Returning to the Wild
Pregnancy has a way of inviting us home.
Beneath the appointments, the checklists, and the noise of modern life lives something much older, a quiet intelligence that has guided women through birth for thousands of generations.
I believe every woman carries an instinctive knowing within her. Not because birth is always easy, but because our bodies possess extraordinary wisdom that deserves to be trusted, understood, and honored.
Midwifery creates space to reconnect with that wisdom. To become deeply acquainted with your body, to understand its language, and to grow in confidence, not only in birth, but in yourself.
Like an old-growth forest or a wild river, there are places within us that remain untamed. Places where intuition, courage, tenderness, and resilience still live. Pregnancy and birth often become the path back to those places.
At Elowen Midwifery, I honor birth as both a physiological process and a profoundly human experience. My role is to protect normal physiology, provide skilled clinical care, recognize when intervention is needed, and walk beside you with presence and respect.
Because preserving physiological birth is about more than how babies are born.
It’s about preserving the relationship between women and their own bodies.
It’s about remembering the wild wisdom that has been within us all along.
Meet Your Midwife
Crystal Dutra
Licensed Midwife
My journey into midwifery began with my own birth experiences.
During my second pregnancy, I was cared for by a midwife who trusted me before I trusted myself. She helped me heal from my first birth, which had left me feeling powerless, and guided me back to my own strength. That experience transformed the way I saw birth, and myself. I knew then that I wanted to walk alongside others as they discovered that same strength within themselves.
I began my birth work as a doula in 2013 before pursuing midwifery in 2016. After apprenticing with many experienced midwives, I graduated from Midwives College of Utah in 2021 and became a licensed midwife in Oregon. With more than a decade of clinical experience, I have had the privilege of supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the newborn period, providing individualized, relationship-centered care.
I believe that excellent midwifery is built on both experience and a commitment to lifelong learning. I maintain current Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and CPR certifications. I also regularly pursue ongoing continuing education to keep my knowledge and skills current. My advanced training includes multiple physiologic breech birth courses through Breech Without Borders, Spinning Babies®, Birth Emergency Skills Training (BEST), along with many other workshops and continuing education opportunities. I have also served as a preceptor for student midwives, mentoring the next generation of midwives as they develop their clinical skills and confidence. I am an active member of professional midwifery organizations and value collaboration with other birth professionals to provide evidence-informed, compassionate care.
As a mother of five, my own experiences, including a cesarean birth, a home birth, and a home birth transfer, have profoundly shaped the midwife I am today. Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the many ways birth can unfold and allow me to care for families with empathy, flexibility, and trust. I hold a special place in my heart for families planning a VBAC and those navigating pregnancy after loss.
When I’m not attending births, you’ll likely find me outdoors, hiking, near the water, discovering delicious food or dancing. During quieter seasons, I enjoy curling up with a good book, playing games with friends and family, or spending a cozy evening by the fire.