UPDATE: Willamette birthing center
I posted here a few months ago asking for insight on the birthing center at Willamette Valley Hospital. I was really thankful for all anecdotes, positive and negative, while I decided whether or not to have my baby in Newberg or Portland instead.
I ultimately decided to give the birthing center a shot after hearing about the effort being made to bring it back to life... And I'm really glad I did. Our baby was born a little over a week ago and we had an incredible experience. I can't say enough about the nurses that cared for us over the 3 days we were there. They were thoughtful, attentive, funny, and shepherded me through the unexpected need for a C-Section. One nurse even made the decision to take an extra shift on what should have been her day off to finish seeing me through my labor. They were welcoming to our doula and to all the visitors that wanted to come around post partum. We felt cared for and celebrated at every turn. They even sent us home with a lasagna!
If you're pregnant, know that it's once again an option. Birth classes are back (my husband and I did them in the weeks before we were due) and it was heartwarming to meet other local mamas-to-be.