Margy Porter CPM, LDM, IBCLC
I live in McMinnville with my ever-patient and supportive husband Rob and our two energetic and sweet mini-schnauzer pups, and sometimes one or more of our adult children and their friends. Our yard is filled with gardens and fruit trees and flowers, and our home is filled with music, food, and projects, as much as we can fit into our time and space. I am a former competitive swimmer turned fitness swimmer, and you’ll often find me in the MAC pool in the early mornings. I am so thankful to be with Fig Midwifery, working as a team, so that we can each have time-off and a depth of support from each other.
I was originally inspired to become a midwife by Ina May Gaskin’s “Spiritual Midwifery”, and Elizabeth Davis’ “Heart and Hands”, in the healing process from two miscarriages. I was seeking a more heartfelt, more interactive, more informative, more personal level of care, and found Midwifery! I took my first introductory midwifery class in 1992, Women’s Health and Nutrition, at the Seattle Midwifery School before my first successful pregnancy, building on my undergraduate degrees from Whitworth College in chemistry and math.
My eldest daughter was water-born at home with midwifery care. Two years later, with care from a brand-new midwife (who had been a student at my daughter’s birth) my son was born (in the caul!) in an independent birthing center. Finally, my youngest daughter was also water-born at home in Texas. It took me until 36 weeks to find my midwife, but she was perfect!
My young family moved frequently during our early years: Seattle, WA to Indiana, PA to College Station, TX, and finally to McMinnville, OR. I participated in birth work everywhere we went, and soaked in the experiences that were available. In the Seattle area, I trained and worked as an ICEA childbirth educator and DONA doula, including the extraordinary opportunity to study with Penny Simkin, PT. Similarly, I trained as a breastfeeding educator at Evergreen Hospital and was on-site as the hospital became the first certified Baby Friendly Hospital in the United States. In Texas, I was a breastfeeding peer counselor with WIC and taught childbirth and breastfeeding classes at both area hospitals.
In Oregon, I continued to teach childbirth and breastfeeding classes, and as my young children grew, I started attending births as a doula and soon as a midwifery student. With the support of my husband and children, and my midwifery preceptors Celeste Kersey and Desiree Lefave, I completed my midwifery training in 2008 and my CPM Bridge Certificate in 2021. Additionally, I completed my IBCLC, Lactation Consultant Certification in 2018.
I have worked as a midwife for my own private homebirth midwifery practice and for the Bella Vie Gentle Birth Center (where I worked with Meredith) before starting with Fig Midwifery. Additionally, I worked for 2.5 years for an OB/GYN clinic where I gained an appreciation of the complexities of modern medical care and for the benefits of the Midwifery Model of Care. One of my long-time goals has been to keep an open bridge of communication, respect, and understanding between the best of hospital obstetric care and community-based midwifery care providers.
I was originally inspired to become a midwife by Ina May Gaskin’s “Spiritual Midwifery”, and Elizabeth Davis’ “Heart and Hands”, in the healing process from two miscarriages. I was seeking a more heartfelt, more interactive, more informative, more personal level of care, and found Midwifery! I took my first introductory midwifery class in 1992, Women’s Health and Nutrition, at the Seattle Midwifery School before my first successful pregnancy, building on my undergraduate degrees from Whitworth College in chemistry and math.
My eldest daughter was water-born at home with midwifery care. Two years later, with care from a brand-new midwife (who had been a student at my daughter’s birth) my son was born (in the caul!) in an independent birthing center. Finally, my youngest daughter was also water-born at home in Texas. It took me until 36 weeks to find my midwife, but she was perfect!
My young family moved frequently during our early years: Seattle, WA to Indiana, PA to College Station, TX, and finally to McMinnville, OR. I participated in birth work everywhere we went, and soaked in the experiences that were available. In the Seattle area, I trained and worked as an ICEA childbirth educator and DONA doula, including the extraordinary opportunity to study with Penny Simkin, PT. Similarly, I trained as a breastfeeding educator at Evergreen Hospital and was on-site as the hospital became the first certified Baby Friendly Hospital in the United States. In Texas, I was a breastfeeding peer counselor with WIC and taught childbirth and breastfeeding classes at both area hospitals.
In Oregon, I continued to teach childbirth and breastfeeding classes, and as my young children grew, I started attending births as a doula and soon as a midwifery student. With the support of my husband and children, and my midwifery preceptors Celeste Kersey and Desiree Lefave, I completed my midwifery training in 2008 and my CPM Bridge Certificate in 2021. Additionally, I completed my IBCLC, Lactation Consultant Certification in 2018.
I have worked as a midwife for my own private homebirth midwifery practice and for the Bella Vie Gentle Birth Center (where I worked with Meredith) before starting with Fig Midwifery. Additionally, I worked for 2.5 years for an OB/GYN clinic where I gained an appreciation of the complexities of modern medical care and for the benefits of the Midwifery Model of Care. One of my long-time goals has been to keep an open bridge of communication, respect, and understanding between the best of hospital obstetric care and community-based midwifery care providers.