Finding Midwife in Ventura County?

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Hi Christina!

Good news: There are three wonderful midwives in the city of Ventura, in two wonderful birthing centers --

Karni Seymour-Brown
Sunrise Birthing Center
http://venturamidwife.com/
12 N. Ash Street
Ventura CA 93001
805-648-2350

Sue Turner and Dawn Dana
Ventura Birth Center
http://home.pacbell.net/mrcarpet/
3110 Loma Vista
Ventura CA
805-667-BABY (2229)

There is another midwife in Simi Valley, I just don't know as much about her:

http://www.thewholewomaninc.com/
Marcia McCulley
There is a milk bank opening or operating from this center.

I can't answer the insurance questions.

I don't have personal experience with any of these midwives. I've heard glowing reports about the first three from fellow AP moms in the Ventura County AP Moms group, which you might want to join ... it's a great group, over 100 moms and growing, very supportive, informed, and welcoming. Link is in my signature below.

What part of VC are you in? If you don't mind saying

I'm close to Thousand Oaks.

Good work, Amor!

Marcia birthed my Simon, at home, and my DH caught him! She is a Nurse Practicioner with years of OR, ER and L&D hospital experience and she has a GORGEOUS birthing center in Simi Valley where she does all kinds of well-woman visits (she's basically my Gyn, too). We had a really hard time deciding between home and her center (which has really nice rooms and birthing tubs). Definitely check her website out.

She is kind of surprising in her personality and style. She's not at all an earth mama, but is very warm and supporting. I was very, very, very happy with her and would definitely use her again. Hee hee.

Also, our insurance (Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans) considers midwives to be out-of-network and the state of CA requires that Midwives be treated as doctors, since they are medical providers licensed by the state. We did have to pay her directly and submit for reimbursement, which we haven't done yet, but supposedly everything is reimburseable at about 60%. I thought her pricing was really good, too, and includes all your prenatal visits and testing, the labor and delivery (at home or in her center - your choice) and several post-partum visits.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about her. I loved her. Simon came out with his fist by the side of his head and it was Marcia who got me to focus and get that little man out (ouch!)!

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Hi DarcyWronk! I bet you're the Darcy who just applied to VenturaCountyAPMoms ... am I right??? (i'm the moderator)

I've heard good things about Dawn & Sue. I've met them and seen their birth center in Ventura, though not for pregnancy/birth, I just went to attend a talk by Dr. Jesse Handley a couple years ago. I'd love to go visit Karni Seymour-Brown's center in Ventura too, I've heard it's beautiful as well.

Welcome to MDC! And soon to VCAPMoms!