I sought out Lindy for my second pregnancy because of a less-than-ideal birth experience with our first baby (at a different hospital in the Bay Area, not at Alta Bates). With our first, I had a long labor and the OB, midwife, and L&D nurse were not in agreement about how to manage it. The OB was pushing for a C-section, which I ended up not needing. The experience of being caught between providers was stressful and made me wonder if I might have ended up with an unnecessary surgery had I not happened to have that midwife and nurse advocating for me. With baby #2 I felt so much better being in Lindy's care. She is passionate about the mother's wellbeing alongside the health of the baby, so I felt genuinely cared for in every prenatal visit, during labor & delivery, and throughout my hospital stay. She provided holistic care at every check-up, focused not just on physical health but also on mental and emotional wellbeing. In between our visits, if issues came up I could (and did) call or email her with a whole range of questions -- from how to handle shortness of breath to medication safety during pregnancy, to how to think about postpartum support systems. As I approached my due date she also gave me a bunch of practical tips on how to get better sleep with a newborn and insisted that my partner join some of our visits so that we would all be on the same page. The labor and delivery experience with Lindy was in stark contrast to my first one. When I went into labor Lindy met us at the hospital and already had a room ready for us so we didn't have to wait around in triage. There was no back and forth between providers because it was clear that Lindy was in charge, which gave us a lot of comfort. The process was also a lot less restrictive and invasive -- no continuous monitoring, no dilation checks (which of course may vary depending on your situation). Lindy is a legend in the East Bay midwife world. She pioneered the model of private practice midwifery with hospital-based delivery in the East Bay, and she personally trained many of the private midwives in the area. I loved my experience as a patient in her care and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity. read more

Lindy delivered our baby this past August and we are extremely happy to have had her throughout the whole process. Being our first child we were very nervous about the whole process, but Lindy made us feel reassured with her knowledge and experience. She took the time to explain everything we needed/wanted to know and gave us tools we needed to be confident in delivery and postpartum. Our baby is happy and healthy and we are extremely grateful for Lindy's guidance through it all. Thanks Lindy!! - Mitchell and Kim read more

Update after 2nd baby girl delivered by Lindy: still incredible! So glad we made this decision.

Last year, right when the pandemic began, I found out I was pregnant with our first child! I knew I wanted to have a midwife, but still give birth in a hospital setting. When I found Lindy and had my initial interview visit, I knew it was the right decision from the start. And worth the extra cost. Lindy has a strong and confident, yet gentle and calm presence that always made me feel grounded. My husband was with me at every appointment, (which during Covid was a rarity) which was so wonderful to have him involved. Lindy always took her time with me and our questions, and listened with kindness and always kept it real. Which is something I truly appreciated. I was able to call her with questions (oh some of the voicemails I would leave on her phone!) and she always called me back and made me feel relaxed and confident. I never resorted to the internet and searches - I could just call and get her expertise, which was huge for me, and I truly think helped keep my pregnancy chill. When my little started his journey earth side, I ended up finding myself laboring at home. My husband had Lindy on the phone and she guided me through contractions and we kept her updated throughout the night. By 4am we told her we were going to the hospital and she met us there promptly! Once I was in the bed and they checked in, I was already 9cm dilated! Lindy guided me so well and within an hour and a half my baby boy arrived safely and soundly. I never felt worried or stressed, I listened to her voice and it made me know I was strong and able. I am so grateful to have worked with Lindy, she really made my pregnancy a confident journey. So happy with my decision. Seriously worth every penny. Thank you, Lindy!! read more

LINDY is the best and I am so grateful for her...I wanted a natural birth in a hospital setting. I went to an OBGYN to confirm my pregnancy and I'm glad I had those experiences before meeting Lindy so I could compare the two... Midwifery care is a completely different ball game than if you go with an OBGYN. Lindy is personable, congenial and treats you like a human being. She genuinely cares about you and isn't afraid to crack a joke or give a hug. If you have questions she'll have an in depth conversation with you and listen to what you have to say. Not to mention she was once a Labor & Delivery nurse so she has the expertise of that and lots of birth experience to guide you! My birth was challenging because of baby's position but Lindy was supportive and I am happy to say that I felt empowered throughout the whole experience. Going in I knew I wanted to be drug free for delivery and we achieved that goal! Once baby was here Lindy came to check-in on us and gave my husband wonderful care instructions for me. In fact, once my mother in law arrived and saw the instructions she said, "WOW! I wish my doctor had treated me this well when I had my children!" Lindy knows what she's doing, has a heart of gold and loves to nurture you. +Can call or page her if you have questions +Are treated in kind, warm, personable way +Feel like family +Everyone at Alta Bates knows & respects her- that is a great advantage when you are delivering read more

We got more than we could as for in a Midwife with Lindy. We got a life changing experience. If you're wanting a fully supported unmedicated birth in a hospital setting look no further, seriously! The birth of our 4th baby and our experience with Lindy is still ranking as one of the BEST decisions I've ever made. Mid pregnancy I switched from a cold unfriendly OBGYN that treated my fourth pregnancy like it was "just another baby". After 3 traumatic birthing experiences I needed to find someone who cherished my pregnancy as I did, empowered me, and who'd be there to advocate and support my husband and I during birth. Lindy was all of that and more. Her warmth and wisdom is priceless. My husband listened and trusted her advice and it made for a happier pregnancy and postpartum period for us all. Lindy was always responsive to my questions and/or concerns no matter how small. She was always in tune with my needs. I labored at home and when I arrived to the hospital Lindy was in scrubs a there waiting for us, ready to go! It gave me relief. We went straight to our delivery room ( no triage) and the rest is history. Lindy was calm and encouraging during labor. She supported my hypno birthing method, and made sure that the nurses didn't coerce me while I was vulnerable, into getting IV ports and other stuff that I clearly stated on my birth plan. I almost went for it but Lindy stepped In immediately and she stood strong, advocated, and was respected. I delivered, in the hospital, cord free, no IV or anything. (Of course if I wanted any medications she was prepared to see that through too.) She also ensured my husband caught the baby which has always been on our birth plan but this was the first time it actual happened. Afterward, she came to check on us and gave us more wise advise, the best of which was to my hubby. Turns out she delivered my one of my nurses baby almost 20 years prior, and was spoken highly of by all the nurses. Our experience was so extraordinary I would do it all over again IF we didn't already a our 4. Lindy if you read this- You are an Angel and I am one lucky mama to have finally had the birthing experience that I can meditate on and smile. You made that possible. Thank you! read more

Lindy Johnson has been my midwife for all five of my children and I feel so privileged to have had her in my corner! Lindy offers excellent prenatal care. Her office is warm and comfortable and she has lovely setup for the siblings to play. They look forward to seeing her as much as the grownups- which makes prenatal visits so sweet! One of the things that really made working with Lindy so special is the support she gave to my partner. She honored their importance and invited their full involvement in the pregnancy, birth and infant care. Lindy is a fierce advocate, she is experienced, unflappable, reassuring and so caring. She even went above and beyond and transformed the birth room into a lovely, serene, homey environment. She was gentle, nurturing to me during my most challenging moments throughout my pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She held my family with her encouragement, sharp intellect and humor. She listens so respectfully and responds. I absolutely would recommend Lindy Johnson to any family for the best both experience imaginable. read more

Lindy was a great help through my pregnancy and postpartum experience. She was very clear, knowledgeable, kind, and always available. She helped ease any worries and doubts that my partner and I had. She really made us feel like she was part of our family and so comfortable. We strongly recommend her as a midwife. read more

Lindy is an absolute gem to have as a midwife! I gave birth to my first child at St. Luke's Hospital in SF. There, they have a rotation of midwives in their Labor and Delivery Dept. When you compare having your own personal midwife to the rotation of midwives, I would choose Lindy every time! She is kind, nurturing, and so experienced in her field. She takes the time to really talk to you and listen to your concerns. I felt very much at ease due to Lindy's great prenatal care, as well as, delivery. read more

Lindy is THE BEST!!! If you have the chance to work with her, you absolutely should! I knew that I wanted to work with a midwife, but was conflicted about doing a home birth. Working with Lindy, gives you the best of both worlds. You get the experience, support and attention to detail of a midwife with the assurance that if something goes wrong a doctor is seconds away. At 37 weeks my baby was breech and Lindy made sure we scheduled an ECV with a Dr. at Alta Bates who she has worked with for 20 years to do it. It was successful and in the end I was able to have an unmedicated, vaginal birth just as I'd wanted. Everyone at Alta Bates really respects Lindy and she is very proactive about getting nurses who will be supportive of the birth you'd like to have. What Lindy does is WAY BEYOND what at Doctor does. She's your advocate in the hospital, in your recovery and in your new role as parent just as much as she is during pregnancy and labor. She also feels like family and asks that you continue to call her if you have questions/concerns as you enter parenthood and for years to come. Lindy is also amazing at keeping you calm and not alarming you or causing you stress when it could be unnecessary. She's seen it all and that wisdom is really worth having on your pregnancy and birth team. I really can't say enough about Lindy and the benefits of having someone so experienced! I'm forever grateful for Lindy and hope that if I have a second child I can work with her again or another midwife with comparable experience. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about Lindy. I had always wanted to work with a midwife but we let financial worries deter us the first time round. This time, with the presence of COVID and sheltering in place, we decided it was worth the additional cost to have someone in our corner, especially as we knew we would be navigating additional hurdles. We wanted to make sure we had someone clearly advocating for our needs in a room where decisions happen so quickly. Lindy met us where we were, emotionally and financially, and my only regret is not having found her earlier. She helped us find a way to make this a possibility and not feel that finances needed to be a barrier. Lindy treated my entire family, as participants in this experience without ever losing focus on me and my needs. There was no rushing through appointments (even with the added precautionary measures due to the pandemic), and I always felt heard and seen. Often in the hospitals, I felt the doctors were treating my "condition" and I was just one of millions going through it. Lindsay treated ME, as a whole person, many times even helping me to find my voice and share my sentiments with anyone else who needed to hear them. Having that individual support in a hospital setting was everything I could have hoped for. In the delivery room I could immediately tell when Lindy entered it - she established such a calm just with her presence and everything slowed down to meet her. She helped me feel strong and capable, and any self-doubt was barely allowed to pass my lips before being met with her encouragement and trust. I was able to have a successful VBAC and to safely welcome my daughter into my arms. I will never be able to find enough words to say thank you....but here's trying - With the greatest of thanks Lindy - I can only hope for others that they find your support and care! read more

I have such mixed feelings about Lindy. I had a wonderful pregnancy and birth, so I hesitate to write a negative review- but there are things one should know before committing to her practice. She is very warm, caring and extremely knowledgeable about birth. She never rushed us through our appointments and each time we left her office I felt even more excited about the birth. She also recommended a fantastic non-hospital birth class at Loving Arms which helped us feel as prepared as possible for this big event. Around my 5th month, there started to be a few red flags which i brushed off as honest mistake. In hindsight, I now see Lindy was just not on top of everything as she should have been. For each exam, we left work early- so when she wasn't at her office for our monthly exam I thought maybe something serious happened. Nope, she forgot. I came in for another exam a few months later and she called me by the completely wrong name. Sure these are simple mistakes, but the biggest problem was the birth. I explained that women in my family have really fast births. Who knows if it's genetic or not (Lindy said sometimes it is), but I was upfront with her about that. I was at 41 weeks and she explained I should start natural methods of induction a few days later. Well, at 41 and 2 days, I started having contractions at 2am. We called her and she was on vacation in Napa! Yes, Napa is only an hour away, but she never told us she was leaving town. Since my contractions werent super close together yet, she advised us to wait it out and call back when things get more consistent. Jump to 4am and I'm having strong consistent contractions. My water breaks at 5am and WOW the contractions are now 4 min apart. We call our doula and Lindy back. I'm not sure about the exact series of events at this point because I was in labor and my husband was freaking out a bit, but our amazing doula arrive at our house around 6am and she said I was going to have the baby very soon. We rushed to the hospital and I had our son 30 min after valeting the car in the room closest to the elevator because I was in transition when I arrived. Lindy did not make the birth which was so disappointing and completely her fault. We kept her as informed as we could throughout my short labor and she didn't take the initiative to leave vacation and come to the hospital in time to care for me. Her backup midwife Aimee was amazing and so was the L&D nurse at Alta Bates. But Lindy arrived about an hour after I gave birth and never apologized or explained why she wasn't there. No "I'm sorry, I made a bad judgement"....nothing. After the birth in the hospital Lindy visited us everyday and she was very helpful in advocating for my needs and helping answer questions. But that's where the care stopped. I went for my 6 week pp exam and it was fine. Nothing unusual. However I called her at 3 months postpartum with what I recognized as a deepening postpartum depression with severe anxiety. I couldn't sleep at night, I had a hard time caring for our baby, and couldn't eat. Could barely take a shower and I felt like I was living in a carnival fun house. I called Lindy and she asked "What is there to be nervous about"? WOW. Really? She said she might have a therapist for referral but wasn't sure. I couldn't believe her reaction- she trivialized my very serious situation at my lowest point. That's when I decided I was done contacting her. Yes, she is very knowledgeable and she will do everything in her power to guide you to a natural intervention-free birth- but she is totally checked out and should retire soon. If you're reading this and want to talk about my experience- please feel free to PM me. read more

I found Lindy well into my second pregnancy, I was already 30 weeks pregnant and decided that I needed to find someone that would advocate and truly care for me, someone that would help me have a safe and loving delivery. From my very first visit with her, I felt an enormous sense of relief, I felt heard and safe, she was so kind and calm, yet assertive and knowledgeable. We looked forward to every appointment, her calm demeanor and immense knowledge made my husband and I feel very comforted and reassured that I was going to have the delivery and care I was looking for. We knew we would feel more comfortable delivering our baby at a hospital, but we wanted our experience to be different than our first time, we wanted to have someone there guiding us through it and truly advocating for us, so we could have the birth we hoped for. Lindy gave us that and so much more! She was waiting for us at the hospital, with a warm smile and a big hug, she facilitated our check in process while I was in the middle of intense contractions, our birthing room was already set-up for us, with deemed lights and tea candles. She guided the hospital staff and nurses in a calm and assertive manner, everyone at Alta Bates labor and delivery seem to know her and had a great relationship with her, that made us feel so good about the whole thing! Both my births were fast and Lindy was very prepared for that, the way she handled every contraction and every push was so empowering and nurturing, both my husband and I felt cared for and supported. Our baby boy was born to our chosen soundtrack playing in the background, no harsh lights, no rush, it almost felt like we were not in a hospital. It was a beautiful and emotional birth, it was everything we dreamed about! But it didn't stop there, Lindy was there with us postpartum, she provided so much important information and reassurance, she had a whole plan for us. Everything from nutrition, to lactation and especially postpartum recovery for me. A lot of women don't feel supported after birth, but Lindy knew exactly what to do and how to support me and my family. I can truly say that my recovery postpartum was so much better after this pregnancy, because of Lindy's knowledgeable advice. This was my last pregnancy and I will remember and cherish this experience for the rest of my life! Lindy is the real deal and I wish everyone would be so lucky to have her alongside them during their pregnancy, birth and beyond! read more

Lindy was the midwife for our second child's birth as well. The second experience was as good as the first, maybe even better. The second birth wasn't the easy labor and birth we had with our first, but Lindy's wisdom and years of experience guided us through a very long, drawn out labor. It was her extensive experience that helped our 2nd child be born naturally despite the extended labor. We can't recommend her enough! read more

Lindy took care of me through three pregnancies. Some were difficult; most were joyous, but through it all Lindy kept me calm, safe, and hopeful. Her care was exemplary, but of even greater value was the emotional support and love she provided. Despite any complications that arose, Lindy was there to explain what was happening, clearly tell me my options, and support my final decisions. I can't imagine being able to give birth without Lindy on my team. read more

It is impossible to overstate the positive experience we had with Lindy Johnson as our midwife. The other positive posts about her almost exactly reflect our feelings, so I won't repeat what others have said. Let's just say we had the birth experience of our dreams with Lindy in April, 2011. We were so happy we switched to her from Kaiser. We consider it the best decision we ever made! We can't say enough about Lindy, but especially about how competent and dependable she was once we got to the hospital. She knows how to get things done at Alta Bates and because of her, our whole experience was smooth and peaceful. She even took extra time during our postpartum hospital visit to help us with breastfeeding and gave invaluable living/relationship/baby care advice and tips. Working with Lindy will make you wonder why everyone complains so much about labor and childbirth. It doesn't have to be a trying and painful experience! read more

Hands down the best person you can have standing next to you if you are pregnant. Whether your having a V-back (like us), natural birth, c-section, transverse, posterior and all the other terminology related to human procreation. She has made our birth experience memorable, easy, fun, informative, and most importantly...POSSIBLE. Without her my wife would have definitely had to endure another C-section. I truly believe that Alta Bates is a good hospital for V-backs primarily because of Lindy Johnson. When you are standing next to your 9 month pregnant wife who is suffering not only from pregnancy but also from an injury to her pelvis, you definitely want an expert to guide you. We were very lucky to find her and if you are reading this, then you are in luck. Lindy is by far an expert in her craft, a wonderful person, a wise and informative guide and she knows her way around the hospital (definitely the best of both worlds). We could not recommend her enough. She knows what she is doing, all you have to do is trust her and be present, that's it. She has a new assistant who is also a magnificent person and if Lindy has anything to do with it, you can't go wrong. 10 stars if possible, If we had to do it again, I would pay anything to find this woman. Good luck. read more

I highly recommend Lindy if you are looking for that "best of both worlds" experience of a hospital birth with a midwife. For the first few months of my pregnancy I saw an ob/gyn, who I did like. But I didn't like the idea that any one of the half dozen doctors there could be the one to deliver my baby (possibly someone I'd never met). And when she tried to talk me out of getting a doula, I knew we weren't on the same page. Our HMO limited us as far as choosing a midwife instead, so I'm so grateful we eventually found Lindy. My husband and I got so much more one-on-one attention than we would have otherwise, and she made great efforts to include him in every part of the process. We're both journalists, so we always had umpteen questions, which she patiently answered. Because of her background in nursing, I always found her advice to be exceedingly practical rather than hippy dippy. She actually caught an irregular result in one of my blood tests that the ob had missed. When it came time for the birth, she was there for us at every step through a multi-day labor. I don't know how many times we called her in the middle of the night or early morning, but she always had calm words of reassurance. In the end I arrived at the hospital fully dilated and delivered my baby in about an hour. The simple choice to have a midwife instead of a doctor meant that we didn't have to worry about many decisions because she would handle them the same way. I feel very passionately now that women need more choices when it comes to childbirth, so I'm happy that we were able to choose Lindy for ours. read more

Lindy is a wonderful midwife. I highly recommend her. She was exactly what I was hoping to find when I decided to find a midwife instead of staying with my OB. The day I called her to set up my first appointment I was incredibly stressed at work and after a few minutes on the phone she had me feeling like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I think her voice alone decreased my blood pressure by about ten points. She has such a wonderful calming way about her. I knew I needed her at my birth! Plus I appreciated that she let me know exactly what the cost would be since she wasn't covered by my insurance. Lindy continued to be a wonderfully calming influence throughout my pregnancy. One thing I loved about her was her way of answering my sometimes ridiculously obvious questions. She had a very nice way of letting me know that I already knew the answer and then praising me for coming up with it myself. So instead of feeling like I asked a dumb question, I felt good about knowing what was going on. She made my husband feel like an integral part of the process, and after every appointment he would turn to me and say, "I'm so glad you found her." Our son happened to be born during the same week as 5 or 6 of Lindy's other clients (births are unpredictable!), but she never let on how exhausted she was and we didn't feel rushed at all. We realized as she was leaving that she was hurrying off to another client who had just gone into labor. I can't say enough good things about Lindy. I will definitely be returning to her if we decide to have another baby. read more

Lindy was our midwife for the birth of our first child in April 2011, and we recommend her highly. We thought she did a fantastic job, and we credit her for helping us have a wonderful birth experience. I transferred to Lindy from my OB, who I really like a lot, but had an on call group of about 9 other OBs-I wanted to make sure I knew the person who would be delivering my baby. Lindy's bedside manner was very personable, she was great in answering both mine and my husband's questions. Her visits were much less rushed than my OBs had been, and we talked about a wide range of things, such as motherhood, parenting, healthy eating during pregnancy, and labor and parenting practices around the world. I ended up having an all natural birth at Alta Bates, Lindy was amazing throughout. I never felt institutionalized, it actually was a very empowering experience. I labored at home, and Lindy met us at the hospital once I was very dilated (8cm! didnt mean to go that long without going to the hospital, but I ended up having a rather short labor despite it being my first child). Lindy talked with us on the phone constantly while I labored at home with my husband and mother, until finally I said I wanted to go to the hospital. I was surprised (elated actually) to be so dilated once I got to the hospital. In retrospect, perhaps I should have gotten there earlier. In any event, Lindy encouraged me to go to the hospital whenever I wanted to, I just chose to stay at home to labor longer. It ended up working out wonderfully. In subsequent postpartum visits, Lindy has been wonderful. Yesterday I came in for a 6 week follow up and Lindy spent 2.5hours (!!!) with me as I cried about being sleep deprived and not sure what to do with baby in terms of encouraging sleep habits, and other baby related stresses etc etc. She gave me wonderful advice which we've since implemented, and really made me feel 100% better. She said I could continue to ask for her advice until baby was 18!! :) She is fantastic!! We recommend Lindy for women with low risk pregnancies who want to try to have a natural birth. read more

I can't recommend Lindy Johnson as a thoughtful, competent, and kind midwife. My first pregnancy was at Kaiser in 2020 at height of pandemic. I felt like no one advocated and was really involved in my care during the first pregnancy. I interviewed several midwives and was so impressed with Lindy's kind and evidence based manner. Both my husband and I are nurse practitioners and I am faculty in a nursing school so I had high expectations for my health care provider. Lindy exceeded all my expectations and was the first time I have ever had a health visit where it wasn't rushed. It was the little touches like bringing battery powered candles to the delivery, remembering my toddler sons name and always asking about him. She is old school (no mychart messages, paper charts). But we loved that she has delivered thousands of babies and has seen it all. She wants you to have the experience you want and there is no judgement along the way read more

Lindy was so amazing! She covered for Jeri at the beginning of my birth and really set me at ease. Because of Lindy, I went from 5cm to 9cm in less than an hour. When you are relaxed, your labor progresses much faster. This women is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend Lindy if you are in search of the perfect birth. She was such a godsend to have at mine. You can read my birth story online: http://thechroniclesofmotherhood.com/2013/04/06/the-birth-of-ireland-rose/ read more

Honestly, I'm not sure how she did it... My wife was having a VBAC and the baby was two weeks overdue. We were exhausted (with a three year old at home) and arrived at the hospital anxious and tense. In no time, Lindy had us calm and collected. She is so experienced and knowledgeable. And so friendly... like a grandmother. Not sure what we would have down without her and Ellie. They patiently and proactively walked us through every step, every push and pulled us (and the baby!) through!! I'll never forget it... read more

Lindy made my whole birth experience magical. This was my first pregnancy and I had a "natural" birth at Alta Bates. She has a warm, nurturing vibe that put me at ease yet gave me strength. Lindy emphasizes education in her prenatal visits. She was an excellent communicator, and always had time for all of my questions. She is a good match for women who have a "chill" or minimal-intervention approach to birth and prenatal care. If you are a super-googler- "I need to be tested for EVERYTHING" Type-A mama, she is probably not what you are looking for. For payment, we paid her full fee and she gave us a bill to submit to insurance. We have a PPO, and the total cost was covered at 70% by our out-of-network benefits. read more

Lindy was incredibly good. Our delivery was more than I could have hoped for. It was perfect. Lindy has deep knowledge of birthing and she is both compassionate and a "Jedi" Midwife. We felt very safe under her care and I highly recommend going the midwife route over the Dr. route and with this midwife specifically. Our second son's birth was a marvel and I wish I could go back in time and have had our first son with Lindy. WE are so thankful and in awe. -Sam read more

Lindy was not only our midwife, she is a loved and trusted friend. Our two older children are so attached to her an observer might assume she's our family member, and in our hearts, she is. Our family is featured in her yelp video, and the belly she was measuring and listening to was our 9lb 9oz son, born vaginally after 2 previous c-sections! We were "cared for" by an OBGYN through my first two pregnancies and births and I cannot even explain all the countless ways Lindy is different. I was so determined to get my vbac and Lindy was my confidence throughout the process. She was patient with me, warm, welcoming and a well of knowledge. I got the birth of my dreams and could not have done it without Lindy! read more

Lindy was recommended to us by our good friend/doula. We knew early on in our pregnancy that we wanted as natural a birth as possible while still delivering in a hospital; Lindy gave us just that. She has established an amazing and respectful cooperation with Alta Bates hospital and has truly set the bar for what midwifery can be. Lindy was supportive in all the right ways and offered numerous resources both during and following my pregnancy. The birth of our daughter was such a positive and amazing experience thanks to her. We definitely hope she is available when we decide to take on this amazing adventure again! read more

From the moment we found Lindy, I had this gut feeling that she would be the right one to deliver our baby. Upon meeting with her, my husband and I were sold. She is warm, personable and maternal but matter of fact and wonderfully concise. Such an expert in her field. She continuously helped quell our fears and anxieties about pregnancy and parenthood. Lindy is not just a fair weather Midwife! My pregnancy was smooth sailing until my last trimester when I found out I had gestational diabetes. When it got to the point of me needing medication/insulin, Lindy stuck by our side helping navigate that rough period and all the additional testing, assuring us that she could continue to be our midwife. On the day I had our baby, I will never forgot the difference Lindy made in helping me achieve the natural birth that we wanted and keeping me and baby safe. I labored faster and more intensely then I could have ever imagined. Lindy was by our side setting as relaxing a tone as possible in the birthing suite. As my labor became more complicated, she assembled a back up team and got them into our room. I was told by the backup OB that I may need an emergency C-section. In turn, Lindy chimed in that I could do this and still have the birth that I wanted. She clearly instructed me on how to do that and cheered me on. In the end I was able to deliver the good old fashion way! Unfortunately, I hemorrhaged after our baby was delivered. Lindy jumped right back to work taking care of me to find the problem. She partnered wonderfully with the backup OB and they kept me safe. It wasn't the smoothest delivery but I felt I was in such good hands with Lindy and the Alta bates team. Like others have said; with Lindy, you get the perfect balance of personal attention from a skilled midwife and the peace of mind from birthing in a great medical facility. I, for one, needed everyone that was there to help that day! Once we brought our baby home, Lindy was always available to answer questions as I overcame issues with breastfeeding, baby weight gain and healing up post-partum. She has great wisdom and intuition and had insights that our pediatrician and lactation consultant didn't, that were really helpful. Hopefully your pregnancy and birth go as smooth as possible but do know that if/when unforeseen things pop up on this adventure, you are in great hands with Lindy and the Alta Bates team! read more

The fact that people are still writing reviews after years of unabated Yelp enthusiasm suggests how over-the-moon wonderful Lindy is. Warm, nurturing, hands off (until hands are necessary), and CALM. I've experienced prenatal care and birth abroad and at Kaiser. Both were dehumanizing experiences in myriad ways. Lindy was the opposite--her appointments for a veteran mom were brief (could've been longer if I'd needed or wanted), and eminently humanizing. It was clear when I checked into Alta Bates that care without her there would be very different (nurses wanted to hook me up to monitoring system, limit what positions I was in during contractions, position me on the bed to push, etc). Each time, Lindy intervened calmly and quietly (I didn't even hear what she did/said). Thanks to her, I wound up birthing my daughter in a position that felt right and made sense at the time for me. Lindy taught me that while the outcome of childbirth is miraculous, the process is, too. She made childbirth an empowering experience, a memory I can draw on in any tough situation. I learned so much from Lindy, not only about pregnancy, birth, and parenting, but about life. Lindy will teach you a whole new way of responding to urgency, and you will be better for it. read more

I had a wonderful experience with Lindy. I saw an OB in SF for my first birth and had a wonderful unmedicated hospital birth. After moving across the Bay, I started at another OB practice with my second child and was quite dissatisfied. About 20 weeks in, I decided to switch to Lindy. Best decision ever. She is warm and attentive, but also very practical and up on current developments in medicine. My pregnancy was unremarkable and I had a fairly quick labor and delivery. I called Lindy on my way to the hospital and when I arrived, she whisked me past triage into my waiting room. So nice! Baby arrived three hours after I checked into the hospital. Here is the best part - way after the fact, I felt some dissatisfaction about the managed pushing Lindy had me do. I then learned that my second stage was defined as "prolonged" as it was my second birth and it lasted over two hours. Hospital protocol usually pushes various interventions after one hour. Lindy remained calm and in control through the whole process and I had no clue that anything was "wrong." I was 100% confident in my ability to achieve the unmedicated birth I wanted, and Lindy was instrumental in guiding me through it. I know I would have been flustered and stressed if someone had told me I was on some kind of clock because the second stage was taking longer than expected. Oh, and baby and I were 100% healthy and discharged less than 24 hours after I arrived at the hospital. I highly recommend Lindy to all my friends - one of my friends just switched at 39 weeks and is paying out of pocket because she was so impressed by her initial consult. read more

I am forever indebted to Lindy and cannot express my gratitude enough for all of the amazing care and support she gave me throughout my pregnancy, L&D and postpartum care. I'm definitely a type A personality in my daily life but after meeting Lindy at the recommendation of my PCP, I knew her midwifery style would help me let go of all control and expectations of the process and embrace the pregnancy and L&D for whatever it needed to be. Lindy was so attentive throughout the whole pregnancy, extremely responsive to any questions we had and was a warm and loving presence always. I ended up having a very intense 5 hour labor (3.5 hours at home) and Lindy coached my husband and I through it all and delivered my 8lb9oz baby in a whirlwind natural and unmedicated birth on my side, a position I hadn't really considered but ended up being as comfortable as laboring can be. Lindy also was extremely instrumental in advocating for me at Alta Bates and ensuring my success and confidence in breastfeeding before being discharged from the hospital. Because of Lindy, I had the pregnancy and birth of my dreams and am so thankful to have her in my life! read more

Lindy has so many positive reviews, I almost thought not to write something regarding how amazing she is, but it is hard to resist because she is awesome at what she does. There is one thing she said to me that sums up who she is as a person and midwife. Fast forward to her visiting me at the hospital after the birth of my son. My husband went home to grab some things for me leaving me alone with the baby (panic!). I am a first time mom, so when the baby started crying, I was a bit distressed. In walks Lindy (perfect timing) and she took the baby and started soothing him. I said, you did more than enough for me in helping deliver my baby, you don't need to take care of him too! Her response back was, my job is to take care of the mom and by taking the baby now while he fusses is taking care of the mom. I just about cried when I heard that! Rewind to her care during my pregnancy and delivery. Her confidence as a midwife and the wealth of knowledge she has about pregnancy and deliveries helps ease the mind of a person pregnant with her first child. She offered so much advice and suggestions to help make the pregnancy easier and also the delivery (no tears thanks to her advice on things to do to help prevent or limit tearing during vaginal delivery as well as helping successfully deliver my posterior baby). Examples include, letting me come in at an earlier time to hear the baby's heartbeat, easing my mind when I emailed her while in Italy regarding something at ate (listeria scare), as well as asking random questions about pregnancy and postpartum. Overall theme, she answered them all reassuringly and with concern. I had an injury from my delivery and she was the best advocate for me at Alta Bates. She has a great reputation there and her care does not stop after the baby is delivered. She made visits at the hospital and made sure all my needs were met and I got what I needed to make sure I arrived safely home with the baby, even making a visit to my home to make sure I was okay and healing well. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about who she is as a person and a midwife and you can tell how much she loves what she does by the personalization, concern and love she puts into her work and care. read more

I second Liz M's review in every way. I delivered both of my babies with Lindy and almost cry tears of joy every single time I THINK of her! She is an amazing woman and has been one of the most important people ever to influence or help me. I switched to Lindy from an OB in the 7th month of first pregnancy and will forever be grateful that I did. Lindy is a very wise, confident, competent midwife gently listening, encouraging, supporting and nurturing the pregnant mama and partner along the journey of pregnancy. She always has a hug and a smile for you when you enter her office. She manages everything herself so there is no reception staff or nurse practitioner/assistant between you and your care provider. It is quite a unique and special situation. I loved it. She provides excellent service and great advice! I had TWO old-fashioned (vaginal delivery, drug-free, 12 hours labor first birht, 6 hours labor second birth) joyful childbirth experiences thanks to her support at Alta Bates. I cannot overstate my confidence in this woman and absolutely adore her. Just give her a call and talk to see if you are a fit! The nurses I worked with during labor (both deliveries) sang Lindy's praises and appreciate her so much. The Labor and Delivery nurse I had just six weeks ago told me repeatedly how honored she was to witness my childbirth and to work with Lindy. We were a great team! I would love to share every little detail with you all but I think I've said enough... I LOVE LINDY!!!! read more

Hopefully I can offer a unique perspective - Lindy's role during a cesarean. Like many, I switched to Lindy because I wanted to know who would be delivering my baby (instead of relying on an 'on call' doctor from my regular practice). She was great throughout my pregnancy. Around 34 weeks, she first mentioned that it was feeling like my baby was breech. She was non-alarmist about it, but did encourage me to start practicing some 'baby turning' techniques. Well I tried everything, and nothing worked. Lindy was so supportive of us during this rough time! We even tried a 'version' (where a doctor tries to turn the baby from the outside) and Lindy scheduled the appointment (making sure we were with the best doctor) and met as at the hospital for this procedure. Unfortunately even that didn't work. My baby was determined to stay right where she was! Surprisingly, here is where having a midwife made all the difference in the world. The vasy majority of doctors will require you to schedule a C-section at 39 weeks if you're breach. Lindy fully supported my desire to go into labor naturally, and had no problems at all with a 'planned' rather than 'scheduled' cesarean. I woke up to my water breaking (on my due date!) and called Lindy - she met us at the hospital, stayed with us through the check in, operating room (so amazing to have her there during the period of time when they won't let your partner in yet), and post-op. She had a wonderful sense of when I needed her support, vs. when to blend into the background so that my husband and I felt alone (well, as alone as you can in an operating room!). Lindy is the perfect solution for someone who wants to walk the line between traditional and alternative medicine. read more

Lindy is just awesome. She delivered my second kid after my wife had a rough delivery of our first kid. Our first kid was 8.9 pounds and the second one was 9.3 pounds and this makes it difficult to push these ginormous babies out. Lindy made it possible with the least amount of pain one can imagine. We had midwives for the first child too at hospital setting, so we can really say that if you ever need a midwife within hospital setting, she is your go to person. We also had looked into OBs both times in the area and never found one that can even compare. Lindy is extremely professional, knowledgeable and up to date on the medical literature, while being exceptionally kind and generous with her attention and time. She has become part of our extended family through this experience and we are so lucky to have her. read more

First and foremost - if you are interested in a natural childbirth Lindy is the way to go. From the very first meeting we had with her we knew we had made one of the best choices of our lives in having her involved in the birth of our first child. Lindy takes the time to truly educate BOTH the mother and father about a wide variety of aspects of the pregnancy and birthing process and patiently explains even the most basic questions - of which we asked many as first time parents. Also importantly, she treats you as your own individual experience... she remembers your story, your concerns, and your schedule despite the fact she is also likely caring for dozens of others during the same time period. Lindy makes a specific effort to include the father throughout the pregnancy. What is particularly striking is she does not just include the father as an observer or secondary player but as a primary role. She encouraged me as the father to get directly involved and between the three of us figured out how I could best help support my wife and the birthing team instead of being a bystander. But this wasn't just her mannerism in the delivery room, it summed up the entire experience throughout the prenatal visit process. When my wife went into labor three weeks earlier than expected while I was across the country for work I took comfort in knowing Lindy was there to support my wife until I could get back. Even more so, she kept me informed and settled over the phone the best she could while I was managing my flights back. I ended up making it in time and was immediately welcomed into the room and included in the process as if I had been there all along. Not only that, but she took the time to ensure I was okay and helped get me food and coffee to ensure I could keep up the remainder of the birth after a long day already. Throughout a long, arduous labor Lindy was the source of calm, warmth, and strength to both of us. She worked incredible well with the Alta Bates hospital staff and we had a great experience with the nurses assigned to our birth. Lindy used a variety of techniques to facilitate getting the baby out while preventing vaginal tearing. My wife was able to walk within 30 minutes of giving birth. Lindy empowered us throughout the entire pregnancy and helped us achieve the epidural free birth that we wanted! read more

Lindy delivered my last two children. Kid #2 was almost ten pounds and was sunny side up and she stayed calm and supportive through the entire painful process. When I had my surprise third pregnancy a few years later I initially saw an OB since I was older and thought maybe that was the route to go. I quickly changed my mind and sought Lindy again about halfway through my pregnancy and have zero regrets as I lay next to my newborn. Lindy came through as she always does and helped deliver my third child quickly and with her calming presence. I've never found pregnancy or childbirth to be a pleasant experience but Lindy has years of expertise that's evident in every interaction you have with her. She's not very high tech if that's what you're looking for - no online records or booking appointments via app - so if you want those bells and whistles this isn't the practice for you. But if you want to be in good hands throughout your pregnancy and especially during the birth of your child, Lindy is an excellent choice! read more

Can I give more than 5 stars? Because I would if I could. Lindy was amazing from start to finish. I felt completely supported throughout my pregnancy, no matter what was going on. I would go out of my way to have her as my midwife again if we decide to have another baby in the future. I really don't know what else to say, but I highly, highly recommend Lindy to anyone in the Bay Area. If anyone has questions about our experience, I'm happy to answer them. read more

Lindy and Ellie helped bring our beautiful son into the world just a few days ago. This baby was posterior, had his head tilted to the side, was almost ten pounds, and took 36 hours of labor - many other practitioners would have c-sectioned my wife, but instead, Lindy and Ellie helped us achieve the natural childbirth we wanted, making this an empowering, transformative moment for our family and setting my wife up for a speedy recovery. If you are pregnant or know someone who is, the greatest gift you can give yourself or a friend is to consider this team. It's a wonderful entry into parenthood to work with Lindy and Ellie. read more

If you are searching for a midwife hospital birth, your search is over. Go with Lindy and never look back. Like other reviewers, and perhaps even you, we had an OB/GYN that we liked, except that she was part of a practice giving us only a 10% chance we would deliver with her, and some of the other doctors in the practice did not have stellar reviews. Meanwhile, friends of ours had recommended looking into midwives after they by chance discovered the midwives at UCLA medical center. They mentioned what a completely different approach they experienced-much more personal and less medical. After watching The Business of Being Born (yeah, Ricki Lake?, and yes, very biased), reading Natural Hospital Birth (Gabriel and in conjunction with the need to know who we were delivering with, we decided to try meeting some midwives to see what we thought. We only met with one... And the difference was immediately noticeable, every time we've met Lindy, it starts and ends with a hug, and all these things we were going to have to force upon the medical practice were now irrelevant. "of course you can eat," "of course we don't induce" "of course we don't..." Lindy is sort of a legend in the Berkeley area, and we were always happy to hear from our doulas how great she was and on the hospital tour things like "well, for you guys it will be different because you have Lindy." Lindy is not bound by overall hospital guidelines, so she retains full control of your birth (e.g. if you haven't progressed for a few hours she isn't required by the hospital to start pitocin or something, everything is her and your decision). If you believe women are made to be able to deliver babies as we do, then Lindy is for you. Contrary to our experience of doctors wanting to control and medicate the situation into the "normal" range, Lindy supports you on YOUR birth. We delivered at 35 weeks 5 days, and there was never a discussion about intervention or doing anything differently. This is not to say Lindy is a laessez faire anything goes midwife. Being before 36 weeks and not having yet had a GBS test she went to lookup the standard practice policy. It ended up to be giving antibiotics during the birth, which we weren't thrilled about (being attached to an IV or the antibiotics) but it shows that Lindy is not ignoring or acting against medical standards, just not intervening until it's truly necessary for everyone's health. In the end, Lindy helped my wife deliver a 6.5lb prince without any drugs, and no stitches(!) and you'll note we're not the only reviewers here saying this. After 90 minutes my wife walked herself up to recovery, and took one ibuprofen only because she thought she had to. After that she turned down the rest. As far as we're concerned, this is the way it's supposed to be, and we know that it turned out that way 100% because of Lindy. I won't detail much of what all of the other reviewers have confirmed, Lindy is calm with a secret plan, lightly suggesting "how about this, or how about trying the bath tub now" but all very intentional to keep you occupied, focused or relaxed. And when she needs to be firm, she knows how to rally the troops. Our son was born at 8:18am after my wife's third night without sleeping. When it came time to push she simply said "I don't want to, I'm too tired." Lindy politely but firmly responded "no one is too tired to push" Lindy's confidence that everyone can deliver naturally is contagious, giving you the confidence too. The last thing I'll add is about cost because it was unclear to me and neither yelp nor bpn had any answers. It's likely that Lindy is not "in network" unless midwives are specifically covered, which I think is pretty rare. Even though the ACA dictates that insurers allow midwives to join their networks, she could not charge the amount she does now (insurers set the pay rate ~1100, and she can't bill in addition), and thus would have to take on many more patients (hence why there are big practices just taking on as many patients as possible). You pay about $2000, and she bills around $6000 to your insurance. For our PPO, out of network pays at 50%, and our older insurance would have paid even less. So the fee she asks for is actually less than the remainder of her full fee. In the unusual event that your insurance pays at 100% she refunds your initial payment. Yes our insurance would have covered our OB/GYN and it would have been much cheaper out of pocket (I think $0). So you get what you pay for. Lindy was never in a rush getting us out of the office, she only takes about 5 patients per month, also nearly guaranteeing that she will be able to attend your birth. There's no question who we will use if we have another chil read more