As an L&D nurse it was important to me to find a midwife who was skilled, calm, and supportive for the birth of my second child. Luckily I didn't have any complications and everything went very smoothly. I completely trusted Aimée to take care of me and my baby as she entered the world. I feel so lucky to have been able to be under her care during this exciting time in my life! read more

Aimée Tom, CNM - Aimée, my baby, and me after delivery :) - Midwives Near Me - Berkeley, California

Aimee is nothing short of incredible! As a second time mom who had a deeply traumatic birth experience the first time, I was looking to work with a midwife who I could trust and would work to help me have the positive birth experience I so deeply desired. Aimee did all that and more. She was so present for me and went above and beyond to make sure that others on the hospital like the nurses and the pediatric team were aware of my previous experiences and current needs in order to feel safe. I'm happy to say, I had that positive experience the second time around largely thanks to Aimee! read more

Aimée Tom, CNM - Midwives Near Me - Berkeley, California

I cannot recommend Aimee enough. Whatever I wrote here would not be close to enough. Meeting her and her partner, Florence Chien (separate review), was a pivotal moment of my pregnancy. I am SO GRATEFUL for Aimee's warmth, expertise, and partnership and this perfect blend of midwifery care prenatally and midwifery delivery in a hospital setting. Our prenatal visits were at regular, increasingly frequent intervals leading up to term. We got to know each other so well that I was completely comfortable and confident heading into labor. Aimee was so incredibly welcoming and cozy from the moment we met her that it was like being drawn into an established family. How much value can be put on this feeling of regard and respect and warmth with your first pregnancy? Aimee is invaluable. And she makes the burden of unknowns about your pregnancy accessible in a fun, fascinating way. She has that unique temperament of true cool. Like, cool aunt cool; Penny Lane cool. The kind that makes you believe in yourself and your ability to handle this insane experience that is pregnancy. If you want to be certain to feel good about your pregnancy journey and your delivery experience, regardless of what happens because everyone's body and baby do their own thing, but if you want to look back and say that you had an awesome team, you had full support by your providers, that they were medically expert, that you wouldn't change anything that you were in control of, you were never rushed or pressured, that you felt loved and cradled by your team, you want Aimee. I could go on for days with the details of my experience and Aimee's role in it, but the take home point is that pregnancy and the birth of your baby is so unique and special and can be anything from horrifying to blissful. After going through our first with Aimee, we wish her on absolutely everyone. We wish that we could gift her to all of our loved ones who are doing it. My birth story was not smooth (prodromal labor, placenta didn't want to come out, abnormal umbilical cord) but I cannot imagine how it would have felt if I didn't have Aimee (and Flo) in my corner. I will forever cherish these memories with Aimee as a crucial part of our family. I am beyond grateful. read more

I am so pleased to have found Aimée for my first pregnancy. She is a phenomenal care provider and I highly recommend her. I am forever grateful to Aimée for the knowledgeable and compassionate care she provided to me for my prenatal, birth and postpartum care. During our visits with Aimée she really took the time to go over everything with us, listen to our concerns and provide her expertise. You can tell Aimée really cares about her clients. It really felt like this is how healthcare should be - with a warm, caring, expert provider. I love Aimée's model of care and that you can still have a hospital birth but with all of the benefits of individualized midwifery care. It's truly the best of both worlds. Aimée is forward-thinking and really knows how to set up clients for success. For example, Aimée showed me how to express and collect colostrum. She encouraged me to do this regularly. She explained how it is helpful when the baby is born and if there are any special circumstances where the colostrum might be needed. Aimée didn't know that I would eventually have a cesarean birth, but I know that this early colostrum collection helped the transition with breastfeeding after my c-section. Without Aimée's early guidance, I think breastfeeding would have been far more difficult and I'm forever grateful to her for this. I intended and very much wanted a vaginal birth, but our baby was in a breech position. Aimée was compassionate, but also very calm and grounded. She referred us to other care providers to try and encourage the baby to turn. Everyone she referred us to was a total gem - from the childbirth educators to the acupuncturist. Access to Aimée's network is another bonus of having her as your provider. Aimée did her best to help us have the birth we originally envisioned. Ultimately, we had a beautiful cesarean birth. Aimée met us there at the hospital before the birth. It was such a relief to have her there and guiding us through the process. She was comforting and created a joyous atmosphere. She did little things like take pictures of me and my partner before the surgery - I will forever treasure those pictures. She literally held my hands during the procedure preparation and kept me feeling great. She stayed during the birth and afterwards. She helped show me how to breastfeed and was super caring in the recovery room. She also provided phenomenal postpartum care and made my visits really easy with a newborn. I wholeheartedly recommend Aimée and hope to have the opportunity to work with her again. read more

When my partner and I hired Aimée, I wasn't completely sold on the pros outweighing the cons with a midwife. We were at 20 weeks and turned off by the impersonal experiences that we had to date at the clinics and hospitals. My partner was onboard more than me and Aimée having admitting privileges at Alta Bates helped ease some of my concerns, essentially bridging the gap between what I thought a birth experience should be. Once the due date got closer, I can't imagine not having Aimée. She was calm and caring through every interaction. Her confidence was infectious. With all the unknowns, she listened to us. She met every single need we had, even those we didn't know we had. I looked forward to our appointments! The evening of our child's birth was the most memorable day of our lives. Unique, like every birth, but Aimée was our guide. My partner did all the work, but Aimée was with us throughout. She was so integral to our first experience that when number two announced his arrival, she was booked before the doctor appointment. The experience with Aimée the second time cemented her status of one of my favorite humans on earth! I'm sure that my love for Aimée is elevated by her presence at a few of the best experiences in my life. But I also know that she helped prepare us to be in our moment and let nature take its course. I would give her more stars if I could. read more

I agree with previous reviewers that Aimée was born to be a midwife. She is warm, respectful, trustworthy, experienced and she loves babies That she delivers at Alta Bates Hospital really gives new parents the best of both worlds -- the personalized care of a midwife who understands and supports the natural birth process with the comfort and convenience of a hospital delivery. After taking a childbirth class and confirming that I wanted to try giving birth naturally, I started to explore switching my care from a group ob/gyn practice to a midwife. Our doula, Sumi, helped us realize that having a good team throughout the entire process who would make me feel comfortable and at home, even in the hospital, was important to keep labor progressing and to support and encourage me. With the ob/gyn practice, I wasn't sure which doctor would be on call the day I went into labor, and my understanding was that I would only really see the doctor just before the baby was born. We contacted Aimée within a month of our due date and were incredibly lucky that she had space available in her schedule for us. On our initial visit to her small and welcoming office across from the hospital, Aimee gave hugs to greet us and spent a generous hour explaining her philosophy, the care she offered and answering all of our questions. This was a noticeable and welcome change from the 15 minute appointments we were used to having that always felt rushed. On all of our following visits Aimée always had plenty of time for us and she personally took phone calls from me between visits (even when she was at the beach!) She helped us shorten and focus our birth plan on the important things the hospital nurses needed to know, and she herself would make sure everything else we asked for was followed as much as possible. She provided guidance when we weren't sure what the best option was and it was easy to trust her advice as we really felt she had our best interests in mind. During labor she was a positive, supportive and kind voice, giving suggestions and direction to me when she thought it would be helpful... and it was. Along with my husband and doula, having Aimée as a coach from the time I arrived at the hospital until baby was in my arms was such a comfort. She talked me through the hardest parts of labor and reminded me that I could, even when my mind was starting to tell me that I couldn't. On the receiving end, Aimée invited my husband to catch the baby (something we had never even thought was an option), and his birth experience ended up being "better than imagined". She visited us twice during our postpartum hospital stay to check in on us and talk about how we felt the birth went. Aimée made the birth of our first child such a special journey and I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting a more personalized and educational experience than you may find elsewhere. Looking back on it we realized that switching our care to her was one of the best decisions we made. If we decide to have another baby someday and still live in this area, we will most certainly seek out Aunty Aimée to care for me during and after pregnancy and to deliver our baby. read more

"The best laid plans..." I had hoped and planned for a "natural" vaginal birth for 39 weeks but baby shot up in size at the very end and was showing to be big on ultrasound...like 10 lbs 11 oz big. Aimee and Flo understood my hesitations. As my guides, they spent hours with me because I had so many questions as I waffled back and forth not sure what I wanted to do (try vaginally or go with a C-section). Ultimately, only I could decide whether I would proceed with a C-section but Aimee and Flo never rushed me and continued to play out the various scenarios, explaining each path again and again if I needed it. I felt safe under their care. 100%, without Aimee and Flo the unplanned nature of my C-section would have been traumatic. Their care during the surgery and afterwards was the cherry on top. I thank them for keeping me and baby safe the whole way through. read more

My wife and I were so glad that we found Aimée and Jasmine! They were both incredible to work with the whole way through to delivery. They are very good at what they do. They offer their advice, but always respect the decisions of the parent(s). Both were there for the delivery, and were amazing with their support! Aimée was fully in charge the whole way, kept my wife as calm as could be expected, and she was the one that "caught" our baby daughter after delivery. Both Aimée and Jasmine checked up on us the next day, with Jasmine making an in-person visit to post-partum room. Everything about our experience with Aimée and Jasmine was top-notch, and I'd recommend them to anybody. read more

Before I became pregnant, I envisioned that when the time came, I would have a midwife for my prenatal care and to deliver my baby. When I found out I was pregnant, I actually took what I perceived at the time was the "stress-free" route: to be under the care of a ob/gyn. I stuck with the ob/gyn mainly out of convenience. The thought of searching for and hiring a midwife seemed overwhelming, so I stuck with the doctor. Month after month I became increasingly wary with the detached and routine care of the ob-gyn. The breaking point came when the doctor critiqued my birth preferences. I had no trust and faith in this doctor to deliver my baby through a unmedicated birth, and immediately began my search for a midwife at 32 weeks of pregnancy. I was referred to Aimée by her colleague Gwen Haynes, CNM. When I learned of Aimée's vast experience, education, and credentials in the realm of women's health, along with her identifying as a woman of color (VERY RARE to find in a midwife here in Berkeley and the greater East Bay region), my husband and I immediately set-out to contact her. She promptly and warmly replied to our inquiry, and I instantly felt a connection with her at our first meeting. From the very beginning, Aimée took charge of my care by prioritizing & treating several issues that were present throughout my pregnancy (and my doctor didn't seem too concerned about): iron deficiency, low weight gain, and perinatal depression. Although with this last issue, I never trusted the doctor to even mention what I was experiencing emotionally. Aimée immediately tackled these issues and for every appointment (once a week, one hour long) she offered advice and care that was geared towards my unique needs and respected my individuality/humanity. She spoke one-on-one with my husband numerous times to see how I was doing and to plan for my postpartum care. She also contacted a few local therapists on my behalf in case I needed to speak with someone in the postpartum period. Ultimately, I experienced a beautiful and supernatural unmedicated birth; my baby was born in a extremely positive and loving way. At our last appointment before I went into labor, Aimée reinforced the keyword "surrender" to me. I kept that word at the forefront of my mind during the whole labor process and the delivery of my baby. I rode the waves and simply surrendered to nature...and of course, Aimée's vast experience, knowledge, and love of the childbirth process! read more

Aimée was born to be a midwife. I spent the majority of my pregnancy under OB care (which was perfectly fine), but as my due date approached, I started to feel quite nervous/fearful. I also felt like something was missing in my care - a more personal relationship. I started looking into midwifery care when I was about 30 weeks pregnant, and I'm so glad I found Aimée. Upon meeting her, my husband and I knew she was a great fit for us - she embodied the heart and intuition of a doula mixed with the medical training of a Registered Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, and she was just starting her private practice (yay for women of color entrepreneurs!). Also, and maybe most importantly, we just vibed with her. It was never an explicit goal of mine to have a natural/unmedicated birth. My plan all along was to go as long as I could without interventions and then go with the flow - If I needed/wanted pain medication, I wouldn't deny myself. Under Aimée's leadership, and with her coaching and expertise, we ended up having a birth experience we didn't even realized we wanted (or think was possible). After 17 hours of active labor, we gave birth to our beautiful baby boy at Alta Bates without any pain meds. I credit Aimée (along with our doula, Judi Newell, and our team of incredible nurses) with unlocking in me the power, confidence, and vulnerability I needed to surrender to the birthing process. Outside of the labor and delivery experience, Aimée was available 24/7 via text or phone call - when I tripped and fell at 35 weeks, when I had a plugged duct on Day 5, and even through all of the ups and downs of going back to work, Aimée was there to offer her love and support. The day after our son was born, Aimée described the "fluid shift" that would soon happen in my body. I'd be sweating, crying, and peeing lots - literally expelling pregnancy fluids to make way for breastmilk. But as I reflect on my experience with Aimée, I realize that more poetically, Aimée facilitated my fluid shift from pregnancy to early motherhood. Thank you, Aimée! read more

I switched providers at 20 weeks to Aimée after being generally dissatisfied with the amount of time my big OB practice had for me. It ended up being the very best thing I did my whole pregnancy. Aimée was so caring and understanding and was wonderful at managing my post infertility and ART process pregnancy anxiety. All of her recommendations were fantastic, and I never felt worried about bringing anything up with her. As it happened, I went into labor on Aimée's birthday, and she selflessly spent it helping me deliver my baby. I felt so supported during birth. She has provided spectacular postpartum resources for us, and has been a wonderful resource and warm and caring provider. read more

My first two births were premies, epidurals, and in some ways traumatizing. For example, in my second birth, my placenta wouldn't detach and I lost excessive blood and was rushed to emergency surgery. After 2 years of experiencing labor and birth with my two sons, I finally got to experience a natural, soothing, relaxing labor and delivery with my third child. When I say soothing and relaxing, I mean I felt comfortable and happy with my support team in the room and the process was not as frustrating or alienating as before. I felt amazed by a support group of powerful women who were ambitious and kind hearted. This all happened because of my midwife Aimeé Tom. I didn't know what a midwife was till my friend, Fatima mentioned it to me one day and I was really interested. She knew a great Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and helped me with contacting her. Before I begin, A midwife is a person (typically a woman) who cares for mothers and newborns around pregnancy, labor, delivery, and post-partum. She's there during your pregnancy, labor, birth and after giving birth. The reason why I chose to have a midwife this time is bc I needed a woman who I can see at each of my check up appointments, appointments that were not rushed, someone with whom I was comfortable with my body and sharing my stories, 1-on-1 help with my diet, and who I can fully trust to help me during labor and to deliver my baby girl. I think at the end of my second trimester of being pregnant Aimeé needed a break from work due to health condition. But that didn't stop her from calling me and checking up on me. She even surprised me at my appointments when she needed to be home resting lol. Those moments made me realize that being a midwife was more than just a job to her. This woman really loved her job and genuinely cared about my care. She had other midwives who helped her during the time of her break, who were Lindy and Jas. I trusted them as well with my care. My contractions kicked in every 7-5 mins that evening around 5-6pm on November 5. I then called midwife Lindy to notify her and she told me to go to the hospital. As soon as I stepped out of the door I got a call from my friend, Fatima, asking me how I'm doing. This woman I swear she can feel my energy from afar. She checks up on me when something is going on. Good or bad lol. When I got to the hospital, Aimeé was there! I felt extremely happy and blessed. When we walked to my room, the lights were dim but we had candles (fake candles bc hospital didn't allow real candles). There was music by Sade and meditation sounds provided by my husband, Ftahn. Everything was absolutely great. I felt like I was walking in a spa getting ready to get my massage lol. Although both my family and my husband's family weren't there, my husband and midwives presence gave me assurance that everything would be alright. I felt like I had all the support I needed. My personal labor experiences as well as my experience witnessing those of my sisters, I felt like the men didn't really do much and know what to do to help their partner to be comfortable. They were just there for moral support. These women helped me with what positions I needed to be in to speed up my labor, massaged me from top to bottom, and helped me stay hydrated. They encouraged me with words and reminded me to relax and "trust my body". Trust your body on what she's doing and picture things that will help open my cervix. I don't know how long I was in the tub but I was already thinking of epidural. While I was yelling and crying lol I was very emotional at that point and all I wanted was my mom and sisters. When they helped me to my bed I knew it was time to push but I still wanted the epidural. Aimeé knew what I want/need at that time. She remembered me saying, "if I say I want the epidural, don't let me take it." She didn't let that happen and she lovingly delivered my baby girl into my arms. This birth experience was radically different than my first two. I felt a high and joy I haven't felt before. I felt safe, taken care of, and guided with wisdom throughout the process. I also learned of my own power, appreciation for my body, and the divine intelligence of women. Thank you to my husband who was right there by me and holding my hand when I started to push. Thank you Fatima for your help with Aimeé and for catching every moments that night. I want to thank all these powerful women, Aimeé, Jas and Lindy, who were there to support me physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the way. I appreciate what you done for me and my baby girl. You guys are truly the best! read more

We couldn't have asked for a better midwife! Aimee was always incredibly sweet, supportive and informative during our prenatal visits. She answered all our questions and helped us think through questions we may not have even thought of. She has wonderful bedside manner and made both my partner and I feel very comfortable - which was extremely important to us as we were first time parents. She was there the whole time during my delivery. She worked very well with my doula even though she had never worked with her before. They both made a wonderful team. Aimee and I discussed whether I would want epidural. I told her I would do my best naturally for as long as I could, but may want epidural when I couldn't handle it anymore. Aimee took my request to heart. She never pressured me to stay natural when the contractions were tough, but only provided me comfort and support. When I finally asked for epidural, she only asked me once if I was sure and when I told her I was, she got the doctor in right away without making me feel any guilt. The delivery was physically tough, but Aimee made me feel safe the entire time. Aimee was also very helpful with our post natal support. She was very responsive when we texted her and took the time to talk through and provide good advice on how to deal with personal / family situations when we were adjusting to being new parents. All in all, my husband and I felt like we had an amazing team helping us during this crazy experience and we would certainly call on Aimee again when we are ready for our next child! read more

My first birth was with an OB at a top clinic in Manhattan,NY. It was a fairly straightforward and uncomplicated medicated labor and delivery, but I always felt something was missing. When I got pregnant with my second I knew I wanted to experience an unmedicated birth with a midwife. After some searching I found Aimee Tom and knew I wanted to work with her during our first call together. Throughout my whole pregnancy Aimee supported me and helped me feel empowered. During times I was nervous and anxious she reassured me but ALWAYS gave me options. She guided me to trust myself and my instincts. She helped me view my pregnancy as normal (not a medical issue in which OBs made me feel). Even with a *very* long labor, Aimee supported me to have the birth I always wanted. I felt like I was in charge of my own birth, BUT it was because she cleared the way for me! The birth I had with Aimee Tom by my side is one I will treasure forever and hold dear to my heart. I couldn't have done it without her. read more

I had such a wonderful experience with Aimée as my midwife! She is very knowledgeable, and I thoroughly trusted her throughout my pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. I appreciated the personal care I received from her -- none of my appointments were rushed. She listened to any questions/observations I had about my pregnancy and provided me with ample advice and explanations. When I was in labor, she was present as much as I wanted her to be -- checking in on me, yet giving me the space I needed to focus on what my body was going through. She provided me with back massages and other tips to help relieve the pain. And for the delivery itself, I 100% felt like I was in good hands, with her ensuring my baby was delivered safely. Overall, I had such a wonderful birthing experience, being able to entirely focus on what my body was going through without having to worry about the care I was receiving. Not only is she an expert in what she does, but she also is very kind. Her presence is very calming -- she was a reassuring, guiding hand throughout such a life-changing event of creating and having a baby. I highly recommend her to anyone embarking on their pregnancy journey! read more

I've been dragging my feet writing this review, because how do you summarize someone who made your birth experience better than you ever hoped for?? Aimee is amazing. All throughout prenatal care, labor, and birth both my husband and I felt so seen, respected, and supported. I have no doubts that part of why our birth went so smoothly and quickly was the complete trust I had for Aimee and how comfortable she made me feel from start to finish. I could go on for pages about how wonderful she is but I'll just say that if every woman had the kind of care that Aimee gives the world would be an immensely better place, and choosing her to be the one to walk my family through the birth of our daughter is one of the best decisions I've ever made. read more

I started my care with Aimée about halfway through my second pregnancy and I will be forever grateful for her care and friendship during what became a complicated pregnancy that ended in an amazing VBAC birth! After a very stressful first labor involving many interventions and a C-section, I was determined to try for a natural VBAC for my second child. I thought the most important factor would be having the certainty of knowing that the same person who provided my prenatal care would be there to deliver my baby in a safe environment. Ideally, I wanted to have a midwife look after me, but until I found Aimée 's practice, I had no idea that it was possible for a midwife to also admit you to a hospital and deliver your baby. I am convinced that Aimée is the main reason that I was able to achieve my goal despite complications, as well as to heal the trauma of my first birth. We decided to hire Aimée after our first consultation. I felt truly listened to by her, and I thought this quality would serve me well since I tend to be quiet. She always had ample time to answer all my questions during hour-long appointments, and welcomed my 3 year old son as well, allowing him to sit on the table with mama and 'help' with my exams! In my 31st week, I had a partial placental abruption that sent me to the ER in the middle of the night. Aimée met us there at 4 in the morning, co-managed my case with the OBs on call, and did my internal exam. It was a very scary time, but having her there was very reassuring, both to my husband and I, and our 3 year old, who had grown to trust her very much. During a 10 day hospital stay that followed, Aimée was there every day to check on me, to advocate for me, and interface with the rotating team of doctors whose care I was under. This was absolutely invaluable. When they recommended induction at 37 weeks, she reassured me that the baby would be fine and she would be with me every step of the way. On the night of the induction, Aimée met us at the hospital and insured that we got a big room with a tub. The induction was a long process, but Aimée assured me that it was normal. She also allowed me to go off the Pitocin drip in the evening in order to eat dinner after a full day without eating, which greatly improved my energy and outlook (I hadn't been allowed to do in my first labor). She even stayed the night at the hospital in order to be available for me if my labor picked up! During active labor, Aimée proved again and again to be an intuitive and skilled midwife, providing amazing massage, loving and encouraging words, and excellent guidance in trying different positions. She expressed confidence in me when I had no confidence in myself. After a very intense morning labor, she recommended breaking the bag of waters to speed the birth. Although I was scared to do it, I trusted her, and after she did I went from being just a few centimeters dilated to having the baby out in under an hour! As my son was placed on me, I felt so amazed and grateful, and I noticed Aimée was crying too. It was a beautiful birth that could not have happened without her skill and compassion. read more

Aimée Tom, CNM - Wearing the hat that Aimee knit for him!! What a midwife! - Midwives Near Me - Berkeley, California

Aimee is amazing - full stop. We will absolutely work with her again if we have a second kid! Thanks so much Aimee!

I am forever grateful that Aimée was a huge part of my prenatal and birth experience. I was fortunate to receive care from both Aimée and Jasmine and I really appreciated how cared for and loved I felt the entire time. My husband and I felt like Aimée cared for our entire family. The one hour prenatal appointments were something we both looked forward to. She made us feel heard, respected and comfortable. She did an amazing job explaining our options and respecting our choices. During labor she was available by phone as I labored at home. She and my husband were able to communicate during that time and that helped increase his confidence so he could care for me. When we decided to head to the hospital Aimée met us and was just the calm, grounding presence we needed. I will never forget how she and my husband physically held me on our short walk to my hospital room. Although Aimée didn't deliver my baby, she admitted me to the hospital and seamlessly supported me as my labor plans changed. After delivery she came to check in on us the next day and provided postpartum care throughout the first 6 weeks by helping me process my birth, navigate clogged ducts and breastfeeding. I am forever grateful that she was apart of our journey. I cannot recommend her more. She will be the best addition of your birth team! read more

The word that comes to mind when I think about Aimée, her practice, and my prenatal care is "peaceful." My entire experience with Aimée could be described that way -- from the calming office visits to my labor and delivery itself. She was the first midwife my partner and I met with, and the decision to choose her for our care after that meeting was easy: We loved her calm, warm energy, and I instantly felt completely comfortable with her. Since I was with her for my first pregnancy, I had plenty of first-timer questions. She was always very reassuring and normalizing, never making me feel panicked about anything I was experiencing. I caught a nasty stomach bug while traveling six months pregnant, and being able to call and text her from afar was so comforting. I loved having a single point of contact for all my questions, concerns, and appointments -- that was one of our main motivations for choosing this model of care. Aimée got to know us and could better customize our care better because of it. And knowing that the same person I'd been seeing for months would also deliver our baby was a huge source of comfort for me. During my labor, Aimée seemed to intuitively know what I needed without me having to explain (which was mostly to be alone in a dark room!). She put me in my "dark cave" and let me labor in a way that worked best for me, which ultimately led to a beautiful, unmedicated birth. While I had learned a bunch of numbers and timeframes in my childbirth class, Aimée reassured me throughout my labor that they don't mean much. She helped me go with my body instead of trying to conform to whatever the typical progression is. We would use Aimée in a heartbeat should we become pregnant again! read more

When we found out we were pregnant, I did the 'normal' thing and set up prenatal care with an OB/GYN. 20 weeks into my pregnancy, my practitioner's office realized they made a mistake and would not allow me to continue prenatal care with them if I wanted to deliver at Alta Bates (we recently moved from SF to Oakland). As it turns out, this mistake was the best thing to happen to me. I had already decided on a doula (Britt Urban- AWESOME!), and she had suggested I look into the midwifery model of care. I had never seen myself as a 'midwife' type of gal, but after doing some research I realized that was only because I knew nothing about it. I found out that there are a handful of midwives that deliver at Alta Bates, which would give us the peace of mind that if an emergency occurred, we would still be at a hospital. We decided to meet with Aimée. At our first meeting she sat with my husband and I and talked us through prenatal visits, the difference between midwifery and ob/gyn models of care and how this would affect labor and delivery. I was sold. At each prenatal appointment, Aimée took the time to answer any questions my husband or I had and offer advice. She listened, reassured, and encouraged us. She completely supported my desire for an unmedicated birth but also had no judgement about the use of pain medications if it became necessary. She helped educate us on our choices and left it up to us to decide what we wanted. I went into labor at 3AM and stayed at home as long as possible. When I felt I needed to go to the hospital around 7AM, Aimée met us at her office (conveniently across the street from the hospital) to check my dilation and ensure I was far enough along to be admitted. She quickly called the hospital, got a room for us, and walked us straight past triage to our room. She was with us the entire time from the second we walked through the doors until our baby girl was brought into this world. She was calm and reassuring the entire time and coached me when I needed it. Once our baby was delivered, Aimée helped establish breastfeeding super quickly. She also visited us in the hospital both days that we were there to check in on all of us and debrief the birth. This was very helpful for both my partner and I to process the monumental life event we had just experienced. Aimée made our birth experience better than we knew it could be. Highly recommended!! read more

How do I describe Aimee?? She is the most intuitive, sweet, empowering Midwife I could have ever imagined. She helped me deliver my daughter in 2018, and it was the most wonderful experience ever. Her energy is so calming and I love the amount of trust she has in the parents she works with. Whenever I hear anyone say the word "midwife" my immediate reaction is "Aimee Tom". I will recommended her to every pregnant parent for the rest of my lifetime! read more

Aimée was simply wonderful! She helped us have the natural birth we wanted. She listened to all of our concerns and always kept my safety and the safety of my baby in first place without compromising our wishes. I truly appreciate her checking in with me to see how things are going and providing useful tips. I couldn't recommend her more! read more

We decided to find a midwife who had admitting and delivery privileges at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley after feeling somewhat adrift amidst the ever-changing ob/gyns we saw in the first few months of our pregnancy. As I am sure many first time parents feel, we were scared, unsure of what we wanted for our labour and delivery, and unsure of even what questions to ask. We were so very lucky to find our way to Aimée Tom! Aimée listened to our concerns about the birth, and how we might want to proceed with it (including floating the idea of a planned c-section), while reassuring us that she could be our primary care provider throughout the rest of the pregnancy even if we chose to have a planned c-section. Aimée was readily available if we had questions or concerns outside of our appointment time. Aimée cared about our pregnancy, researching for us and following up with perinatalogists when we were diagnosed with a slightly riskier pregnancy--a velamentous cord insertion. She actively supported us by finding other support networks and resources in Berkeley as well. We never felt that we were just another patient to Aimée--we knew that she understood what we wanted, instead of instructing us about what we should want. My labour was 26 hours long, with some intense hours within that span of time, but I can only describe it as magical with Aimée leading the support team around me--including my husband, our doula, Judi Newell, and the nurses at Alta Bates. Aimée knew when to try to comfort me and when I needed strong direction and I trusted her with that care. If we are so lucky as to have another child while still living in Berkeley we would love to have Aimée as our midwife again. read more

I went into my pregnancy knowing for sure I wanted a midwife. After looking at all of the options, I was pretty sold on delivering at Alta Bates. A friend recommended Aimée, and I will be forever grateful that she pointed me in her direction (and that Jasmine was part of the team!). I felt like I was in excellent hands throughout my prenatal care, labor and delivery, as well as post partum care. I am a queer person, and felt like both Aimée and Jasmine provided me with care that was culturally competent, well beyond what I have ever experienced in the Bay Area. They used inclusive language, and advocated on my behalf with nurses on points related to gender. Aimée is extremely calm and calming while taking even the smallest concern very seriously and addressing it fully. She knows the hospital and other medical professionals very well. I was thankful for her experience and recommendations. She knew exactly what aspects of my pregnancy needed another set of eyes, and referred out when needed. Aimée made me feel safe. I knew that I was getting the highest level of care, and that she would take the time to make sure that I understood every decision I made. I also felt like she genuinely cared for my well being, both physical and emotional. After my prenatal visits, I felt calm and ready for anything. I had a beautiful birth experience, and credit Aimée and Jasmine for it. My postpartum period felt difficult, and Aimée stayed very present, even driving out for a home visit when I was worried about something so I wouldn't lose sleep wondering if something was wrong. I'm not sure how to express just how amazing Aimée and Jasmine are, but I feel thankful and lucky that my baby's first sight was their loving faces. read more

Aimée combines the warmth of attentive, individual treatment based on many years of experience with the security of a hospital delivery. Giving birth with her really is the best of both worlds.  We came to Aimée with our third child right around week 11. We harmonized great on a personal level right from the first meeting. Aimée mindfully sees here clients as a whole and catered to our individual needs. She made us feel comfortable and secure. Our 3-year old son, who came with us to the meetings, now calls her the "gummy bear doctor" thanks to a small treat she keeps for little visitors. Aimée is very helpful and patient with all medical and organizational questions you might have. As we are expats under foreign insurance, the organizational part was quite the challenge. We could not have cut through all the different questions without her help. She provided us patiently with any statement we needed, any contact she could provide and what else we might need. She even came to the hospital with us one day to see to it that we did not leave without the information we needed. read more

I found Aimée while searching for a care provider for my pregnancy after a terrible experience with my ob-gyn. I was looking for a provider who's philosophy of care matched my preferences but I was a little apprehensive about giving birth at a birth center. Aimée was the perfect match for all I wanted in a care provider; she matched what I wanted in my care and for my birth and she delivers at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley. During prenatal visits, Aimée routinely spent 45min or more with my husband and I and we never felt rushed. Being a first time mom with many questions, this was a huge advantage to having midwife care. Over the course of our prenatal visits Aimée felt like a close friend to us as well as a care provider. If I ever had concerns Aimée was always available by email and would often email back within the hour or she would call. My birth did not end up as planned and I ended up needing an emergency c section and Aimée was with me every step of the way. She held my hand while I received the spinal block and talked to me during my c section prep while my husband could not be in the room. She stayed with me and rubbed my head when my son was taken out of the room and my husband followed. She came to my room everyday during my stay in the hospital and brought me fruit because it was what I was craving at that moment. She came to my home for all my postpartum appointments and was so helpful to my husband and I in a very sensitive time. Aimée is truly a wonderful care provider and to me and my husband an amazing, caring, and loving friend. read more

I couldn't have asked for more extraordinary care than what I got from Aimée. I switched from a group of OBs who didn't even know who I was at each appointment to appointments with Aimèe that were long, thoughtful and I felt truly cared for. She's down to earth, reassuring, and promotes confidence. As for my labor, it was two hours and went exactly as we had talked about. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birth. She guided me with the right words and actions. As for follow-up appts, she knitted a hat for our baby girl and we talked about how to help my older son with the transition. Does your OB do that?! Aimée is a practitioner with skills, experience and so much heart. I recommend her HIGHLY. read more

Aimee was one of my midwives at the birth of my first child in December 2016 (Lindy Johnson was my other midwife). I can't say enough about the positive contribution she made to my birth-- about the grounded energy she brought to my laboring space, about how she made me feel safe so that I could surrender to the birth process, and about her calm demeanor that contributed to a hospital environment that supported my physiologic labor and delivery. Aimee is skilled, compassionate, and professional. She provided excellent prenatal care throughout my pregnancy, was a source of strength during my unmedicated labor and delivery, and she provided gentle care during the first tender weeks in the postpartum period. She has a long history of empowering women through their birth experiences. I highly recommend Aimee as a midwife and would happily seek her care again. read more