Olga Libova, CNM

I love Olga. I can tell that she really cares about how I’m doing and wants to answer all of my questions, no matter how silly they may be. I don’t feel rushed during the appointment, or that she is just thinking about getting on with her day. She works very closely with Dr. Weber, who is also great. I like to have my monthly pregnancy appointments with her but I try to schedule early in the morning as she answers all questions and therefore can run pretty late by the afternoon.

This is very difficult for me to write… which is why I have waited nearly a year.
I did not have a good experience with Olga. I feel like I cannot even go into too much detail, other than to say that I felt misunderstood, mishandled… and at times violated.
I do not believe her to be malicious, but her way of being during my labor clashed against my needs. I will be seeking out someone more compatible during my next birth. I look back at my experience and while I got a beautiful, happy little girl from my birth– I wish I had chosen someone who made me feel heard and not cornered.
I will say that my care from an OB in the practice (Dr. Har) was phenomenal. As were the labor nurses at El Camino (especially John). Make sure to ask LOTS of questions when you are determining compatibility. I wish I had done more research.

Olga was still in training when she delivered my baby girl under the supervision of Harriet Palmer, CNM, who is the most senior midwife in the Bay Area. It was a home birth. Olga is very caring and she helps the birthing woman in a physical, visceral way — in my case, she brought a big gym ball and we found a combination of my leaning on it and her stroking me that allowed me to ride the waves of very strong contractions. I have short labors but toward the end they get intense, so I could use all the care and soothing that was available.
The baby was not just big — 9 lbs. The baby extended her right arm keeping it parallel to the head. This made the circumference that had to pass through the birth canal so much bigger. Still, with help from Olga and Harriet, with massaging and gently pushing the baby back at first, I did not tear.
Then, at it was expected based on the results of the ultrasound, I started hemorrhaging. Olga and Harriet did three things at once: Olga started massaging the uterus, Harriet administered the drug to contract it, and they placed the baby to nurse, since the suckling motion of the baby contracts the uterus as well. I lost only little blood thanks to their fast and effective response!
The after birth care was good as well. Olga and Harriet made sure that I ate meat to make up for blood loss. They checked on the baby and made the most thorough assessment of her which was later praised during the first visit with the pediatrician.

My husband and I switched over from the OBs to the midwives, Lin, Bethany, and Olga at Altos Oaks towards the tail end of our second trimester because we heard about the high c-​section rate and medication usage of hospitals. We found out about the midwives at their informational tea session and immediately decided to switch our care to them. Throughout the remainder of my pregnancy, we saw them regularly and they were extremely thorough and attentive. They worked as a team, which we found refreshing and they are easily accessible through their Yahoo group forum. We felt that we were under competent care as they took the time to answer all of our questions. Unlike the OB that we transferred from where we felt like we were part of a factory line (in and out), there were a couple of visits with each of them where the visit was over an hour long and we never felt like we were being rushed out the door. When the day of my delivery arrived, Lin was on call and met us punctually at the hospital when it was time for me to go in. She was so calming yet funny which comforted me even though I was in pain. She walked me through each labor pain with her soothing voice and directions. She was very knowledgeable in the different techniques/​positions that would alleviate my pain so I wouldn’t need to have medications. My delivery went smoothly without complications and the need for any medications. My baby arrived healthy and alert. We would highly recommend Lin Lee, Bethany Monte, and Olga Libova to anyone that’s interested in a natural, healthy delivery!!! They are indeed experts in the natural birth!
They should get 10 stars!

I had a bad experience with Olga. I chose her because of good review and high rating, but was really disappointed. My pregnancy was healthy. But up to 8 months Olga didn’t notice that my baby was in down head position. Thanks to Lin Lee, who exactly identified baby’s position. Second: My pregnancy was going 1 week overdue. My baby became lazy, I started experience less movements. Olga made ultrasound before delivery, she didn’t notice that something wrong. I asked her many times about the size of my baby. She told me that everything was Ok and no need to worry, because baby in medium size and would be delivered naturally (My baby was 4700 kg!!!). And what was in the end!!! Doctor Un Hui Hur came and pierce amniotic sac and was shocked! I was elapsed in blood! She urgently made me C-​section and saved my boy. On the next day Olga didn’t even came to see me. I think she was ashamed, that is why she didn’t want to met with me.
I honestly would not recommend her based on my experience.

Olga is truly amazing!!! On March 20^th, after 24 hours of labor and numerous complications that would normally have resulted in a cesarean section, she delivered our little girl naturally. Olga arrived around noon on March 19^th to check our progress. At 5 cm things appeared to be going well. However, that was as far as we got. Our baby was in a posterior position laying somewhat sideways, weighed 9 pounds, and after a number of hours with no progression, Olga began working her magic. She put me in various positions to try and get things moving, constantly coached me on my breathing, and really demonstrated her vast knowledge in the birthing and midwifery experience. She rarely left my side, just stepping out to get something to eat. When she came back, she even brought food for my husband and our doula! Despite some very challenging moments, Olga never seemed stressed. She is a wonderful midwife, always calm, gentle, and compassionate. And even though I did not want an epidural, I completely trusted her when she said that that is exactly what I needed to relax and to get the baby to move down. She also recommended that we needed to break the bag in order to get the baby out. She was right both times. During the pushing phase, she worked a miracle again. With the baby stuck in the birth canal, my husband could see Olga visualizing/​almost enacting in the room the move the baby would need to make in order to come out. A short time later, with her hands, Olga manipulated the babies head and persuaded everything to fall right into place. Before we knew it, our little girl was laying on my chest. We cannot thank Olga enough for being there for us with all her expertise and great advice. She got our baby out the natural way and we know that without her, this would not have happened. We cannot recommend Olga highly enough. You will love her just as much as we do.

If I could give Olga 10 stars, I would. She delivered both of my babies and is enormously knowledgeable and experienced, wonderfully gentle, caring, and empathetic, and yet at the same time she is completely cool, calm, and rational. When you are giving birth you want precisely that. Olga is patient, respectful, she will not rush you into a medical procedure, she completely «gets» the birthing process, and she has given birth to 3 kids herself. She especially shines at natural childbirth. She guided me through 2 natural births of 9 lb. babies, and while I do take a bit of personal credit, now that I’ve experienced birth I know that it would not have been possible with just any doctor. Lin Lee is also extraordinary– you will alternate seeing both and either Olga or Lin will attend your birth, depending on their on-​call schedule. I simply cannot recommend Olga highly enough. I have put a picture of her in my daughters’ baby books!

My 3^rd baby was delivered by Olga Libova in 2008. She was relaxed and calm and we felt totally at ease that she would do everything possible to ensure the delivery would proceed in a natural way and pace (4 hours no drugs). I always knew that my best interests were placed first. I delivered at 38.5 wks after having gone into false labor at 35.5 wks with Lin Lee attending.

My husband & I were both very happy & comfortable with Olga’s care during our pregnancy and would have been happy to have her deliver our daughter. Our daughter was born on a day that Olga wasn’t on shift tho but she did drop by while I was laboring in the hospital… And I think she may have dropped by the following day as well, but I was too delirious with lack of sleep to remember correctly! I would recommend Olga to anyone! (Only rating 4 stars instead of 5 since we didn’t experience delivery with her…)

I saw Olga for prenatal care during both of my pregnancies. She is wonderful — warm, caring, and experienced. I always looked forward to my appointments with her.