Hi! I'm Jessica.
Mother. Midwife.
Milk Whisperer.
I have been honored to support families birthing their babies since 2007. Attending births at homes, free-standing birth centers, as well as supporting families needing or choosing to birth in the hospital. Since receiving my license in 2012, I have been caring for my own clients, supporting them from prenatal care through birth and postpartum.
Being an 'on-call' midwife has been an incredible experience, but also has its challenges. After becoming a mother to my own two children, a global pandemic, much soul-searching and consideration, I decided to move away from on-call birth work to focus on teaching Childbirth Education, providing in-home postpartum midwifery care and becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
Being able to continue supporting families, mostly during business hours, has been a gift to me and my family.
When not busy supporting families and teaching, I'm spending time with my sweet children and husband, having fun in the kitchen trying new recipes, tending to my vegetable garden, practicing yoga, hiking and traveling.
* With your permission she would only be observing visits, not providing care.
* With your permission she would only be. observing visits, not providing care.
My Milk Mentee
I am delighted to be mentoring Lenore Musambacine, a dedicated professional on her journey to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Lenore brings a wealth of compassion and experience as a mother, holistic birth & postpartum doula, childbirth educator and certified lactation specialist.
Breastfeeding her son wasn't a walk in the park. However, with determination and invaluable guidance of lactation professionals, she was able to nurse him for three years. Lenore envisions one day empowering every family with the knowledge, resources, and confidence they need for a successful breast/chestfeeding journey.
IBCLC stands for 'International Board Certified Lactation Consultant', which is a mouthful! (feeding pun intended!) IBCLC's are the highest qualifying credential of lactation providers and infant feeding, because to qualify we must complete 90 hours of lactation-specific education, log 300-1,000 hands-on clinical hours, pass a rigorous examination administered through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLE), complete dozens of hours of continuous education annually to renew our recertification every five years, and pass the International Board’s examination every ten years.
In comparison, Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) and Certified Lactation Educators (CLEs) complete 45 hours of education, one online or in-person class and 18+ hours of continuing education every three years.
As a licensed midwife I provide evidence-based, personalized care with informed and shared decision-making. I am not licensed to practice medicine or order prescriptions and if anything outside of the normal postpartum scope arises while you're receiving care, I will recommend an appropriate follow up visit with your baby’s pediatrician or your own care provider.
This means that when you get home from the hospital, you don't need to go back to see your pediatrician or NP a day or two after, so long as your baby is healthy. You can all stay home, cozy in bed, resting and healing.
This is the standard of care in many other countries, like the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands. Every family has a midwife or maternity nurse come to the home postpartum to check on the recovering family.
As a licensed midwife I am considered an 'Out-of-network Provider'. PPO policies will often cover a percentage (approx. 70-90%) of my postpartum services, depending on your plan, after your annual deductibles have been met. Some private insurer plans negotiated by larger employers pay at 90-100%.
I am an IBCLC with The Lactation Network, which accepts most PPO's (Anthem, Blue Shield, Blue Cross, Cigna PPO, CHAMPVA, Humana & Multiplan PPO plans). Most people are eligible for at least 6 lactation visits 100% covered! (no copay or out-of-pocket). This includes a prenatal consult (which I highly recommend) and lactation visits, which can be in-person at home or Telehealth.
Check your coverage and work with me →
If you have an HMO, like Kaiser Permanente, unfortunately they will not cover care I provide.
I know that finances can be a barrier to accessing quality care, and I want to make sure that my services are affordable for everyone. That's why I offer multiple payment options to make it easier for you. You can pay me directly and get a Super Bill to submit for reimbursement. You can also use your HSA or FSA card to pay for any of my services.
If you anticipate paying the fees at the time services are received is not doable for you, no worries. Let's chat and work together to create a payment plan that fits your budget.
My goal is to make quality midwifery care accessible to all families, regardless of income. To that end, I offer sliding scale rates for my postpartum care services. This means that you pay what you can afford, and those who can pay the full fee allow me to offer services to those with fewer resources.
By choosing to work with me, you're not just investing in your own health and wellbeing, but also supporting the wider community. As a midwife, I am committed to fostering a culture of mutual support and care. Thank you for being part of this journey with me.
Yep! I will always wear a mask to appointments, but I do not require you to wear one. If you are not feeling well, please let me know and we can make a plan.
In a nutshell, if you're unwell and test negative, I will request that you wear a mask. If you test positive, then we will likely need to either switch to a virtual appointment or reschedule till you are outside of the isolation period.
My service area includes: Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Richmond, Kensington, Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward, Concord, Dublin, Pleasanton, Martinez, Pinole, Antioch, Brentwood, Vallejo, San Rafael, Mill Valley, and general East Bay, Marin, North Bay, and San Francisco Bay Area.
*Area's that require more than a 30-min drive will incur a travel fee
- Mon — Fri: 9AM — 2:30PM
- Sat — Sun: 10AM — 4PM
- 7-days a week: 9AM — 10PM
- I always do my best to reply promptly, but sometimes life happens. If I'm at an appointment or wrangling my crazy kids, there might be a slight delay of an hour or two. But don't worry, I'll get back to you by the end of the day at the latest.
