09190819281Debbie Cowart, CPM, LDM

Certified Professional Midwife

Licensed Direct Entry Midwife

Member of Oregon Midwifery Council

I’ve been married to Steve for 31 years.  We have 8 children ages 30 to 4 (and 8 grandchildren).  Our first 2 children were born in the hospital and, although we didn’t have ”bad” experiences, we knew it could be better.  A friend had a home birth, so with our next baby we were able to to have a home birth too.  We were hooked! 

I started reading EVERYTHING I could get my hands on about birth, child care, child development and breastfeeding.  I attended Midwifery Today Conferences as often as they were offered in Oregon.  

I started going to friend’s home births to help.  Later on one of my good friends got a midwifery apprenticeship with our midwife, Mabel Dzata (a midwife from Ghana, Africa living in Corvallis at the time).  After her training, she asked me to assist her at births.  We worked together until 1991. 

In 1992 I started my own midwifery practice helping women and babies have gentle births with personal care.

In October of 2003 I had the privilege attend a week long Midwifery Training taught by Patti Barnes of the The Ministry of Midwifery, hosted at an Amish Community in Montana.

I am an active member of Oregon Midwifery Council and have served as the Newsletter Editor and on the OMC Advocacy Council.

January to December 2008 I worked at a freestanding birth center in Eugene, Oregon as well as keeping up with my Lebanon practice.  Now I am back to just my practice in Lebanon, Oregon.