Looking for doula in northern LA burbs

[Morgana]

We just moved to the Santa Clarita area and the OB I'm with is in Thousand Oaks.  He's the closest I could find who does VBACs.  I'm looking for a doula in that area.  Any recommendations?  Thanks!

[WaitingForKiddos]

Hello! I'm in Ventura County, close to Santa Clarita. There are other OB's who offer VBAC options. I'm not sure which of the 2 Drs in Thousand Oaks you're seeing...but in case you happen to not jive with them or Los Robles hospital for some reason, you have options. 

Lots of people like Jaci from http://venturabirthandbodyworks.com/. I know a good friend who birthed with her at Los Robles and several more people who have birthed with her at a hospital in Ventura. All of them LOVE her. 

[Morgana]

Thanks for the doula suggestion!

Do you know the names of other VBAC friendly OBs?  I posted on here awhile back and also on a local mom's yahoo group.  I was only given 3-4 names, if I remember correctly, and none of them do VBACs anymore.  Cedars and UCLA do VBACs but we think that's too far of a drive if we need to go at a high traffic time.  Baby #1 was a fast labor.  There was another hospital closer but some of their Doctors and nurses got busted running a salon out of the NICU not too long ago.  ICAN didn't have any help either.  I'm with Van Geem now but I'm not too crazy about him.  DH and I talked about finding someone new but we're not convinced our reservations are enough to justify switching now that I'm 28wks.  He's just so different than our last OB in NV.  It's been hard to adjust to the big personality differences.

[WaitingForKiddos]

There aren't many OBs who do VBACs, VanGeem, Williams and I believe the name is LaPenia. All out of LosRobles, which is a pretty intervention heavy hospital from what I've been told by women who've birthed there. I've chosen to go with Dr Fischbein, who does home and birthcenter births only. There is also a Dr in Ventura, whose hospital has a VBAC ban, who is rumored to not force a patient of his to have a repeat cesarean should she come to the hospital and refuse. I can give you that name in PM if you want.There are also midwives in the area, all homebirth/birthcenter midwives, who offer VBACs. I'm pretty sure there's one in Santa Clarita. If you're open to that option I can get names. 

That said, I know women who have had their VBACs at LR with VanGeem and Williams and they got their VBAC just fine. I think knowing that LR is intervention heavy going in there can easily prevent their pressuring. 

Good luck!

[CrazyCatLady]

They are in LA, so it may be too far.  But I recently used the two best doula's ever.  Jessica ([e-mail]) and Carly ([e-mail]).  They were students during my birth in August.  But they hung in there during a 26 hour labor and were life savors. I highly recommend them.  Best of luck with your VBAC!

[Morgana]

Thanks for the suggestions!  After talking to my husband, we are going to try to find an OB at Cedars.  Aside from doing VBACs, we just can't think of other positives for Van Geem.  I called de La Pena's office and the nurse I spoke to was incredibly rude.  I had a simple question (or so I thought) and she said the doctor doesn't have time to speak to the nurses so she can't ask him.  Sounds like they're way to busy.  Several people have pointed me to Cedar but we were afraid of the drive.  It's actually closer to us than Los Robles but we're going to take the chance with the worse traffic since it sounds like Cedars is a better fit for us.  I contacted one OB and I should hear this week if she has room for me.  So, any other OB or doula suggestions for Cedars is much appreciated!  Oh, and I contacted Jaci and was happy with our conversation on the phone.  We have an appointment with her after Christmas but I'm not sure if she goes to Cedars.  It seems like quite a drive for her.  I talked to her before deciding to try for Cedars.

[kelantan]

There is also Dr. Wu out of Glendale Adventist that does VBACs. There really aren't many. Or the UCLA midwives at UCLA. Or i've heard of Dr. Dwight out of Good Samaritan.

I am personally delivering with Dr. Wu. I have had one previous VBAC--but it was out of hospital ish. 

Good luck!