Kailia Wray, CNM, MN, is a certified nurse-midwife with Women's Healthcare Associates in Portland, Oregon.
“While my heart has always been in out-of-hospital and home birth, my experience has taught me that it’s possible to provide really good care and effective support to birthing people in any setting. Making a connection, helping people understand what’s happening and working as part of a team are some of the things I enjoy most about caring for women and families throughout all of life’s transitions.”
Always fascinated by pregnancy and childbirth, Kailia’s path to midwifery began as a teenage volunteer in local pregnancy centers where she grew up in Boston. Soon after starting her own family, she began apprenticeship training for out-of-hospital and home birth work, which brought her to Oregon from the east coast. As a volunteer in Haiti following the earthquakes, Kailia realized she could have a far broader impact as a nurse practitioner/nurse-midwife providing a full spectrum of care and being able to support people and families through a wide range of circumstances. This inspired her to resume working toward her long-time goal of obtaining her master’s degree and becoming a certified nurse-midwife.
In addition to helping people navigate pregnancy and childbirth, Kailia helps patients address pelvic pain, sexual health, the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and contraception. She really enjoys helping teens and people of all ages understand what is happening with their bodies and feel empowered to make decisions and care for themselves. The daughter of an immigrant, Kailia values helping those who have been traditionally underserved by the healthcare system achieve their optimal health.
In her spare time, Kailia enjoys amateur carpentry and tending animals, a garden and three teenage children on her urban farm in southeast Portland. She is also co-owner of a plant store.
Graduate Degree:
Master of Nursing, Nurse Midwifery, Oregon Health & Science University, 2019
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Concordia University, 2015