Hayley became fascinated with childbirth in 2006 when she saw the documentary What Babies Want, a film that explores the consciousness of infants and the significant role the experience of childbirth has on a child’s psychosocial development. After she earned a BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, Hayley moved back home to California to begin working in the field of pregnancy and infant health and wellness.

She was soon encouraged to pursue midwifery by a long-time licensed midwife and mentor whom Hayley had been assisting at the time. In 2011, Hayley began her four-year midwifery training at the National Midwifery Institute. Shortly thereafter, she had the wonderful opportunity to train with Ina May Gaskin and the midwives at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee.

Hayley Oakes has been attending births since 2010 as a doula, midwife assistant, apprentice and licensed midwife, witnessing and supporting birth in all settings: home, birth center and hospital. She has also worked as a childbirth educator and guest speaker for a number of educational institutions.

As of February 2019, Hayley became a mother herself and in 2022 welcomed a second child. She currently resides in the Santa Ynez Valley, CA with her family.

As a midwife, educator and mother, she is committed to supporting childbearing folks in having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience to help grow healthy happy babies.