OB GYN Services And/or Midwife Services in Alameda County Area, California

I think Dr. Bleeker is retired now, but the Doctor that took over his practice, Dr. Eaton, is along the same lines and philosophy of Bleeker (and I went to high school with Dr. Eaton - he is very much pro natural delivery, etc. and while I've known him since childhood, I've heard nothing but great stuff about him as a doctor as well). I used the midwife in his practice, Beah Haber, to deliver my daughter, and that was also when they ran the Birth Home in Pleasanton. Dr. Eaton is at Tri Valley OB/GYN. As far as I know, they are pretty much the only ones in the Tri-Valley are that are truly pro-natural delivery, etc.

Hello
I had my first child 10/2008. I was blessed to have watched "the business of being born" which caused me to actively seek out a midwife. I could not afford a home birth with a midwife, so I googled hospital assisted birth midwife. what came up was Lin Lee, altos oaks medical group. There are 3 midwifes in the group and my medical insurance covered it. El camino hospital in mountain view. I live in Newark so it was a short bit of a drive for prenatal visits and for the birth, but so worth it! Also Lin Lee does a nuts and bolts of childbirth class that made my labor and delivery amazing because I knew what my body was doing at each phase of labor. I had a 100% natural vaginal birth, no interventions or drugs. Good luck to you.

Lookup dr Micheal Bleeker in Livermore, CA. Not sure if he is still practicing, He is an older man... but when I had my baby with him 10 yrs ago, he was getting ready to open a birthing center. He worked with a midwife. Did he have a wonderful bedside manner? well, he wasn't a mushy gooey type of doc. and sometimes he could look grouchy because he was TIRED. He worked endlessly and was always on call. I had a 36 hr labor with a 10 lb baby and no episiotomy and no c section with him. I asked to not be put on a monitor in the hospital so I could walk, and I asked to go home 6 hrs after the birth. he did both for me. My doctor doesn't have to be my best buddy - he only needs to be my best advocate..and in that - you can trust Dr. Bleeker wholeheartedly.

There are lots of good homebirth midwives in the area, and I would highly recommend Mason Cornelius and Mollie Sullivan of Nova Midwifery. They go all over Alameda and Contra Costa counties and are knowledgeable and caring. I had a baby with them and felt so well cared for, and felt just as safe if not safer than I felt in the hospital with my first. If you are set on a hospital birth, there are midwives at Alta Bates.
ps. I see that you posted this a year ago, so you've probably already had your baby. I hope you found what you were looking for and had a lovely birth. I am posting this in case anyone else has the same question and finds your post!