Seeking a Midwife

Preconception & Pregnancy Midwives
1

My Husband and I are expecting our second child in late October/ early November. Our first was born at home with love and support of midwives. The birth was very difficult and long, because my original midwife went on a spontaneous vacation one week before my due date. I had to start a new relationship with new Midwives 13 days before my son was born. For the second birth, I would like to complete the birthing cycle with one dependable Midwife.

Home birth Moms, do you have a stellar recommendation for a great Midwife/Midwives in the LA/Orange County area? We are searching for a reasonably priced Midwife, we do have a PPO insurance plan.

Thank you!

2

Camille, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GOOD NEWS! : )))

I highly recommend my amazing midwife, Tonya Brooks, who is
located in Sherman Oaks. I experienced the most naturally incredible pregnancy and birth with her as my midwife, and her BIRTHING CLASSES are sooooo AMAZING!

Here's her data:

The Natural Birth & Women's Center
14140 Magnolia Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Tel: 818-386-1082
http://www.gr8birth.com

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions: (323) 906~2784.

LOL (Lots Of Love),
Leah (MAMA to 17 month old Dylan Orion....... 29 September 2007). : )))

3

I had a wonderful experience with Leslie Stewart and Katherine Williams of Home Birth Services of Los Angeles. They were wonderful with the birth of my son. Prior to the birth, I would see both of them so that if another birth occured or someone had to leave town, there was one of them there to help me that I was comfortable with Katherine ended up delivering my baby (which oddly enough I knew she would the second that I met her).Being concidered a "high risk" pregnancy by the OB world, I found them when I was terrified (thanks MD's)and broke. My pregnancy was a suprise and ! was not insured. They worked with me and even took Medical! I do know they take insurance and I cannot say enough wonderful things about them. I had a beautiful, fear-free, uncomplicated home birth just the way I had wanted and they were wonderful in supporting my choices. I plan on using them again for my second when the time comes.

Leslie Stewart, CNM
Certified Nurse-Midwife
Catherine Williams, LM
Licensed Midwife
Homebirth Service of
Los Angeles
3959 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste. A
Studio City, CA 91604
818-760-6541
E-mail: [email protected]

Also, you can find other excellent people at http://www.socalbirth.com/providers/gyno.html

The best to you and your family! Have a wonderful birth!
Danielle

4

Hi Camille,

I highly recommend Tonya Brook at the Sherman Oaks Natural Birth and Women's Center.

Best of luck,
Gila Brown

5

Interview each one thoroughly. Bring your 20 + questions and then decide for yourself. Interview them over the phone and bring even more questions based on the phone interview with you when you meet them face to face.

I've had 2 home births. The 1st, not so great with a nervous yelling midwife who "was more comfortable in a hospital." So I told her to there. 17 Hours of labor, 3 of which was pushing. 1 home visit after the birth and a phone call berating me. PS. The baby was just fine as was I.

The 2nd was with Davi Khalsa CNM. I never knew that it could be so amazing, so wonderful, so loving, nuturing, and plain ol' good. She honored my birth plan to a "t." She was there for me when I needed her and hung back when I didn't...without me having to say a word. I was in charge and in complete control. Got help when I needed it and was let alone to do my work when I needed. My baby was born in the water after 2 very easy hours of light gardening, sweeping, and doing laundry plus 4 hours of hard labor.

Her aftercare blew me away. Such love and care! I never knew it was possible. She's truly gifted.

Here's a list:

:-)Davi Khalsa CNM :-)
http://www.tlcwomanscenter.com/

Mary Lou O'Brien CNM
http://www.beachcitiesbirthservice.com/

Leslie Stewart, CNM
Certified Nurse-Midwife
Catherine Williams, LM
Licensed Midwife
Homebirth Service of
Los Angeles
3959 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste. A
Studio City, CA 91604
818-760-6541
E-mail: [email protected]

All three come very highly recommended by the UCLA midwives.

LM's:

Sue Wolcott, LM, RN - Shasta Midwives - Naturopathic Midwifery, Traditional Midwife, Practices in Los Angeles and Orange Counties - 562-334-5706, [email protected], www.shastamidwives.com, Pre-pregnancy counseling, homebirth, waterbirth, breastfeeding support and well women check ups.

Shelly Girard, L.M., C.P.M., M.P.H.
California Licensed Midwife, Certified Professional Midwife, Master's in Public Health (Health Education)
Seannie Gibson, LM, CPM, LLC.
Licensed Midwife
Childbirth At Home, A Labor of Love
496 Rainbow Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
323-221-7822
Email: [email protected]
URL: http://www.socalbirth.com/shelly/
Also see: Spotlight on the Practitioner: Shelly Girard

Shelly Girard, LM, CPM, MPH- has been offering wholistic prenatal care, well-woman gynecology and childbirth at home and has attended over 3000 births since 1972. Insurance billing available. She is licensed by the State of California and is a Certified Professional Midwife accredidted by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), and earned her Master's Degree in Public Health Education and Promotion from UCLA in June, 2000. With a focus on wholistic health care, her areas of expertise include nutrition, herbology and exercise physiology. She is a massage therapist certified by the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing. Shelly has practiced yoga for over 30 years and holds a black belt in Kenpo Karate from the International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA). She has two grown sons, Chesed and Shawn, who were born at home.

Los Angeles - Diane M. van der Westhuizen (also known as Diane West) (since 2004) - Practices in Los Angeles County and some parts of Orange County, (818) 913 0448, [email protected], www.westhomebirth.com, Services Offered: Home Birth, Water Birth, Well-Woman Gynecology, Breastfeeding Support, Monitrice Services

Good luck!

6

Belly Sprout in Fullerton is having a Pregnancy Fair this weekend(sat 21st). Midwives, doulas and my wonderful chiropractor and many others will be on hand to meet. You can go to www.bellysprout.com for more info. This is a wonderful "community" of like-minded mamas for support, referrals, etc. Good luck on your second home birth!

7

Congratulations Camille! Devi Khalsa is really fantastic!

8

I used Sacred Entrance in la and loved them, i has a home water birth and reccomend them.
Janine

9

A Word of Warning about Home Birth Service of Los Angeles:

After years of wanting a home birth and having only the most positive ideas and expectations of the home birth process, we were incredibly disappointed and sorry we chose this company for our birth.

We went to HBS after extensive research because of all the glowing reviews of Leslie Stewart as a midwife. Indeed, when we met Leslie for our original consultation, we were very impressed with her and happy to sign a contract with her service for our home birth.

While the prenatal care they provided was nice, caring and reassuring, things changed dramatically when I went into labor. Unfortunately, Leslie took the weekend off, and we ended up with her partner, Catherine Williams.

We did not have anything like the positive, beautiful experience we had envisioned, especially the support and guidance of a midwife who had the same view of the birth process as we did - respectful of the woman, patient, supportive. Instead we were forced to labor primarily alone for hours (over 18 hours of active labor unassisted) because the midwife seemed annoyed to be getting called by us. When she finally showed up, I was already almost fully dilated and EXHAUSTED from laboring alone.

But she still seemed impatient and annoyed with us even then - she broke my water to speed things up without my permission, pressured me to push before I was ready, did not let us use the pool we had prepared for a water birth, and even suggested I go to the hospital and get Pitocin at one point to speed things up - basically, all the things you avoid a hospital birth for happened.

When things reached a crisis point and I needed an IV to replenish my fluids, the midwife was not able to give me one (she tried and botched it twice), even though we had been told the midwife would be qualified and prepared to do this if it was needed. When the fetus then became distressed, we were forced to call 911 and be transferred to a hospital via ambulance. Even though Leslie had promised us that, in the case of a transfer, they would be there to advocate for us - the midwife was nowhere to be found...

She showed up late to the hospital, leaving us alone there to fend for ourselves at first. She then promised to come the next day to finish the post-birth procedures that HMS is contracted to provide - but she did not show up. They did not return our calls the next day, even though before the birth they were always good to return calls quickly.

We never even got a call from Leslie to see how we were doing after the whole ordeal. We were left so saddened that this company, which claims to represent a holistic, respectful approach to childbirth, treated us with such lack of concern and caring. Though it sounds harsh, they seemed happy to take the money and run.

We will never know how different our experience would have been with Leslie, but as they do not guarantee who will show up at your labor, be careful before choosing them. It is the only birth your child will ever have. It is such a sacred experience that only people that truly respect it should be in this business.

10

Catherine Williams attended 3 of my 4 children's homebirths (her partner delivers the other one). She is amazing. Very knowledgable and cool headed. We had a great experience each time, and she had the skills to deal with each unique situation. I would reccomend her highly!