2021|
We received care at the birth center for all four of my pregnancies, and my first two were delivered at the birth center. I think what surprised me the most about the care we received at the birth center was the level of trust that developed between our family and all of the midwives and nurses. It was a two-way street too! In our first pregnancy, we attended the Centering Pregnancy classes and were trusted with doing some of our own basic prenatal care. In all of my pregnancies, I never doubted for a second that the midwife caring for
