Compare 75 certified nurse midwives in Portland, OR. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
75
Certified Nurse Midwives
100%
Accepting patients
33%
Most common: CPM, LDM
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Portland's healthcare identity is shaped by OHSU, the only academic medical center in Oregon, perched on Marquam Hill like a small city of its own. Below it, Legacy and Providence split the map into competing networks that give patients real choices. The city's deep roots in naturopathic and integrative medicine mean you'll find treatment philosophies here that barely exist in most metro areas.
Portland has 75 certified nurse midwives. The most common credential is CPM, LDM (33%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
OHSU sits atop Marquam Hill with an aerial tram connecting to the South Waterfront. Legacy Good Samaritan anchors the northwest side, while Providence Portland covers the east. The MAX light rail and streetcar connect several hospital-adjacent neighborhoods, but most Portlanders drive or bike to appointments. Cross-river commutes between east and west Portland add 15 to 20 minutes during rush hour.
Providers practice throughout Portland. Pearl District is a walkable downtown neighborhood with Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center and specialist offices. Alberta Arts District is a vibrant northeast Portland corridor with community clinics and culturally responsive care options. Hawthorne is a popular southeast neighborhood with independent practices and naturopathic medicine offices. Division is a growing east Portland corridor with new medical offices and quick access to Providence Portland.
Nearby hospitals include OHSU Hospital, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. Local training programs run through Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Portland State University. OHSU is Oregon's only academic health center and sits atop Marquam Hill overlooking downtown Portland.
Prenatal visits with a midwife are longer than typical OB visits, usually 30 to 60 minutes. The midwife will monitor your pregnancy, check blood pressure, measure your belly, listen to the baby's heartbeat, and spend time discussing nutrition, exercise, birth preferences, and any concerns. During labor, the midwife provides continuous support, encourages movement and positioning, and manages pain with non-pharmacological methods (water immersion, breathing techniques) or orders an epidural if requested. Postpartum visits typically include a check at one to two weeks and again at six weeks, with support for breastfeeding and recovery.
See a midwife for pregnancy care if you have a low-risk pregnancy and want a provider who emphasizes natural birth, patient education, and longer appointments. Midwives also provide well-woman care throughout your life: annual exams, Pap smears, breast exams, contraception counseling, fertility support, and menopause management. You might choose a midwife if you want a home birth or birth center birth, want to minimize medical interventions during labor, or simply prefer the midwifery model of care. If your pregnancy becomes high-risk, your midwife will collaborate with an OB/GYN.
Prenatal visit copay: $20-50 · Hospital birth (midwife fee): $2,000-5,000 · Birth center birth: $2,000-6,000 · Home birth: $3,000-8,000 (may be out of pocket) · Well-woman visit: $0-50 copay
Portland, OR has 75 licensed certified nurse midwives. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of certified nurse midwives in Portland, OR are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Oregon's Medicaid program (Oregon Health Plan) covers a large share of the population and is accepted at most major systems. For marketplace plans, Moda, Providence, and Kaiser Permanente are the dominant carriers. Kaiser operates its own closed network with clinics across the metro.
A prenatal visit copay is $20 to $50. A hospital birth (midwife fee) costs $2,000 to $5,000. A birth center birth costs $2,000 to $6,000. A home birth costs $3,000 to $8,000 (may be out of pocket). A well-woman visit copay is $0 to $50. Actual costs in Portland, OR depend on the provider and your insurance plan. All insurance plans must cover CNM maternity care. Birth center births are covered by most plans. Home birth coverage is less consistent; check your plan. Midwife-attended births tend to cost less overall due to fewer interventions.
Portland has strong provider density, but the east side of the city and outer suburbs like Gresham and Troutdale have fewer options. OHSU, Legacy, and Providence each run their own physician networks, so start by checking which system your insurance covers best.
Some certified nurse midwives in Portland, OR accept Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers CNM services in all states. About 50% of births nationally are covered by Medicaid. Midwife-attended births are fully covered. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Oregon Health Plan participation before scheduling.
Prenatal visits follow the standard schedule: monthly through 28 weeks, biweekly from 28 to 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks until delivery. Midwife visits tend to be longer (30-60 minutes vs. 15 minutes with an OB). Postpartum visits at one to two weeks and six weeks. With 75 certified nurse midwives in Portland, OR, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Oregon is one of a handful of states that license naturopathic physicians with prescribing authority. Many insurance plans, including some OHP and marketplace plans, cover ND visits. Portland has one of the highest naturopathic-doctor-per-capita ratios in the country.
OHSU accepts both referrals and self-scheduled appointments for most departments. As an academic medical center, it tends to handle complex and specialty cases, but its primary care clinics at the South Waterfront and Marquam Hill are open to new patients.
Top accepted carriers in Portland, OR include qhp-73836, unitedhealthcare, qhp-63474, qhp-23603, and qhp-10091.
All insurance plans are legally required to cover certified nurse-midwife (CNM) services. Medicaid covers CNM care in all states and is the payer for about 50% of births nationally. Hospital births with a CNM are covered at the same level as physician births. Birth center births are covered by most plans. Home birth coverage varies by insurer and state. Verify your plan covers the specific birth setting you prefer. Midwife-attended births tend to cost less than physician-attended births due to fewer interventions.