Lindsey Oakes

Birthworker and Bodyworker

In my work, I’m often the one asking the questions and gathering information to better understand the folks in my community. I’m grateful to each client for the trust they have in me, and for the experiences they share. As enjoyable as it is being on the receiving end of storytelling, I’m happy to reciprocate and share about my life, my family, and a bit about what makes me who I am.

I grew up in a small town just outside the city limits of South Lake Tahoe, CA. Though I’ve lived in San Diego since 2013, there’s something about growing up a child of the mountains that can’t be unlearned. Childhood self discovery was spent climbing trees and boulders, running through the forest, and reading books in the shade until the sun went down. I know I was lucky to grow up in a slow paced community, focused more on fresh air and nature than productivity and networking. Though I’ve developed into a fully fledged city person, in my down time you can find me spread out on a blanket in the shade, relaxing in the fresh air.

The first birth I ever attended was in childhood, at 2.5 years old, for the birth of my only sibling. My mother’s labor progressed so quickly that my parents didn’t have an opportunity to settle me in with my grandparents. The memories of my brother’s birth and newborn phase have stayed with me my whole life, and thus began my path to caring for newborns. The second birth I attended was twenty years later at the birth of my first niece, where I supported my sister-in-law long before I knew what a doula was. Similarly impactful, this was the moment where my career transitioned from education and childcare to antenatal healthcare. Those births shaped the way I view birth, and how to show up for people in my own community.

Toddler Lindsey peeking their head out of a large tent

I worked in childcare for many years of my life, first as a babysitter in my early teens, an early childhood educator in community college, and finally as a nanny while attending university. So much can be learned from infants and newborns, and those otherwise unable to tell you exactly what they want or need from your care. From my 10+ years of professional childcare experience, I’ve gained many wonderful life lessons. From admiration for the growing family, to the challenges of caring for the caregivers, and of managing life as it moves on, even when you’re not ready. These experiences uniquely prepared me to be a birthworker and bodyworker, not from being a parent, but from a lifetime of caring for parents and their families.

I received my AA in Early Childhood Education from Lake Tahoe Community College, and immediately moved to Southern California to attend San Diego State. I received my BA in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Child and Family Development in December of 2015. I began to study midwifery while nannying after graduating, and was accepted into Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery the following year. I graduated in 2020 with a Certificate of Holistic Studies in Midwifery and have continued working with Nicole Morales of Art of Opening Midwifery as a primary student. In November of 2021 I started my journey of studying Somatic Education through STREAM certification with Ellen Heed Ph.D.

Though bodywork and midwifery are important reflections of who I am as a person, I find great enjoyment in my life outside of work. In my free time, I enjoy being outside in the fresh air, playing cribbage with my wife, and dabbling in various arts and crafts. I travel to my family cabin as much as work allows, and my friends and I play dominoes until the wee hours of the morning on the weekends.