Meet the Midwife
Lori Hedlund LDM CPM
My journey into midwifery began with the birth of my 3rd child, my first home birth with Betty Griffith, LDM. My first two births had left me feeling as if I had no say in my birth experience, things were done to me and my baby, without including me in decisions, or respecting I may have a different philosophy concerning some aspects of my care. I longed for my husband and children to be welcomed and involved in my care, we were all welcoming a new family member! After much research, we decided birthing in our home with a licensed midwife's skilled and competent support might offer what we were looking for. The difference in care I received with my first home birth was transforming. I felt empowered! I was encouraged to educate myself and make informed choices about the best care for my family. My husband and children were not only welcome at my visits and birth, but they were also encouraged to be active participants. I was hooked and knew that someday, I wanted to care for women in the same way.
We welcomed 5 more children into our family and grieved the loss of two precious babies to late-term miscarriage, all with the caring support of our midwife. I entered the birth work world by serving as a breastfeeding counselor and supporting pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. I eventually became a doula, childbirth educator, and placenta encapsulator while raising and home-educating my family.
When I decided it was time to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Midwifery, I knew exactly who I wanted to learn alongside, my own midwife who had lovingly cared for me through 8 pregnancies. I graduated from Midwives College of Utah with my Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, magna cum laude, passed the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) licensing exam, and am a licensed midwife with the Oregon Health Authority. My education and training have been diverse including out-of-hospital VBAC, breech, and multiples births. .
In my free time, you will find me hanging out with our children and 3 granddaughters on an outdoor adventure, working around our farm, or with our feet kicked up and everyone on their favorite instrument and singing along.
Children are a gift frm the Lord, They are a reward from him.
Every birth is attended by Lori and at least one other licensed midwife to serve as assistant midwife at your birth. Hannah Payseno CPM LDM frequently serve as assistant midwife
Hannah Payseno, CPM, LDM
I am a wife, mother, and midwife. In 2008 I attended my first birth as a Doula and was mesmerized by the beauty and intricacy of birth! I gained valuable experience working as a doula in both hospital and birth center settings before I started working as a midwife assistant to Betty Griffith in her home birth practice in 2013. I am so thankful for the years of apprenticing under her. Among many practical aspects of midwifery, she taught me the importance of balancing family and work, which is so crucial for a healthy midwifery practice. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Midwifery from the Midwives College of Utah, I became a licensed midwife in Oregon and have my CPM and LDM. I opened my own practice in the Willamette Valley, and love integrating my training in functional core health and herb use, while empowering my clients with the information they need to make an educated and informed decision in their own care throughout pregnancy and birth. My experience is in a wide range of births including VBAC, twins, and Breech deliveries in the home.
My personal experience with my own births included both a cesarean for malposition and a successful VBAC at home. I know this experience has given me a wonderful perspective when supporting clients through the variations of normal and unexpected when it comes to their own births. When I am not working, you can find me reading, going on bike rides with my boys, or working on my maturing green thumb in the garden. I grew up in the Willamette Valley and love the change in seasons but will happily chase the sun to Eastern Oregon or the coast!