(Updated September 2026). Choosing from all the Orange County midwives is not just about finding a name online. You need to know what kind of credential the provider holds, where they attend births, what care they offer and whether their practice is appropriate for your pregnancy. Those details are not the same from one midwife to the next.

I work with expecting mothers throughout Orange County, and provider questions come up often while I am planning their maternity and newborn sessions. I am not a doctor, nurse, midwife or doula, so I cannot tell you which provider or birth setting is right for you. I can give you a clearer starting point and send you to the official sources for current information.

What Does Midwife Mean in California

The word midwife can describe professionals with different education, credentials and practice settings. The California Board of Registered Nursing describes a nurse-midwife as an advanced practice nurse who has completed specific education and certification requirements. A Certified Nurse-Midwife, or CNM, is also a registered nurse.

The Medical Board of California separately licenses Licensed Midwives, or LMs. Some LMs also hold the Certified Professional Midwife, or CPM, credential. The letters after a provider’s name matter, but they do not tell you everything about where that person practices or which services are available.

Before scheduling a consultation, check the provider’s current license through the California Department of Consumer Affairs license search and ask the practice to explain its care model, birth settings, eligibility process and transfer plan.

My Little Light Midwifery

My Little Light Midwifery is an Orange County home-birth practice led by Liorit Frank-Kremer. Her current official biography identifies her as a Certified Nurse-Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It says she graduated from the SUNY Downstate nurse-midwifery program in 2014 and is licensed in California.

The practice currently describes prenatal, birth and postpartum care in the client’s home, with a CNM and birth assistant attending the birth. It also lists lactation support, postpartum preparation and some wellness and gynecologic services. My Little Light does not present itself as a freestanding birth center, so this is an option for someone specifically researching home-birth midwifery care.

South Coast Midwifery

South Coast Midwifery is a freestanding birth center and midwifery practice at 6817 Quail Hill Parkway in Irvine. Its current team page lists founder Lorri Walker as an RN, NP and CNM, and Dorian Mains as an LM and CPM.

This practice offers care in more than one setting. Its official site currently lists birth-center birth, home birth, water birth and some VBAC care, along with prenatal and postpartum services. Those options are not available or appropriate for every pregnancy. Ask the practice which midwife would provide your care, how eligibility is determined and what happens if hospital care becomes necessary.

If you are still comparing a freestanding center with hospital maternity care, my guide to Orange County birthing centers and hospital maternity options explains the difference between those settings.

Blessed Beginnings Midwifery

Blessed Beginnings Midwifery currently identifies Susan Scott Gill as an LM and CPM serving Orange County. The practice lists an office at 22672 Lambert Street, Suite 612, in Lake Forest.

Its official site describes home-birth care that includes prenatal visits, attendance during labor and birth, postpartum home visits and feeding support. It also lists water-birth services. Some older pages on the site make broad health and outcome claims, so I would rely on the practice for current service details and use your own healthcare provider for medical guidance. Confirm that the practice is accepting clients and verify the current license before scheduling.

Born With an Angell

Born With an Angell Midwifery Care is a home-birth practice with an office at 4019 Westerly Place, Suite 101, in Newport Beach. Its current site identifies Jennifer Angell as a Licensed Midwife and lists Tessa Fisher as a Licensed Midwife on the wellness team.

This is not a birth center. The practice states that its birth services are for home birth only. It currently describes prenatal, home-birth and postpartum care, along with other wellness services. If you are interested in the practice, ask which provider would attend your birth, who provides backup coverage, how eligibility is determined and how transfers are handled.

Questions to ask Orange County Midwives

• What credentials and current California licenses do you hold?
• Where do you attend births: homes, a freestanding birth center, a hospital or more than one setting?
• Who will provide my prenatal care, and who is likely to attend the birth?
• How do you decide whether I am eligible for your care and my preferred birth setting?
• Who provides backup coverage if you are unavailable or another client is in labor?
• What is your written plan for consultation, transport or transfer if hospital care is needed?
• Which hospital do you use for transfers, and how are records shared?
• Which prenatal, postpartum and newborn services are included, and which are billed separately?
• How does payment work, and what should I confirm with my insurance company?

A consultation is the right place to ask specific questions about your health history, prior births, medications, pregnancy and preferences. A licensed provider can explain what is medically appropriate for you.

One Less Thing to Plan During Pregnancy

I do not have a role in choosing your medical provider, but I do understand how quickly the pregnancy to-do list grows. My Orange County maternity photography experience is designed so portraits do not become another project for you to manage. I take care of planning, professional hair and makeup, wardrobe and styling from my Old Town Tustin studio. Basically all you have to do is show up and love on your family. If you’re ready for this kind of full-service, stress-free experience, reach out. 

The right midwife is a personal and medical decision. Use this list to understand the four local practices, then verify the current credentials and services yourself and talk with a qualified healthcare provider about the care that fits your pregnancy.