I want to share this for anyone who cares about payment terms before they decide to go with this practice. I booked an appointment and cancelled during check in because of terms that I cannot agree to. In short, terms offer 1. Lack of transparency on the bill between you and the office 2. If you challenge, you get charged $35. 3. Let's say you do not want to put a card on file for auto payment, then you pay an additional $10 premium. I have never seen such unreasonable terms before. I wouldn't feel respected and valued as a customer here. (Photo provided) read more

Richard J Kochenburger, MD - Credit card charge terms - Obstetricians & Gynecologists Near Me - Alameda, California

I've been seeing Richard Kochenburger for over 18 years, and he has been nothing but generous and comforting. The environment is very clean, and the staff there is extremely friendly. He has been quite a fixture in a local aesthetician in Alameda for about 31 years . He has done thousands of birth and hopefully he doesn't retire soon . He's been in Alameda for so long and it's not a lot of doctors around so let's support our only GYN in our city and I hope he stays there to help our local community. read more

This is a little late, as Dr. K provided care 2 years ago during my pregnancy and leading up to birth #4, which was my best pregnancy/birth experience yet. He lived up to the title of "male midwife", but is also truly unique in that he can also offer high risk care if necessary. He is incredibly patient centered, and allowed me to take part in my own medical decisions without ever being pushy. I was treated as a unique, whole patient. I was comforted greatly by the fact that he would be the one to deliver my baby, and not some stranger on call. Checkups were a breeze, and I LOVED the convenience of having blood draws in office during my appointments. He responded quickly to my emails where I had concerns, and offered an ultrasound to ease my fears about baby's position in my third trimester. When I was feeling very tired around week 28, he confirmed that I had a mild case of iron deficiency anemia and recommended an excellent supplement which had me feeling better relatively quickly. When I went into labor, Dr. K and the nurses were stellar and receptive to my requests; it truly was like a home birth in a hospital setting, which is exactly what I wanted. Dr. K followed through with the plan we had discussed, and everything went smoothly and according to plan. I never felt rushed. Dr. K runs a private practice, so the office doesn't look like the polished and modern rooms in your "big box" practices, but the private attention and care exceeds my experiences in any of the "big practice" settings. read more

Dr. K is an amazing human being. He genuinely cares about his patients, he is kind and patient. The staff are wonderful and very helpful. We love Dr. K and will support him and his practice always. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is my first OBGYN I've ever went to and stayed with and it's honestly been such a pleasure having him as one. He's super nice and not judgmental at all unlike all the other ones I've been to locally and non locally. He delivered my first baby last year and it went amazing! He checked up on me as much as he could and made sure everything went smoothly after having my baby. I know I read in the reviews that he uses "ancient" equipment but it gets the job done and personally I don't mind it. He is now on our journey for baby #2 and I couldn't have been more grateful and excited!! read more

Dr. K was a great fit for us when having our second child and in the middle of a stressful pandemic. Convenience: easy drive from us and very easy parking. We never had trouble making appointments that worked for our schedule. On the weekend or in light of social distancing, the doctor would call in a prescription for me. He does his own ultrasounds and would do one on request if we were nervous about something. He does his own blood draws which saved tons of time and kept me away from extra germs...for anything he couldn't do, my lab was just next door! Personable and attentive: Dr. K is such a nice guy. He is very caring and he's happy to chat about all sorts of things. We always felt very relaxed around him. He listened to me, my concerns and my birth history so I had a sense he'd be ready for circumstances of my second birth. Generous with time/availability: I never felt rushed through our appointments or my birth. Dr. K was available by email and would answer any and all questions within a day. I only had to reschedule one appointment due to him attending a labor. I felt I could generally count on our appointment times and that he'd be available for our birth. On the big day, he was at the hospital ready to go when we needed him. Holistic and open minded: I loved how we could chat about natural ways to treat pregnancy symptoms, induction and labor etc. but that he was also well versed in traditional medicine when it came to addressing my possible gestational diabetes. He helped me successfully manage the risk throughout my pregnancy. Careful but not alarmist: He gave me options when it came to some of my care but helped inform me of risks either way. I generally felt comforted about most things after addressing them with him. Office, staff and billing: His office staff was friendly, pretty efficient and helpful. We too had a small billing issue early on, that took a long time to resolve but eventually did. I recommend checking in early about "how your unique insurance preforms" with this office to have them help you troubleshoot from the get-go. You may even need to talk to Dr. K Directly if a billing snafu occurs but the office was very reasonable with us. Follow up on referrals and authorizations to make sure they are going through when you need them to...this follow up felt worth it for the good experience we had, overall. Like others have noted, this is not a fancy office with all the latest innovations. It is older and quirky (the wall paper IS amazing!) but everything seems to work fine. What you get there is smaller scale, personal, service with a kind, experienced, OB that gets to know you, spends time with you and delivers your baby himself. Thank you Dr. K and staff for all your help with our super successful, happy and low drama second pregnancy and birth! read more

My husband and I went here for our first prenatal appointment. The office and the equipment is all very outdated - Dr. Kochenburger told us he had purchased a new sonogram machine but never bothered to learn how to use it. Instead, he used a machine made in 1997 that barely worked and misdated my pregnancy, similar to an experience from another reviewer on here. He was not able to clearly answer very basic questions we had such as what foods or medications to avoid. A few weeks after our appointment, we received a notice in the mail that they had sent our bill to a debt collection agency. We had never even received a bill from them! We called Dr. Kochenburger's office and they admitted it was a mistake but there was nothing to be done once it had already been reported for collection. Needless to say, we sought out another office for our future care. I could go on longer with more of our issues with this office but, in short, can say that I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

I see a lot of women who recommend him because he's so "hands off" and "nice" but my experience with him was very disappointing. Here's four reasons why... 1) He misdated my EDD based on HIS inaccurate ultrasound measurements DESPITE my informing him that his estimated date of conception was 100% impossible (unless I had sex without knowing it or sperm can survive for 10 days). This resulted in blood tests and my specialist ultrasound all being done during the wrong date ranges! 2) He knew from my very first appointment that I wanted a VBAC. By halfway through my pregnancy, he was trying to pressure me into scheduling a c-section for before my EDD and telling me that I had a history of big babies (even though my first baby was NOT big and my c-section was NOT due to failure to progress or baby getting stuck). 3) I was once the first and only patient in the office and waited almost 45 minutes to be seen. This happens, I get it, because sometimes doctors are all the hospital. In my case... he was at Office Max shopping for supplies and came back with new pens, chatted with staff for 15 minutes, and then left me waiting even more once I got into the back. At this point, I left and became a UCSF patient where I got great care, never waited to be seen, and had a wonderful VBAC. 4) Here I am laying on the couch with my 11 month old baby... holding a BRAND NEW BILL for the first ultrasound he performed on me. The same ultrasound he used to misdate my pregnancy. 18 months later, I am FINALLY being billed for it. I could have had another baby by now!!! Get your act together... I know that a lot of moms in Alameda end up in his care because he's local and convenient and nice, but don't be fooled. He's not "like a midwife." He's like an old doctor with a crappy office atmosphere, old-fashioned approaches, vintage inaccurate equipment, and a slow as hell billing department. Excellent prenatal care is worth the drive, don't see someone JUST because they're local. Adding to my review and removing one star...I paid my bill (that took them EIGHTEEN MONTHS to send) in addition to sending a letter expressing my frustrations. The result? I'm sitting next to my almost three year old child with a letter that the bill I have already paid has been sent to collections. Calling the office tomorrow and expect I'll get the same lip service "We don't handle the billing and cannot help." that I got last time around. read more

I was referred to Dr. Kochenburger when I got pregnant since my usual OB no longer works with pregnant patients. I could not be more happy with the experience! Dr. K was so attentive and helpful throughout my pregnancy, and his staff is wonderful and supportive (front desk, nurse, etc). Dr. K was not on call the weekend I went into labor but he came in anyway - my husband and I were thrilled he was able to deliver our healthy baby boy. He also came by the following day (also wasn't on call) and helped me through my postpartum recovery since I was pretty swollen and in pain. read more

A voicemail was left for me by the nurse practitioner of this office where I was told to call the office if I had any questions. After multiple attempts to reach out, I never received a return to my calls, and so I decided to try and reach them for my question in person at the same time/date I was picking up my medical records from their office. The doctor verbally told me BEFORE I chatted with him that my conversation with him would NOT be charged. A week later I found a $50 charge for our conversation (which realistically took 3 minutes - entire time in office) had been submitted by the office to my insurance.   I spoke with the receptionist of the office who was unable to assist me in this matter and recommended I reach out to the billing department. After some back and forth, they informed me the charge would not be removed. I am disappointed by my entire experience with this unprofessional office. The receptionist incorrectly called my "emergency contact" about my appointment and medical details, the nurse practitioner called my phone and left a 3-minute voicemail with detailed medical information (the voicemail that incited the question I had with the office that I got wrongly charged for) and the receptionist gave me my medical history without checking my ID to make sure that I am the correct person to be providing this information to.  Two weeks ago, I wrote a letter to the doctor directly to try and resolve this charge and have yet to hear back. Do not come to this office if you value privacy, quality of care or money. read more

Where do I begin? My cousin referred Dr K to me after going to him with all 3 pregnancies. I decided to give him a try after her positive feedback about his services. It was the best decision I made. He is kind, gentle, understanding and very thorough. He will make you feel very comfortable and boy does he know his stuff. He takes his time with all of his patience while making it as fast as possible. I was always in and out! If ever I have another child I am going straight back to Dr. K! I recommend Dr Kotchenburger to all the pregnant woman out there looking for a great doctor! Trust me there is no going wrong with Dr. K. read more

He's the best!! I can't imagine going anywhere else. I see people complaining about waiting but to me he is well worth any wait time. His office staff is also so amazing and kind again wouldn't go anywhere else read more

Dr. Kochenburger is terrific! When making my appointment, the receptionist was very sweet and extremely helpful. When I came in for my appointment, the staff was warm, welcoming and beyond professional. Tez, the nurse, was very comforting! Dr. Kochenburger was easy-going, personable, professional and had amazing knowledge. He is a compassionate doctor with a genuine concern for his patients and is truly amazing and inspiring. As far as the practice, it runs like a well-oiled machine! I don't have time to deal with administrative issues with insurance companies or certifications, they handle it all- I just show up! The office is so comfortable! (Bathroom wall-paper is my favorite) I highly recommend Dr. Kochenburger and staff! read more

Richard J Kochenburger MD 2111 Whitehall Place Suite A Alameda, CA, 94501 (510) 522-6544 richard j kochenburger is the best obgyn i have ever met he is understanding of every one needs my only problem with him is he needs to take more time for himself if you had the worst now go to the best besides its your vagina you love it now take care of it let him deliver the life that god has giving you with the gift god gave him. he has seen me through 2 pregnancies boy 2008 & girl 2009 and he gives excellent care also theri to hold the had of a nervous husband now its 2010 im not pegro yet having a doctor like him makes me want a billion more ps we love you doctor k and staff This is casimah alishlah (aka) cassie and i aprove this message read more

It was time to get my semiannual exam and I used to go to Kaiser and was not happy to have to go somewhere else. Dr. K came recommended by my PCP so I made an appointment. I was going to see the NP. I read the reviews about the crazy wallpaper, and it is still there. But the care I received more than made up for it. The front desk staff were very attentive and knowledgeable. The NP is probably in her 60's. I have to admit, the exam I had with her was probably one of the best I've had in my life, and I'm a tough customer, having been a labor & delivery nurse for 7 years. First I was brought into an office for a history which I found very comprehensive. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she asked about my menstrual history, etc. She was very thorough. I also liked that the first time I spoke with her was not in my birthday suit with legs spread. The exam was of equally high quality and the pap was not uncomfortable AT ALL! Best I've ever had! The entire time I felt like she was an older aunt, who knew her stuff, and genuinely cared about my reproductive health and the decisions I was making about birth control. We also shared some stories about where she trained for nursing school, as she had been in Michigan, which is also where I trained. She even called me later that day to let me know she forgot to ask about my mammogram and let me know there was an order for one waiting for me there! I have not had a better Healthcare experience in my life. Thank you Azad Moore! read more

Doctor Kochenburger is the best doctor ever! I feel lucky to have found him- it's not easy to find someone who really listens, answers all your questions, and educates and empowers you with some important information. He is wonderfully empathetic, caring and very generous. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great OB! Thank you doctor Kochenburger for all you have done for me and my family! read more

They are okay. Dr. K is super nice and accommodating! Front staff was confused about my insurance and things got a little complicated and confusing . Other than that cute little office in a great location in alameda. read more

I haven't had my appointment yet, this review is JUST for their customer service. When I first called, I wanted to confirm that I was in their network. They had trouble verifying this, so they asked me to fax in my insurance card. Once I did so, I was hoping they would call back to confirm that they 1) received my fax and 2) confirm that I was in network. I asked that they do so when on the cover sheet. When they didn't do so, I called them, and they said they didn't receive the fax. So I resent the fax. Never heard from them. The day of my appointment, today, I called to 1) confirm my appointment and 2) check if I was in network. After being put on hold for maybe 5 minutes, the woman said she wouldn't be able check if I was in network until I came IN with the card. Which isn't what I was told when I first originally spoke to them. When trying to get some clarification, she abruptly hung up on me. So, RUDE, unhelpful, customer service. I hope the doctor makes up their terrible staff. read more

Had my two babies with him. Caring, optimist and very supportive. The wall with tons of babies he had delivered during his career are a great example of his professional experience and commitment. For my first deliver he wasn´t even on call but arrived at the hospital after a long and painful labor, and seeing him made the world for me at that moment. For my second delivery, I felt he respected my choices. If someone is looking for a fancy office, you will not find it here, but you can find lots of experience and a nice person. I suffered from PPD after my first child and he helped me get the accurate help and never had any issues with billing as I see here. I guess choosing OBGYN has to come to how you feel with someone who will be there in one of the biggest moment of your life, in my case I feel I couldn´t have chosen better. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is the best doctor I've ever had. He had been my doctor since I was 15 yrs old. He was my first male doctor but made me feel comfortable. When I was his patient he had the best staff, very friendly. If I hadn't relocated I'd would still be his patient. Marge E. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is great. He has a very open minded approach to care and pregnancy, and takes time at every visit to talk in depth about any questions or concerns. I'm so glad we chose him as our OB for this pregnancy. read more

If you like ancient doctor equipment, a nurse/doctor that judges you after you tell them how many sex partners you have had and an medical environment that makes you feel like there is malpractice going on- This place is for you!! I honestly can't believe someone hasn't shut this place down yet. read more

Dr. K is amazing. He was recommended to me by a close friend who is a pediatrician. She said, try Dr. K, his patients LOVE him. I'm so glad I did! I'm a first time mom, just delivered my baby a month ago at Alta Bates. He was so incredibly supportive throughout my entire pregnancy and was a total rock at my birth. He really went above and beyond on several occasions. He does his own blood draws right there; no need to go to a lab! He really takes his time at appointments. I never get rushed the way I did when I had Kaiser. He was accessible through his answering service when I needed a quick prescription after birth. He'll tell you how he learned much of what he knows from midwives, which is rare coming from a male MD! I would ABSOLUTELY recommend him to anyone. I'm lucky to have found him. read more

I decided to go with Dr. Kochenburger for my second pregnancy because after my first birth, I wanted someone with a lot of experience who would support a natural vbac. I preferred a female doctor but decided to go with Dr. K anyway because his office is very close to my house, he has over 30 years of experience, and had done quite a few vbacs in the last few months. I'm so glad I found him. He was very supportive - he really tried to help me have the labor and delivery I wanted. I sent him a few articles and questions and he followed up with other doctors nearby when he didn't know the answer himself. He was open to suggestions and was very supportive of my doula being a part of the delivery team. I didn't end up with the vbac, as my baby remained breeched until I went into labor naturally at 40 weeks and 4 days, but my csection was smooth and so much less traumatic than my first one. He did a great job. After delivery, I had a few concerns based on my previous delivery, and Dr. K watched me very carefully to make sure everything was ok over the next 6 weeks. He is very non-alarmist and is very supportive of allowing a woman's body to do all the amazing things it can do on its own without interventions, if that's something you want. I liked that he saw me every day that I recovered in the hospital (5 day stay) and that he was the sole person managing my care vs my last birth where I had 5 different doctors who didn't always talk to one another. I knew who my doctor would be on the delivery day, and that mattered to me vs larger offices with multiple obs. His office staff can be a bit forgetful (a few messed up appointment dates, but they always got me in if I was there - not sure how that happened more than once but they made it work). And his supporting staff asks the same questions each time, sometimes two or three times during the appointment, but that's ok. Dr. K is why I was there and he was great. I would absolutely recommend him and I look forward to my next pregnancy with him. read more

It is very difficult for me to write this review, because I really liked Dr. Kochenburger. He is a very nice man and I wish that I did not have to post this review, but I think that people need to be aware of our experience with Dr. Kochenburger. To make a very long and sad story as short as possible, my girlfriend found out that she was pregnant in July of last year. She was referred to Dr. Kochenburger by her sister who saw him when she was pregnant with her first child and had nothing but good things to say about Dr. Kochenburger. All was fine until about week 20 when an ultrasound was done that showed some abnormalities, including that our child had very short arms and femur bones. Dr. Kochenburger did not seem concerned about the ultrasound, however, and told us (these were his exact words) "I have seen some kind of abnormality in almost every ultrasound that I have looked at in my career and usually it is nothing to worry about." Fast forward to January 31 of this year. My girlfriend had gone to all of her regular appointments with Kochenburger. Her appointment on January 31 was just another regular check up. Kochenburger informed her that he could not find a fetal heartbeat and sent my girlfriend to Alta Bates in Berkeley where, on February 3, she gave birth to a stillborn baby boy. She was approximately 37 weeks pregnant at the time. The baby was only 3.8 pounds when he should have been, according to the neonatal specialist at the hospital, between 5 to 6 pounds. She believed that his death was caused by an issue with the placenta. She also commented that she saw several "red flags" when she viewed the 20 week ultrasound - the same ultrasound that Kochenburger emphatically told us not to worry about. Even worse, the neonatal specialist told us that if this problem had been detected earlier in the pregnancy they could have done something about it and possibly our child would have lived. Could Kochenburger have prevented the death of our child? I can't say that with certainty. But what bothers me is that he did not ask any questions. Why is the baby so small in the 20 week ultrasound? He didn't seem to care or take any steps to find out. He was not proactive. He simply took a gamble that "everything will be just fine" and he was wrong. You don't take gambles like that with a human life. You don't make guesses. You need to ask questions, you need to be proactive. Kochenburger's demeanor at the hospital was deplorable, too. He simply said "I'm sorry, but this happens sometimes. I have a few every year. Okay, well it was nice seeing you again, but I have a family function to attend and I will be disowned if I don't go, so I have to leave you now." I wrote him a long e-mail about three weeks ago expressing my concerns and telling him how this event impacted our entire family. Not surprisingly, he never responded. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is amazing. I searched high and low for a practice where I would see the same doctor throughout my pregnancy and delivery. Dr. Kochenburger was the only one I found. And what a find! He is collaborative rather than hierarchal. As well as responsive and present. And to top it all off, he responds to all my first-time momma emails in very short order. I feel like I won the OB lottery. If you want a doctor who is really going to be tuned into you, I strongly recommend Dr. Kochenburger. read more

In 2007 I extensively searched for an OBGYN in Alameda and the Oakland area. I needed someone very smart, capable, respectful, and kind. Dr. Kochenburger fit the bill and more. I had all 3 of my kids with him and he very competently handled all three of my very different pregnancies. In 2008 I had a pregnancy with gestational diabetes, in 2012 I had a smooth pregnancy, and this year, 2018, I had a more difficult pregnancy that caused me lots of respiratory issues like pneumonia. Dr. Kochenburger handled each situation calmly, carefully, and appropriately. He was always prompt in responding to my emails and treated me as necessary. He never panicked and always took me seriously. I don't think I could have pushed out my kids without him. Well, I probably would have, but undoubtedly the experiences would have been far inferior and much less calm. One downside to any private practice is that if Dr. K is at the hospital birthing, then his office visits need to be rescheduled. But in my opinion he is well worth the occasional wait! read more

Not a respectable establishment in any way. Very judgmental, ancient in their practice/equipment/care, and no regard for HIPPA. I really do not recommend going here. read more

As a husband point of view, Dr Kochenburger is amazing. Very calm and relaxed with his approach, and I could tell he always kept what was best for my wife and child in mind. When things didnt go as planned during the birthing (like most of births), he maintained his composure and corrected the situation efficiently and quickly. We are planning our second soon and are keeping our fingers crossed that he has availability for us because we loved him and his staff so much. read more

Dr. Kochenburger delivered both of my babies and has been my OB for the past 3.5 years. He is incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and makes you feel completely comfortable as soon as he walks in. I have been a nurse for 8 years now and have worked with many different MD's and surgeons. He by far is one of my top favorite doctors. He was there for all of my pregnancy related questions with a timely response. He checked in on me multiple times during labor and made an effort to be at the hospital and ready prior to pushing. His compassionate care and attentiveness truly made the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum challenges easy and worry free. Thank you Dr. K for all of the wisdom, knowledge and dedicated care you gave me and my family. read more

Dr. Richard Kochenburger is by far one of the greatest doctors in history!! He is so kind, sweet, and pure. He treats every person with dignity and respect. He performed the procedure on my wife that brought my son into this world. And my wife's treatment that led up to the procedure was nothing but the best. It is very hard these days to put your trust into anyone including in the Medical Field. But that all gets put to rest when you schedule an appointment with Dr. Kochenburger. He is the answer to any doubts that you might have. The Manning's have love for you always Richard!! :) read more

I'm so glad I found Dr. K to be my OB. I was with him through my entire pregnancy and delivery; he is very through and always took any concern I had seriously. He was great during the delivery and I was able to avoid a c-section thanks to him. If you want that old-fashioned type of service and a doctor who really loves what he does, this is the practice for you. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is AWESOME. He did a fantastic job Botoxing my crows feet and for a super-excellent price! I love it and it looks great! He even did some of my forehead for free! LOVE IT! read more

Didn't even get into the office. Tried to make an appointment TWICE and both times they were RUDE!! They were not professional and pretty much brushed me off like I was not important. Customer service is not one of thier strong points. read more

I took the advice of the reviews here on yelp, and decided to stay local. Since I'm past the OB stage of life, I figured that I'd work with the nurse practitioner for my annuals and meet the doctor if needed. I didn't meet the doctor. So this review is really aimed at someone who would be coming in with my symptoms and needs. It's not a terrible place, but the practice isn't what I'm looking for. The np was knowledgeable and perfectly nice, but I didn't feel like I was able to discuss the things I needed to regarding this "time of life" -- in fact, she didn't even seem to understand my questions, and certainly didn't think outside of the box in terms of managing my symptoms. The office that she talked to me in was from the 60's or 70's, all wood-panelled, dusty, terrible fluorescent light, grim. The exam room was even worse. The bathroom was top-to-bottom papered in this BIZARRE metallic wallpaper that was all about staying thin. I mean, it was so un-PC--talked about not being hefty, eating only veggies, had lists of calories for all food items. I know that the décor doesn't reflect on the practice's or the doctor's capabilities, but all in all the whole thing was not a good fit. I wanted warm and inviting, and this was alienating and cold. FWIW: Unlike some of the other posters, I found the front staff quite helpful. read more

Dr. Kochenburger is an excellent OB. This review specifically relates to the care I received during my first pregnancy and my second (ongoing) pregnancy. He's medically thorough, but he isn't an alarmist, which I appreciate. While he tends to practice more like a midwife and maintains a hands-off approach, he also has the medical skills and training to handle any emergency situations should they arise. Best of both worlds! He's also excellent at listening to his patients and has a good bedside manner. His staff is also very professional and likable. Five stars! read more

Dr. Kochenburger is amazing. I was hesitant to have a male doctor, but didn't have luck with the other two female ob/gyn's that I had seen since I'd moved out to this area. But he is so professional, caring and easy to be around, I can't imagine seeing anyone else. As other reviews mention, he's not an alarmist, and likes to lean towards being a midwife, which I think is great in a doctor. My labor and delivery went so smoothly and I totally credit Dr. K for that. It was an amazing experience and I couldn't have asked for more in a doctor. Plus, he will email or call you back if you need to contact him with any questions, always on the same day for me, if not less than an hour later! read more

I did not enjoy my visit with the nurse practitioner. I was anxious going in and it only got worse. Was told that I should not be depressed because there are "worse things in the world." read more

I had an amazing experience going to Dr. K for the pregnancy and birth of my second child. He's extremely patient, listens (and gives his full attention) and provides great explanations/information. The birth was also so great: not stressful at all, no pressure and he was very supportive throughout the entire process/post partum period. His office and nursing staff are great, too. Highly recommend! read more

I am a type-A, picky person and I can say that delivering my baby with Dr. Kochenburger was the best decision I made in my pregnancy. So much so that my husband and I decided not to postpone a scheduled move to the east coast so that we could stay in Alameda and deliver our baby with Dr. K. Top five reasons I am glad I chose Dr. K as my OB-GYN: 5. Answers questions outside of appointments -- Dr. K is available day and night to answer your pregnancy questions via email. I've never had a doctor respond to questions at all outside of appointment hours -- and he always did so quickly and with great patience. He never once made me feel foolish for 11th-hour crazy emails ("My feet are swelling, do I have preeclampsia?!"). 4. Midwife approach -- one of the first things I decided was that I did not want a very risk-focused OB-GYN approach to my pregnancy, which can lead to unnecessary interventions. I worry enough as it is -- I wanted a doctor who believed that things were normal unless proven otherwise, who would be a calming presence and respect my wishes during birth. Dr. K was wonderful on this front and always put me at ease. 3. Extremely qualified -- At the same time, I didn't want some hippie dippie Berkeley shaman doctor who didn't have sterling credentials. Dr. K is a consummate professional. He went to Harvard. He is extremely smart, has been doing this a long time, and knows his stuff inside and out. 2. Delivers babies himself -- these days, it's nearly impossible to find a solo practitioner who will deliver your baby himself. I saw Dr. K from when I had my IUD removed to when I got pregnant and throughout, and at the end he came to the hospital *on his day off* (and on a holiday weekend!) to deliver our baby in person. While I am sure it would have been fine with another doctor, I so appreciate Dr. K making the personal effort to deliver our first child. I know for a fact that at the Alta Bates birth class I took, we were the only couple present that knew the doctor who would be delivering our baby -- all the other couples there were expecting to have their baby delivered by a stranger in a group practice. 1. Personal touch -- Related to #2, when you see Dr. K you are seeing a solo practitioner who will get to know you and care about you. Yes, you are trading off a super fancy office with state of the art equipment and a coterie of nurses/receptionists/doctors cycling in and out. Admittedly Dr. K's office is modest, but that is because he's one of the few doctors out there who is still going it alone and providing personalized care. He isn't trying to up-charge you for things (for example, he draws blood himself and doesn't charge for filling out EDD disability forms). His homey/family-feeling (not corporate) office was the environment I wanted to be in during my pregnancy. read more