Being under the care of Collective Birth was one of the highlights of my pregnancy and birth. Aimée and Jas walked beside us with so much care, humor, and respect through every physical and emotional shift. They listened deeply, answered every question, made space for all feelings--from "I hate being pregnant" to "I feel like a goddess"! Appointments were unhurried, thoughtful, and deeply personal. They were always available by text, email, or phone, and quickly understood how best to support me. They cared not only about my physical well-being, but also about the emotional journey my partner and I were on. No matter what your intentions or hopes are for your birth, they will meet you there and support you fully, without judgment. On the day of our daughter Aurora's birth, Aimée and Jas brought an incredible combination of patience, expertise, and calm. They turned every possible stone to support a vaginal birth and saved me and my baby from a C-section. My partner was able to receive our baby himself, an experience we will cherish forever. I will never forget their genuine joy when Aurora finally arrived after a long and challenging labor. In one of the most vulnerable moments of our lives, they made us feel safe, supported, and deeply cared for. By the end of our journey, they felt like family. We left every appointment grateful we had chosen them, and we miss our visits dearly. I cannot imagine having gone through pregnancy and birth with anyone else, and I would choose them again without hesitation. I would wholeheartedly recommend Collective Birth to first-time parents, seasoned parents, and anyone looking for deeply personalized, compassionate, and empowering care. --Cami, Zach, and Aurora read more

We welcomed our third child 6 weeks ago and could not have asked for a better prenatal and birthing experience than we had. We credit so much of that to the care we received from Flo, Jasmine, and Aimée. I can not recommend them highly enough. For context, I delivered at 44 years old with an IVF pregnancy. From the get go we felt in such good hands. In approaching the care of mom, they make space for the whole person (and the the partner/family experience). At each appointment my husband and I felt heard and seen as we moved through the process. They ask questions and listen deeply. They tend to not just your physical state but your emotions - your head, heart, and soul. This was critical in healing from the trauma of our second birthing experience and making space for a different kind of experience. Their care is based in expertise, research, data, and professional experience and they also leave room for our primal knowledge and intuition. This allowed us to trust my body while also having medical experts alongside us. A month before our child was due, my father died. This was an unexpected emotional wave at an already emotional time, and they held space for me to process and integrate this grief into the final weeks of pregnancy and labor. Our delivery experience was exactly what we hoped for - and I know how rare that is having had two previous experiences that did no go as we had hoped. Flo, Jasmine, and Aimée are an incredible team who helped us manifest a safe and healing delivery. (Some background: Our second child was born during the depths of the pandemic. We had a stressful pregnancy and a traumatic birthing and immediate postnatal experience, during which we received subpar care from a team of doctors. Coming into this third pregnancy we were intent on having a different experience, hence choosing midwifery care. After interviewing two different teams of midwifes we chose Collective Birth.) read more

Collective Birth Midwifery - Midwives Near Me - Oakland, California

A Birth Experience Transformed - Eternally Grateful to Aimee and Jasmine. I don't even know where to begin expressing the gratitude I feel for my incredible midwives, Aimee and Jasmine. From the moment they welcomed me into their care at around 26 weeks, I felt completely seen, heard, and supported--something I hadn't experienced before in my previous pregnancy and labor. Having gone through a traumatic delivery with my older son, I carried a lot of emotional weight into this pregnancy. Aimee and Jasmine not only acknowledged that history but actively worked to help me reclaim my birth story. Their care was compassionate, professional, and empowering every step of the way. They treated me not just as a patient, but as a whole woman navigating one of the most potent and vulnerable times in her life. Through their expertise, empathy, and calm presence, they helped turn what could have been another fearful experience into a profoundly healing and joyful one. They held space for me with such grace, and I never once felt like I was navigating this alone. They made sure my voice was central in every decision, and that level of respect and trust is something I will carry with me forever. To any woman seeking a humane, respectful, and truly woman-centered birth experience, I urge you--look no further than Aimee and Jasmine at Collective Birth Midwifery. Their care is nothing short of extraordinary. I am forever grateful to them for helping me welcome my baby girl into the world with love, strength, and dignity. read more

I'm so glad I went with Collective Birth. After going to an OB for my initial couple of appointments, I realized I wanted something different. The OB appointments were not bad, but they felt clinical and impersonal. I wanted to understand the reasoning behind standard advice given to parents during pregnancy so that I could make informed decisions, but I felt the responses were generic rather than equipping me with knowledge. I changed to Collective Birth and Aimée and Jas (and Flo at the time) were incredibly informative and thoughtful. I liked that I could give birth at a hospital in case anything went wrong, but have the wholistic support of a midwife team. Each appointment was an hour long. They gave me and my husband all the time we needed to ask any questions, big or small, physical health related or about how we were feeling or what we were nervous about. When the time came, my labor was long. Before the labor progressed to the point that I could go to the hospital, Aimée came to my house twice to make sure I and the baby were okay, and to help the labor move forward. I truly felt like she worked miracles during my challenging early labor stage. They helped me birth in the way I wanted it as much as possible, and after my son was born and we had our postpartum visit, it felt like visiting my son's aunties who had been with us along the whole journey. I'd recommend Collective Birth to anyone looking for a birth experience that helps them feel empowered and supported. read more

No need to search any further. These are the best midwives in the East Bay and beyond. I have never-ending love and respect for Jas, Aimee, and Flo. They gave me the best gifts ever: a healthy baby, an empowering labor, genuine support, and crucial knowledge throughout my journey. --There was never a point in this process where I felt under-informed or in the dark. They made sure I was making informed and consensual choices every single step of the way. In our hour long appointments they not only cared for my baby and I, but they also made sure to check in on how my partner was doing throughout the pregnancy. They answered every single one of our questions, soothed our fears, and celebrated each of our successes. I left every session with vital information, resources, and a healthier perspective on how to navigate pregnancy. --I felt a genuine care and connection with each midwife. Our appointments were filled with laughter, tears, and self-reflection--something I have never experienced with a medical professional. Each midwife made me feel valued and heard. --When it came time to give birth, I felt incredibly safe. I knew that my midwives had my back; they had listened to my hopes for labor and I fully trusted that they would guide me through to the other side safely. In the throes of labor I remember two things: my awesome husband and the calming effect the midwives had on me. I got to have Jas and Aimee with me (it was a loooong labor). Whenever I looked to them for guidance I was met with calm, straightforward suggestions. Through the storm they managed to ensure I remained informed as well as lay out all my options at every step of the way. In summary... I left my prenatal and birthing experience feeling empowered, respected, and informed. I could not ask for anything more. I trusted Collective Birth with my life and my child's life and I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant they were on my team again. read more

Highly recommend working with Jas, Aimée and Flo. I was set on working with midwives after having heard from a number of new mom friends about their prenatal and birth experiences. The few friends who did work with midwives had by far the best experiences. I was so lucky to find Collective Birth and hope others do too! Throughout my pregnancy journey I felt supported, and even when challenges came up during my pregnancy, I knew that the trio was there to walk me through the difficult parts. Meeting with them for check ups where I wasn't rushed out of the office and being given clear instructions on what to do prior to the next appointments, was so important and helpful. They understood my birth plan and were there for me each step of the way. My whole prenatal and birth experience working with them is really quite difficult to for me to sum up in this review but what I want to get across is that they have become family and they each brought something unique and needed to my experience bringing my little one into the world. Thank you, Collective Birth! read more

Collective Birth supported us through our first pregnancy. Our daughter was born July 2022. So glad that we chose to work with midwives, and specifically with Jas, Flo and Aimée. 10/10 would recommend working with them--here are 3 things that were great: 1) Unhurried & Responsive - Prenatal appointments were up to 1 hour long, so I always felt like I could get through my (very long) list of questions. They also had a specific curriculum they covered at each appointment to familiarize parents with different aspects of pregnancy, labor and infant care. They were easy to reach via email and always responded quickly. During early-labor we were able to text them to check in throughout the day when questions or worries arose. 2) Knowledgeable - Like I said, I had a lot of questions--everything from "is it OK to be getting Braxton Hicks contractions so early?" to "what documents do I need to bring to the hospital?" They had a lot of answers, and when they didn't have an answer they'd know who I should reach out to for more information. 3) Caring - From the first visit to the final postpartum checkup, they were attentive and present. When they did physical exams they were gentle and clear in how they moved, and explained what they were doing before they did it. They were never dismissive about our questions or worries. On day of delivery, Flo was on call. Her directions were so clear during the labor. We had a few complications and she was so calm and reassuring throughout the entire process. I can't image going through that experience without someone there that we could trust and rely on to give us the information we needed. So grateful for this collective and so grateful for Flo's grounded energy while we transversed the unknown land of labor. And no doubt whichever of the midwives were there that day, we would have felt held and supported. read more

Collective Birth Midwifery - Flo checking in with us at the hospital. - Midwives Near Me - Oakland, California

The months before and after Anisa's birth scared the crap out of me. Not because I was worried about my daughter. Because, look, the entirety of the medical establishment is focused on the health of a baby. Blood tests and scans of said baby were a regular part of life throughout Toya's pregnancy. And, at this point, all signs continue to point to a healthy baby girl. So, sure, we were worried about Anisa, but I don't think I was ever scared. On the other hand, every time I thought about Toya's health, I was terrified. Keep in mind we were - Toya was - doing everything by the book. She was eating well. Exercising. On a steady regiment of supplements. Toya went into the process as a healthy woman. And, despite being labeled by the medical community as a "geriatric pregnancy," (FFS, people, think about the words you use) Toya was maintaining, if not improving, her health. For the first few months, I was confident. Given the way the health care system was watching out for our baby, I assumed Toya would receive the same level of attention. Even if women in the U.S. are the most likely to die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. I figured that since we had good health insurance and were fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to seek extra care, Toya would be okay. I overlooked one important fact: Toya is a Black woman. Which meant that the CDC's finding that, "Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women," was no longer an abstract statistic. Furthermore, in a study of two million California births, it was found that, "The richest Black mothers and their babies are twice as likely to die as the richest white mothers and their babies." I found myself listening to Toya's worries more intently. And, I never told her this, but I got scared. Making all of this more complicated was the fact that at month five of the pregnancy, we were moving across the country. Leaving Toya's friends and family, forcing us to figure out a new health care system to find a new set of providers, develop new relationships. Toya was adamant that her pregnancy, her life, was not going to be left in the hands of a doctor who she probably had not met before wheeling into the delivery room. Through sheer persistence, she secured a spot with the midwife agency of her choice, Collective Birth. A group that included three of the six midwives in the region that had admitting privileges to the hospital of our choice - a facility that delivers more than 6,000 babies a year. Which really makes no sense. The Commonwealth Fund found that midwifery-led care for women with healthy pregnancies is comparable or preferable to physician-led care in terms of: - Maternal and neonatal outcomes, including lower maternal mortality and morbidity and reduced stillbirths and preterm births. - More efficient use of health system resources, including lower use of unnecessary and potentially harmful interventions like C-sections for low-risk deliveries, epidurals, and instrument-assisted births. - Improved patient satisfaction and maternal psychosocial well-being outcomes, including those for postpartum depression. While the Affordable Care Act requires Medicaid to pay for midwives, reimbursement by private insurers varies. But from day one with Collective Birth, we realized this investment in Toya's health was worth every single damn penny. During our first visit, they noticed something fairly significant in Toya's medical record the providers in DC had not noticed. Much less ever even mentioned. Because of the watchful eye of Collective Birth, we were able to track the issue throughout the pregnancy. As reassuring the clinical care was, there was something more important: it was only the midwives who would ask Toya, "How are you doing?" Rarely was it a question that was asked in a clinical setting. Everyone else treated Toya as a vehicle for the baby. And, as much as I love my daughter, my wife is not just a vehicle. Only the folks at Collective Birth realized this. From our first visit to our final meeting after Anisa arrived, we could not recommend their services enough. read more

If you're looking for a midwifery service in the Berkeley/Oakland area, look no further. Collective Birth truly made our birth vision come true and we couldn't be more grateful! As a first-time mother, I was filled with all of the anxieties, fears and questions that come with the initiation to motherhood. These three women helped me surpass all of my limiting thoughts and step into my power. They were also extremely inclusive and ensured my husband was involved in the entire process. Having heard so many stories about birth trauma and bad experiences with OB's, we knew that we wanted to work with a team that was really going to hear and see us. I feel that this is the exact experience we got with Collective Birth. They are the perfect combination of medical experts and empathetic caregivers who truly give you their time and attention. I'm not sure where to start as there are just so many positives. The prenatal experience was everything we could've wanted plus more. Each appointment was an hour (sometimes a few mins more) and gave us plenty of time to ask all of our questions to get the information we needed as first-time parents. Nothing ever felt rushed, ever! We loved meeting with each of the midwives as they all have great energy, knowledge and experience. The fact that we had access to 3 experts to share information, discuss pros/cons and provide support was a blessing. We would often talk about who we would want to attend the birth and we simply couldn't decide because all 3 are magnificent in their own right. Any and all questions that came up between appointments were promptly answered either via email or text. At 20 weeks I had a scare that took me to Altabates triage in labor and delivery. Jasmine was right by my side from 11 pm to 4 am, and Aimee was available for support via phone. They checked in with me in the following days to ensure I was okay; both mentally and physically. Someone asked me the other day how my labor and delivery went and I told them it was great! They looked perplexed and shared that they had a terrible L&D, and that it actually changed their mind about having any more children. I was bummed to hear this and that is exactly what I wanted to avoid and why I chose CB. I recall having so much anxiety and fear around giving birth and Flo's gentle and calm energy helped melt that all away. Each of the midwives positively affirmed that I could do it, and they were right! While laboring and delivering a child was the hardest thing I've ever done, it was all possible because I had an aligned care team around me. An unmedicated natural delivery was my goal and the midwives guided me through effortlessly. They were by my side the entire time at the hospital and even convinced my husband to help catch the baby and cut the cord. It was such a beautiful experience that we will never forget! Their care and support didn't stop after giving birth. We had a lovely home visit with Aimee after giving birth. She took her time in walking through how we were feeling/adjusting, how baby was doing and answering all of our questions. Unfortunately, I had the dreaded mastitis 3 times in the first 6 weeks postpartum! It was the most difficult part of the entire journey and the ladies were available for me nonstop. They spent a ton of time talking me through home remedies and trying to troubleshoot possible causes. To be quite honest, my breastfeeding journey may have ended if I didn't have them to lean on. They were so caring and nurturing throughout such a difficult period and this was invaluable. Breastfeeding can be very difficult and I didn't have many resources outside of the midwives and a lactation consultant at Altabates to partner with. During our 6-week visit, it was one of those moments where you wanted to say "can we be friends?" haha! These ladies are the best in the area and we cannot wait to work with them again for baby number 2. They've also been doing community events as well to connect families and stay in touch. Can't wait to see them again soon! read more

Had the best experience at Collective Birth! It was my second baby and amazing the difference I felt in care this time around with all 3 midwives. Every appointment they provided the time for me to talk about everything I needed to and also give information in a supportive way. And then for the birth itself, Aimee was incredible - both my husband and I were so impressed with the way she guided me and brought my baby into the world. read more

We are incredibly happy about the opportunity to work with Flo, Aimee, and Jasmine. This was our second pregnancy, and we had learned spectacular things about the midwifery model. Each of the midwives is deeply skillful, compassionate, and confidence-building. I am so grateful for their incredible medical care -- which comes from a truly holistic angle. Especially in working with Flo, my husband and I were both taken aback by how talented and gifted she is as a midwife. Flo was the individual who actually delivered our baby. It was a very tough pregnancy and delivery for emotional and physical reasons. Throughout it all, each of Flo, Aimee, and Jasmine was like a solid rock for us. I am very appreciative of the chance to have worked with them, and I highly recommend any expecting mother to choose them for an extremely high quality of medical care and support. read more

Having Jas, Flo, and Aimée as our guides through the process of pregnancy and the birth of our first child was the best decision we've ever made! We simply could not have asked for a better experience. My husband and I were looking for midwives who valued the beauty and mystery of birth, but who were also grounded, experienced medical professionals. These three incredible people strike that balance perfectly! And what we got was so much more than that. Every step of the way we knew we were in capable, supportive, kind hands. They answered every question I had with gentle compassion, and they were deeply competent and articulate about every topic - even the most difficult and emotional ones. Each of them has said something to me that has really stayed with me and guided me through childbirth and beyond. After each appointment, my hubby and I would joke that the last midwife we saw was our new favorite. We were truly happy to have any one of them assist the birth when the time came. It always felt like they were on our side in having the birth experience that we wanted, completely without judgement, and always offering their insights and recommendations in the interest of us having a safe birth that aligned with our birth vision. When I went into labor, I entered the process confident, relaxed, and fully trusting in my midwives. And after it was over, I had exactly what I hoped for: a beautiful, amazing, wild labor that left me with a profound sense of empowerment and a healthy, happy baby girl! read more

This review is way overdue (new parenthood, ya know) but I feel just as strongly as day one. I cannot recommend Jasmine, Aimée and Flo enough! They are each incredibly skilled, empathetic, thoughtful, kind, supportive, and responsive midwives and I am so glad I worked with them throughout my pregnancy with my first child, my son who was born in March 2021. I was very anxious during my pregnancy, all of which occurred during the pandemic, and I knew I needed extra support and a strong relationship with my care providers. I am so glad I chose to partner with Jasmine, Aimée and Flo for my care. One of the most amazing parts of their care model is that you work with only them the entire pregnancy, during the labor and postpartum, so I always knew that who would be present through every step of my pregnancy and labor. My wife was also able to attend and participate in every appointment (even during the pandemic) which really supported our journey as we began new parents. As a result, my wife and I developed a strong relationship with Jasmine and Aimée. At the end of my pregnancy Flo joined the team, and she was such a great addition to an already awesome team. Throughout my care, I felt cared for, trusted, understood, valued, informed and consulted on every decision big or small. When I struggled with anxiety at points during the pregnancy, Jasmine, Aimée and Flo went above and beyond to meet my needs, answer my questions, and provided me with such kind and thoughtful support. They are all such amazing listeners and have a calming and empathetic energy and the unique ability to put you at ease - something that's hard to find in the medical community. Also, all of our care was tailored to our unique experiences as queer women having a child, even down to the inclusive paperwork. They always went above and beyond to explain my options and provide as much information as possible to walk me through choices before we ultimately partnered on the decision. I was always consulted and felt in control of my own care, with experts guiding me every step of the way. I felt very prepared as we neared the birth of my son and I understood all my opinions and the potential outcomes. I didn't even need to go through an extensive birth planning process with Jasmine and Aimée because my hopes for the birth and my preferences were discussed every step of the way. I had a wonderful, positive, empowering birth experience thanks to Jasmine and Aimée with minimal interventions just the way I wanted. Jasmine provided incredible support every step of the way through labor, consulted me in all decision-making and even did a home visit to check on me. Jasmine provided me with confident leadership while I was at Alta Bates and helped guide me and my wife through each stage of labor until delivery. Both Jasmine and Aimée were there for the delivery and Aimée led me in the pushing and delivery process. I felt so much trust in both of them and I knew I was in good hands and that they had my back every step of the way, so I felt no anxiety during the birth! It was an incredible moment when my son was born, and my wife was able to catch him and cut the cord, which was so special. The day after the delivery, Jasmine and Flo came and visited me in the hospital and checked on me and my son, which was so nice and supportive. Jasmine and Aimée provided text support between that visit and my 2-week postpartum visit, which was really helpful. Aimée did my postpartum visits after that, which were also super supportive. All in all, I cannot recommend Aimée, Jasmine and Flo enough. If you choose them to serve as your midwives, they will do everything in their power to ensure that you have the best and most empowering pregnancy and birth experience possible. I am so grateful to Aimée, Jasmine and Flo for everything they did for me and my wife and my son and I cannot imagine giving birth without them! read more

Hands down the best team of midwives you could ever ask to have as part of your birth experience. They're level of care is truly night and day from your typical OB and I couldn't have been happier with the decision to birth with them. Every appointment they spent ample amount of time educating me and my husband and answering all of our questions. They were absolutely amazing at listening to my specific wishes and desires for my birth, and they did absolutely everything in their power to make that happen during labor. They helped me achieve my unmedicated vbac, and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't have done it without them, they were exactly what I needed mentally, emotionally and physically throughout the entire journey. I went into this with a lot of anxiety due to my first birth experience and they instantly brought me peace and calmness. I wish I could give them more than 5 stars because they absolutely deserve it. Truly view these ladies as family now, we love you guys!! read more

Aimee, Flo, and Jasmine were the most supportive birth team a person could ask for. 10/10 would birth over and over with them by my side. I had a bad taste in my mouth after working with OBGYNs within Sutter Health. I could not believe that in one of the most vulnerable, joyous, anxiety-inducing times in my life, I was treated as a number, not a human. I had two losses before I welcomed my son six months ago. The day after I found out I was pregnant, my hunt for a midwife team began. I was determined to have the prenatal experience I deserved. Collective Birth was recommended to me by another midwife and I am SO glad the connection was made. What I loved: Appointments are not rushed. Aimee, Flo, and Jasmine will take the time to answer all your questions and provide so much valuable insight and knowledge into the journey that is pregnancy. There is zero judgment and you are in a totally safe place. They are there to support you and respect your birth plan, whether you want to go without pain meds or get an epidural. They are available via phone, text, email for any questions that may arise. Um, hello highest anxiety time of my life :) I had allllll the questions. My 'birth plan', as flexible as it was, took a major turn sideways. Long story short, everything I wanted to avoid ended up being a necessity and I delivered via emergency c-section. After laboring at home for 48h (!) with unpatterned contractions, Aimee and Flo met me at their office late in the evening and allowed me to stay for a few hours while I further dilated before walking over to the hospital. They coached me through contractions and helped me get some rest in between. Flo held my hand during my c-section and was by my side the entire time. She knew that I needed to leave my body at that moment, as I was in such a shocked state. She helped me visualize my happy place as I closed my eyes, never letting go of my hand. I'm tearing up as I write this, Flo - I cannot thank you enough. 4 days or so after baby was born, I was having terrible pain and ended up in the ER to get my appendix removed. I share this only to further validate the lengths this care team will go for you - Aimee, Flo, and Jasmine met my husband at their office so he and the baby could stay there until we had family arrive who could care for the baby, as I didn't want to bring him into the ER. Aimee tracked down lactation consultants at Alta Bates to meet me in the ER and bring me a pump so I could keep my supply up. She advocated for me to recover after surgery in the postpartum ward so that my baby could come and be with me. They truly went above and beyond for me. Support. You will not have to deal with the hospital staff if you don't want to, these midwives are well respected at Alta Bates and they will act as your defensive team. Also, after birth, Flo came to my house to check in on me and baby. That was so appreciated because I wasn't feeling up to leaving the house after two surgeries. I could go on and on - but I'll end with this, you won't regret joining the collective birth fam! read more

I can't say enough good things about Collective Birth - they were truly incredible. They welcomed me into their practice at 7months pregnant after a cross country move. I was extremely stressed about birth and had some complications - but Jasmine, Flo, and Aimee were so thoughtful and present in caring for my baby, myself, and my partner. They made space for all of our feelings and needs - which were many - and we put together a birth plan that would work for us. Jasmine came to my house in the wee hours of the morning to help me labor and then met us at the hospital, where we were able to bypass triage. She was SO calm and knowledgable, allowing me to feel safe in the chaotic hospital environment (directly post strike and during thanksgiving week, no less!). I could cry just thinking about what an amazing job she did taking care of us - a true hero. I would highly recommend Collective Birth - trauma informed, expert skills, and just truly special people. read more

We had the incredible opportunity to work with Flo, Jas and Aimée, who are all kind, compassionate, skillful midwives. Women tend to remember in great detail every aspect of their birth. Penny Simkin found that the single most important factor was how they remembered being cared for - if they were honored, respected, listened to; if they were helped and nurtured - even if the birth itself was difficult. For the rest of my life, I will remember the great care provided to me by all three of the midwives throughout my entire pregnancy. As someone who was anxious around giving birth and becoming a mother, they each took the time to get to know me as a person - helping me prepare every step of the way with such a compassionate approach to medical care. When the day finally came, the first sign of relief I experienced was seeing the face of Jas, who came to my house at 4 AM, and then Aimée, who dropped by the hospital to check in on me, and finally Flo, who delivered my baby and helped me find my inner strength. Knowing I was with midwives I knew and trusted and who understood who I was, instead of a stranger - it was everything I could have asked for other than a healthy baby. I will be forever grateful for being respected and nurtured on my baby's birth day, and wholeheartedly endorse this kind of care for every birthing person. read more