Aquarius Midwifery

01/03/2025

We’re just getting started! We’re so excited to grow this practice and serve our community in 2025!

01/03/2025

Another Midwife Minute coming at ya!

10/18/2024

TOMORROW!!! Come check out our new office space in Pleasant Hill. Don’t forget to enter our raffle for a 1 hour massage with Ginger Conrad or an awesome MIDWIVES SAVE LIVES stainless steel mug for your favorite beverage. Of course you want to enjoy your hot beverage all while promoting your love and support for midwives! Thank you to in Martinez for your awesome engraving skills 💙🩵

10/15/2024

Our Open House is this weekend-we hope to see you there!

09/19/2024

ATTENTION PREGNANT FOLKS, BIRTH WORKERS and anyone that provides services to pregnant people! Join us at our new office in Pleasant Hill. We’ll have drinks and snacks and a raffle for some awesome goodies-massage anyone?

09/17/2024

ATTENTION PREGNANT FOLKS, BIRTH WORKERS and anyone that provides services to pregnant people! Join us at our new office in Pleasant Hill. We’ll have drinks and snacks and a raffle for some awesome goodies-massage anyone?

09/17/2024

09/15/2024

09/10/2024

A little sneak peek at what we’ve been up to. New and exciting stuff coming soon!

09/03/2024

09/03/2024

Have you been told stories filled with exhaustion, problems breastfeeding, and unstable moods? What if there was something simple you could do that could help you find joy and ease in your postpartum experience?
Most mammals on earth consume their placenta after birth. The hormones and nutrients contained in the placenta may help boost postpartum mood, give more energy and increase milk production.
Placenta encapsulation is the process of taking the placenta and turning into a shelf stable supplement.
Clients report a faster recovery from pregnancy and birth. Check out the stats below: Clients who Reported At Least One Benefit
99.6%
Increased Energy
80%
Better Mood
68%
Quicker Healing
62%
Increased Milk Supply
58%
Feeling More Balanced
70%
Less Times of Weepiness
64%
Decreased Feelings of Sadness
74%
Reduced Anxiety
38%

Multiple studies have surveyed placenta consumers on their experiences. The majority report positive benefits and say they would do it again! Aquarius Midwifery clients receive a special discounted rate from Red Tree Placenta. Check out their website for more info: www.redtreeplacenta.com.

08/25/2024

Benefits of Laboring in Water and Water birth

Water facilitates mobility and enables you to assume any position that is comfortable for labor and birth
-Speeds up labor
-Reduces blood pressure
-Gives feelings of control
-Provides significant pain relief
-Promotes relaxation
-Conserves energy
-Reduces the need for drugs and interventions
-Gives a private protected space
-Reduces perineal trauma
-Reduces cesarean section rates
-Is highly rated – typically stating they would consider giving birth in water again; some even stating they would never give birth any other way!
-Is highly rated by experienced providers
-Encourages an easier birth and a gentler welcome for baby
Adapted from Waterbirth.org

08/24/2024

I’m Kathryn, a student at the National Midwifery Institute. A doula since 2013, I am privileged to now support families as a midwife apprentice and assistant as well. I birthed two of my babies at home with a midwife, and one was born by cesarean at Alta Bates. I live in Oakley with my partner, kids, three cats, and a growing collection of plants.
My passion is helping parents find joy and ease in the major transitions that are birth and parenting. I’m a book nerd and science enthusiast. In school, I excelled in biology and chemistry and love applying that knowledge to the world of herbs and traditional medicine. Fun Fact: I have an associates degree in Automotive Technology. I fixed cars until I was 8 months pregnant with my first child. I planned on owning an auto repair shop someday. Becoming a parent sure is transformative!

Send a message to learn more

08/24/2024

Hi, I’m Angela. I’ve been pregnancy and birth obsessed since childhood. Back when I used to perform pretend ultrasounds on my cousin using an old black and white tv and a roll-on bottle of Teen Spirit deodorant!
When I became pregnant with my first child in 2011, I took a deep dive on all things birth related. I took childbirth classes with a doula and hired her to support me through labor and birth. My sons birth was transformative, I felt so empowered and supported. I wanted all people giving birth to feel that way and I couldn’t imagine leaving my sweet baby to do anything else. I started my doula training in 2012 and supported clients through another of my own pregnancies. My second son was born at home into his dads hands in 2014.
I am a graduate of the The National Midwifery Institute, a Certified Professional Midwife and am licensed by the Medical Board of California. My lifelong passion is supporting people though this life changing event. I feel it’s truly a privilege to be able to do this work and to honor the journey through pregnancy, birth and into parenthood.

Send a message to learn more

08/24/2024

What makes our practice unique?

We have a combined 20 years of experience as birth workers. We both started as doulas in 2013 and worked independently and as partners serving hundreds of East Bay families.

Now as midwives we can offer that same physical and emotional support to our midwifery clients and their families.

We are thrilled to be able to interweave our clinical knowledge with the wisdom we gained as doulas to ensure our clients have the safest and most comfortable birth experience possible.

12/18/2023

Student midwife practice, taking one for the team!

11/04/2023

Your favorite soon to be midwives practiced their suturing skills today. Thanks to for inviting us to participate in such an informative workshop!

11/02/2023

Did you know these stats? We’re hoping to begin accepting our first clients next fall-tell your friends!

10/26/2023

Progress update! Seven more births as the Primary Midwife Under Supervision. I still have 8 months of school but after a full year on call, I’m ready to slow this train down and maybe be able to sleep through several nights in a row. What a dream!

08/13/2023

Sometimes the hospital is the safest place for a person to birth. This client handled the transfer for preeclampsia beautifully and the hospital rooms vibes are on point!

06/09/2023

The student midwife life is tough. It’ll all be worth it in the end but right now just feels hard.

05/20/2023

Check out this cord-a true knot! Baby must have been super active in the womb. He was also wearing his cord like a belt.

05/17/2023

Now and then (swipe for May 2022)

05/16/2023

What a difference a year makes-slow but steady!

05/09/2023

That look! This client was so zen throughout her whole labor. The only hint that she was having a contraction was the slight change in her breath. She brought her baby earth side, they locked eyes and a quiet magic filled the air.

05/05/2023

My body is strong, my body is healthy, my body is resilient, my body is… .

04/30/2023

Evening Primrose in full bloom at Angela’s house this beautiful afternoon.

04/25/2023

When you gotta get that schoolwork done! Squeezing in some work while I wait for my youngest to be done with his taekwondo lesson. -Angela

04/23/2023

Back in January, my first birth of 2023! Sweet girl was born in the 5:00 hour and her mama made it look absolutely effortless. As we were leaving her two big brothers were rushing in to meet her, so perfect!
-Angela

04/22/2023

Throwback to a skills share day in Ukiah when Kathryn successfully did her first blood draw and Angela did her first I.V placement! We estimated blood loss, drew up and administered meds (into fruit!) and learned so much from our instructors and peers.

04/22/2023

Kathryn is the apprentice midwife of Michelle Edgar, LM of East Bay Homebirth Midwifery. Taking clients due in August and beyond in the greater East Bay!

Give birth at home naturally with Michelle Edgar, Licensed Midwife.

04/21/2023

When you know the importance of SEO you start working on your website 2 years before you plan on taking your first client!

04/21/2023

As some of you may know, we have transitioned from doulas to student midwives. We hope to both be licensed in early 2025-fingers crossed! Follow us on our journey.

Warmly,
Angela & Kathryn

10/05/2022

Introducing Angela! Angela has been pregnancy and birth obsessed since childhood. She performed pretend ultrasounds on her cousin using an old black and white tv and a roll-on bottle of Teen Spirit deodorant. She caught all of her dolly’s, then lovingly bathed and swaddled them, and handed them back to “breastfeed.”

Years later, Angela was present when that very cousin had her first real baby. She gave her foot massages, sips of water and distracted her through contractions. Soon she was invited to all of her cousins births. She had no idea that she was essentially acting as their doula.

When Angela became pregnant with her first child in 2011, she took a deep dive on all things birth related. She took childbirth classes with a doula and invited her to attend her birth. Her sons birth was so transformative and she felt so empowered and supported that she couldn’t imagine leaving her sweet baby to do anything else. She became a doula in January of 2013 and supported her clients through another of her own pregnancies. Her second son was born at home into his dads hands in a wild free birth in 2014.

The pandemic put a big pause on Angelas doula practice and had her thinking she might move on from birth work, but she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Her husband and doula partner suggested she explore midwifery school and after much thought, she enrolled at The National Midwifery Institute in July 2020.

Angela’s lifelong passion is supporting birthing people though this life changing event. She feels it’s truly a privilege to be able to do this work and honor the journey through pregnancy, birth and into parenthood.

06/16/2020

How are you measuring success in motherhood?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
By your child's behavior? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
By your house being clean? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
By the laundry being folded? ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Measuring our successes based on how clean our house is, how well behaved our child was today or by making home-cooked meals it setting us up to feel shame and guilt.⁣⁣
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It's unrealistic and largely outside of our control when mothering little humans. ⁣
⁣⁣
Turn your focus to what you can control count your successes in the day instead of your failures ❤️

06/06/2020

If you’re wondering if it’s “too early” to introduce your kids to anti-racism, studies show kids notice race as early as preschool. And studies have shown parents’ silence on racism actually reinforces it.

Unfortunately, according to a study just last year, 60% of parents rarely or never discuss race/ethnicity or social class with their children.

Because books are a great place to start, our friends at curated a book list of anti-racist books for babies & toddlers. Link to the full list in my profile and stories.

There are so many great book subscriptions for diversifying your bookshelf, here are a few I know of:






Tag any other authors, books, subscriptions, children’s resources below!

05/06/2020

MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH DAY. On this day I want to share the message that you deserve support whatever way you choose (or have) to feed your baby. It’s also why I want to explain why the “fed is best” movement is not the solution to the unintended consequences of “breast is best”.
📷 inspo
YES - every baby deserves to be FED. That’s the minimum standard and #1 mandate of an LC! I completely agree and support that. Then why not ”fed is best”?
❌ It dismisses mom’s feelings. Breastfeeding may be really important to her. She’s going through a LOT and putting in so much work. She has reasons she chose to breastfeed and has motivation behind her choices... but when she experiences challenges, telling her “fed is best” is like telling her all those feelings “don’t matter” because being fed is what matters.
❌ It amplifies the blame on moms when breastfeeding doesn’t work out. Rather than dealing with the grief, it sweeps it under the rug. She’s told all her efforts and struggles didn’t mean anything. Her grief and feelings invalidated. Enter: mommy guilt. “I couldn’t breastfeed but it doesn’t matter because fed is best”. No. It matters. YOU matter. YOUR CHOICE matters.
❌ It’s fear mongering, implying that breastfeeding can starve your child but formula doesn’t. Nope. You can also do formula wrong. The key is to be informed of signs your baby is getting enough.
❌It does not support ALL moms. I know formula feeding moms and moms who supplement with formula need support, but the “fed is best” movement just pins us against one another. As if you’re picking a team.
But guess what - “breast is best” does these exact same things too.
That is why SUPPORT is best. Being INFORMED to make a CHOICE on what works for your family is best.
Not being forced into a choice because something was missed early on in your feeding journey. Not being ignored or judged by feeding your baby the way you wholeheartedly chose to.
ALL moms deserve help, support and knowledge to reach their feeding goals. Let’s not pick a side. Let’s come together and support one another.

04/24/2020

Sad to announce that we officially closed our office today. The wonderful woman we had been subleasing from decided to cancel her lease after renting the suite for 27 years. We’ll miss our sweet little space dearly and can’t wait to see where we end up next. Planning to be in a new office in January...hopefully!

04/06/2020

Not sure how to support a family with a new baby while social distancing?

- Drop off a freezer meal, even better if you coordinate a meal train with multiple people. (use disposable dishes, so they don't have to worry about returning them to you!)
- Pick up their laundry. Wash, Dry, Fold it, and bring it back
- Check in on them. Let them vent. Just listen and don't solve their problems unless they ask for your opinion. Validate all those hormone-filled emotions!
- Send them a gift in the mail. Even just something little to brighten their day.
- Send them a gift card for a local restaurant that is delivering meals
- Get a new toy for the older siblings to help distract them. Make sure it's something that won't require parent involvement
- Drop off fresh fruits and veggies. Also, breastfeeding snacks, because feeding a tiny human makes you hungry!
- Get them a special treat. What is their favorite? Coffee? Chocolate? Bubble Bath?
- Offer to run an errand for them so they don't have to worry about leaving the house

Navigating life with a new baby is difficult. There are plenty of things you can do while keeping your distance.

02/27/2020

YES!

From Call The Doula!