About Us

Janette Gyesky, CPM, LDM
I started my path to midwifery in the early 90’s when I apprenticed with a lay midwife in California.  From there I was hooked.  Watching women go through the childbirth process in a healthy, educated and empowering way has since become my life’s passion.

After California, I apprenticed with a midwife in New Zealand, a country where midwives attend over 70% of the births.  Once back in the states, I became a certified birth and postpartum doula and worked as a counselor for a teen pregnancy program in south Seattle.  My passion grew as I worked more with women. 

Desiring a more formal education and practical skills, I enrolled in Seattle Midwifery School (SMS) in 2001.  SMS is a rigorous, three-year academic and clinical midwifery education program that meets or exceeds all requirements in the states of Oregon and Washington.  Students are required to attend 100 births in hospital, home and birth center settings in order to graduate. While at SMS, I apprenticed with four busy Seattle practices and worked in a hospital on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, where I delivered more than 50 babies. 

In 2004, I graduated from Seattle Midwifery School and passed the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) Exam and the Washington State Exam. Since then I have worked as an independent licensed midwife and enjoyed every minute of it.  I am a member of the Midwives’ Association of Washington State, the Midwives Alliance of North America and I have taught student midwives at the Seattle Midwifery School.

My husband and I moved to Bend in mid 2006, and I've worked with more than 25 families since I opened my practice here. I look forward to working with a growing number of families in Bend and hope that the birth center will offer a new option for women seeking an empowering birth experience. Every day, I feel fortunate that the journey of my passion is also the journey of my vocation as a midwife.

Click here to read testimonials from Janette's clients at her Deschutes Midwifery web site.

Contact Janette about her midwifery practice via email.

A bio for Aria Baker, our childbirth educator, can be found under "classes & events."

Shalamar Ewing, LMT, has an office here at Bend Birth Center and offers additional services you may be interested in. Shalamar is a licensed massage therapist specializing in prenatal, labor and postpartum care. She is the founder of Heartspace Doulas, and you can learn more about her services by visiting the Heartspace Doulas website.

"Janette provided us the opportunity of a lifetime. She was not only personable, loving and gentle, she was also very professional, extremely knowledgeable and her expertise put us at ease." ~Tabatha Simmonds, Bend, OR