Meet Your Midwives
Julia Bailey CPM, LDM, IBCLC
I'm the co-owner of MidValley Birthing Services and I'm so happy you have chosen to look into the option of using a midwife. I graduated from Knox College in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. After the birth of my first son in 2010, I began apprenticing with a local midwife. I have been attending births as a primary midwife since 2011. After rigorous self study, and attending numerous classes and workshops, I received my Certified Professional Midwife credential from the North American Registry of Midwives, as well as my license from the State of Oregon as a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife in 2013. I completed the 90 hour education requirement and 1000 clinical hours required to sit for the IBCLC exam in 2016, and received my credential in 2017.
I'm passionate about helping women meet their breastfeeding goals, and am happy to work with women regardless of where they gave birth. Providing midwifery care and prenatal education allows me to draw on my background in education. Giving families the most current research and evidence based information helps them make the best decisions for their families. I offer childbirth education classes, as well as placenta encapsulation.
I regularly attend continuing education events, including Birth Emergency Skills Training workshops, Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics, Midwifery Today Conferences, regional midwifery conferences, and CPR and neonatal resuscitation training. I am an active member of the Oregon Midwifery Council and am currently the MidValley regional representative, a position I've held since 2013. I currently teach the Initial Legend Drugs and Devices course, required for midwives seeking licensure in Oregon. I have also presented on Anemia in Pregnancy, a MEAC accredited continuing education course for midwives across the country.
My husband and I have three children, all born at home. In my free time I love to read, sew, bake and spend time outside.
Liz Baer CPM, LDM
I am a Certified Professional Midwife (and an Oregon Licensed Direct Entry Midwife), lifelong learner and homeschooling mom of five. Our five children were all born into the hands of midwives, the first in a hospital, the next two at freestanding birth centers, and the next two at home. My husband and I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and briefly lived in Syracuse, New York, prior to settling in Oregon's MidValley.
From 2001-2005, I worked as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, teaching breastfeeding classes and helping moms one-on-one. Helping clients succeed with breastfeeding is important to me and I draw on this experience to help my clients to have better nursing experiences.Since 2010, I have been attending births and providing care, support, and education to women and their families. I attended the National Midwifery Institute, a 3-year midwifery distance learning program accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. For my clinical training, I was able to apprentice at a freestanding birth center, birth clinic in Haiti, and a home birth midwifery practice.
I started my own home birth practice in the spring of 2013, and merged with MidValley Birthing Services in 2016 and love it!I regularly attend continuing education events, including Birth Emergency Skills Training workshops, Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics, Midwifery Today Conferences, regional midwifery conferences, and CPR and neonatal resuscitation training. I am an active member of the Oregon Midwifery Council.
When I'm not doing prenatal appointments, attending births, encapsulating a placenta (which is pretty relaxing), or doing postpartum care, my idea of fun is taking a class or workshop, playing a board game, reading a new book or discussing midwifery and women's health issues with friends (many of whom are fellow midwives and doulas). Around town, you'll see me at the farmer's market, the library or the grocery store (with a bunch of kids, it's hard to stay away).
Bailey Taylor CPM, LDM
I am a Certified Professional Midwife. I graduated from Mercy In Action College of Midwifery in 2018, and became licensed in Oregon as a Direct Entry Midwife. My pathway to midwifery began in 2012 when I started babysitting for Liz, who was in midwifery school herself. One thing led to another, and after going with her to a Midwifery Today conference plus reading most of the books in her home library; I knew I had found my lifelong career that I would always feel passionate about.
In 2014 I took a birth doula training, postpartum doula training, childbirth educator training, and placenta encapsulation training. By the end of the year, I began attending births as a doula and began my apprenticeship with Birth with Liz and MidValley Birthing Services in 2015. Throughout my clinical training I had the privilege to work with many midwives, in home birth practices and birth centers.I am currently working towards becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife(CNM). I’ve spent the last two years taking courses part-time with the goal of graduating with my Masters degree in Nurse Midwifery by 2025.
I felt drawn to continuing my education while I was apprenticing with MidValley Birthing Service, as I found that I felt really strongly about being able to offer things like antibiotics for a UTI in pregnancy or options for birth control for those wanting to space out their children. I have struggled with infertility. I am passionate about offering support and education on fertility to those who need it, and hope to incorporate that more into the practice once my scope of practice widens when I am a CNM.
I have two puppies that I've brought into my home this past year, who are very full of energy. You may see us all around the MidValley, usually out for a walk or by a body of water. In my free time I enjoy hiking, swimming, reading, taking classes, visiting the coast, and spending as much time as I can outdoors!
Lydia Douglas CPM, LDM
My midwifery journey began in 2012 after the birth of my first son. I had a somewhat traumatic hospital birth that led me to research alternative birth options and eventually about midwifery. During my research I strongly felt called to midwifery. I reached out to a local freestanding birth center and started my apprenticeship in 2013.
After apprenticing for about a year, I took a break from births to have 2 more babies (both born safely and quickly at home). This break was a great time to continue my self study. After a nearly 4 year break from births, I started an apprenticeship in Grants Pass OR where I spent two more years attending births and continuing my studies.
I earned my Certified Professional Midwife certification through the North American Registry of Midwives in May of 2020 and became a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife in the state of Oregon in June of 2020. I am passionate about providing true informed consent to birthing people and their families. I believe that birth is a normal and natural process and the birthing person is in charge of their care. Midwifery is my passion and I am so thankful that families trust me to be involved in such an intimate part of their lives.
When I’m not busy catching babies, I love spending time with my family. I have a husband and three wild sons. We love to make and eat charcuterie boards, get outside as often as possible, and camp all summer long!
Current Students
Zilmillia Pittman
I was born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi. I graduated from Itawamba Community College (ICC), in Fulton, Mississippi, with an Associate of Arts degree. I am currently a student with Mercy in Action
College of Midwifery, located in Boise,Idaho.
There I received the Claudia Booker Memorial Midwife Scholarship.
I grew up doing hair at my mother’s salon and there I met a lady by the name Toni Hill, who was studying to become a midwife. She often studied and shared her thoughts and passion with me while I did her hair. Those books and the concept of providing personalized care to mothers during their pregnancy peaked my interest, so I asked Toni Hill to be my mentor.
When I graduated from ICC, Toni took me to my first home birth. I was amazed at the woman who was giving birth, but mostly I was amazed at my mentor’s expertise and knowledge. She studied the woman’s labor pattern and knew exactly what to do. I observed her provide adequate care and a good birthing experience with compassion to her client and at this point
I was determined to become a midwife.
Empowering women to be at the center of their birthing experience and care is very important,
and remains my inspiration. While I was doing my internship with Liz and Julia, I found a passion for nutrition and postpartum care. I love teaching recipes to families, and simple quick meals for
pregnant moms on the go. I love being a birth/postpartum doula.
I regularly attend midwifery conferences, Oregon Midwifery Council meetings,
and CPR and neonatal resuscitation training. When I am not working or doing midwifery related tasks,
I love taking long drives, going to the beach, painting and writing poetry.