Heather McCook, CNM, MSN is a Certified Nurse-Midwife with Women's Healthcare Associates in Newberg, Oregon.
“I gave birth to my first child alone at 19 without family. My nurse, Nola, was so kind and so supportive—I decided I wanted to be Nola! Years later as a labor and delivery nurse, a laboring patient grabbed my arm and told me she had prayed for me to be there. I supported her through the night as she labored and, eventually, gave birth without medication or anesthesia. The realization that meeting and advocating for someone in moments like these can have such a profound impact inspired me to pursue nurse-midwifery.”
Heather’s path to midwifery has been shaped by experiences such as these since she was a child, watching her own mother show unexpected compassion and support toward a stranger who was experiencing a serious illness. Influenced by all the teachers, nurses, providers and patients she has encountered along her career path, today Heather’s first priority in caring for people is validating what they are experiencing. She appreciates being able to change someone’s perception of medicine and healthcare by simply recognizing their feelings, their pain and their concerns are real and worthy of help and support. Similarly, Heather enjoys being able to perform someone’s first pelvic exam or Pap smear so that she can explain what’s happening and demonstrate what consensual and trauma-informed care really looks like. Although she supports a complete range of birth plans, Heather considers unmedicated labor and delivery to be a specialty. She has special training in myofascial release and fetal rotation as techniques to assist in labor and birth. In addition to caring for people during pregnancy and childbirth, Heather provides trauma-informed wellness care and gynecology, including birth control counseling and STI screening and treatment for all people. She cares for trans and non-binary folks, including gender-affirming hormone therapy.
Heather grew up in South Georgia, which imparts a soothing lilt and cadence to every conversation. When she’s not busy with the business of raising three children, she enjoys creative pursuits of many varieties, including crochet, cake decorating and producing digital art.
Post-Graduate:
Post-graduate Certificate, Midwifery, Shenandoah University, 2021
Graduate Degree:
Master of Science, Nursing, Old Dominion University, 2020
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Western Governor's University, 2016
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
National Abortion Federation