The 70 women expecting to give birth this summer at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield are still reeling from the announcement the facility will close its midwifery practice the first week of July.
Erin McKay is pregnant with her first child, due around July 20th. Like many expectant moms, she did her research before settling on a birth plan with McKenzie Midwives.
“The care that I was provided with was breathtaking and really reassuring,” she said.
McKay and her husband were two of about 50 people who attended a rally on April 14 outside McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, holding signs with words like “Save Our Midwives.” Six days later, she got a letter from the hospital.
“It pretty much said that they were closing July 7th and ‘thank you for trusting us with your care. We regret this disruption.’”
McKay said hospital officials never returned her phone calls seeking answers. Now in her third trimester, she has to make a new birth plan.
“I have just been restless, upset, confused. There’s not as many options as I would assume in such a large area,” said McKay.
There has been no indication the hospital is reconsidering its decision to shut down McKenzie Midwives, which has operated since 2019 and supported 400 births.
McKay said she was informed by McKenzie Midwives the last clients to be served will actually have to give birth by May 12-26 in order to receive the contracted care which includes postpartum support. The hospital did not confirm with KLCC the May 12-26 deadlines to give birth. Publicly, the hospital has maintained the practice will close on July 7.
McKay and her husband Matt created a website for people who need more information about the pending McKenzie Midwives closure. McKay said she is now considering going to Corvallis for midwife-led hospital based maternal care.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, there is no indication the planned closure will affect the hospital’s license. That’s because labor & delivery services and obstetrician care will remain available at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center even after the midwifery practice closes.
The OHA recently denied a request by Legacy Health to close the birthing center at Mt. Hood Medical Center in Gresham, but in that case, the hospital did not offer any alternative options to pregnant people aside from giving birth in the emergency department. Instead, expectant mothers were told to seek services in Portland.
To avoid penalties from the state, Legacy Health changed course and announced its birthing center would reopen.
