Choosing a midwife is personal. It’s about finding someone who listens, empowers, and holds space for your birth story to unfold. As a Bay Area maternity photographer, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of that kind of support. The peace it brings and the strength it sparks in families can not be found anywhere else. Midwives aren’t just birth attendants. They’re collaborators in your journey, offering guidance at every twist and turn. If you’re seeking nurturing, trusted care with a personal touch, these six Bay Area midwives combine compassion and expertise beautifully.
902 Stannage Ave, Albany, CA 94706
Serving the Bay Area, East Bay Midwives offer licensed care for home and hospital births. They walk with you from pregnancy through postpartum, offering lactation support, birth planning, ultrasounds, and emotional care. Their continuity model, where you build trust before going into labor, makes the birthing space feel familiar and safe.
470 Carolina St, San Francisco, CA 94107
This collective of midwives is all about honoring each Bay Area family’s birth goals, whether gentle homebirth, restorative placental care, or education. They offer preparation workshops on breath, positioning, and nutrition, helping expectant parents feel empowered. Their network is rooted in peer support. This is perfect if you want both professional guidance and community.
Serving Contra Costa County
The Bay Midwives team aims to guide you to being in control of your journey to motherhood. They do this to ensure you feel confident, knowledgeable, and empowered every step of the way. They have you covered for everything you could need from simple consults all the way through postpartum and newborn care. Above all, they want you to feel safe and trust the relationship between you and your midwife.
3599 Mt Diablo Blvd #210, Lafayette, CA 94549
Focused on sustainable care, Midwives Bay Area emphasizes collaboration so each birthing parent works one-on-one with the same midwife throughout pregnancy, birth, and the fourth trimester. The emotional continuity makes it feel like birthing with a trusted friend. And as a friend, these midwives do not tell you what to do. They open a discussion to ensure you are making each and every decision along the way. This is important because each birth, mother, and baby are unique and require their own personalized care.
1146 Kenilworth Rd, Kenwood, CA 95452
Serving Sonoma, Napa & Solano counties, Susanna Napierala, LM, CPM, brings over 1,000 home births experience and is a pioneer of water births. She provides ongoing support for feeding, bonding, and whole-family wellness. Clients love how questions are always welcomed and birth plans are always respected.
6333 Telegraph Ave #103, Oakland, CA 94609
Evaly Long, LM, CPM, and team support home and hybrid births with a strong emphasis on cultural humility and trust. Their approach includes prenatal care and postpartum visits. Families consistently mention the comforting atmosphere and the nurturing guidance both before and after birth.
Bay Area midwives want solely to give you the gift of empowerment during childbirth. They help you lean into your body’s wisdom, navigate surprises, and celebrate every single milestone. That trust, care, and co-creating becomes part of your family’s story.
As a Bay Area maternity photographer, I’ve seen the calm confidence families have when supported by a midwife they trust. If you’re working with one of these practices or dreaming of that kind of care, I’d be honored to document your birth journey or your newborn’s early days. Let’s preserve the strength, tenderness, and realness of your family story together.