Westside Doula

 

 

There are two main professional doula associations.  Through each of them you can search for a doula that serves your area. 

    

(There are LOTS of very talented doulas that service the Westside. You can contact us for referrals for other westside doulas. Why would we recommend other doulas?  It's simple.  Finding the right doula is about finding the person whom you have the right chemistry with.  If the most experienced doula gets on your nerves, then she is not the doula for you. Likewise, a doulal-in-training can offer a less expensive alternitive.)

 

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Birth Professionals committed to supporting women through labor, delivery, and after birth.

• Laura Erlich, Acupuncture (Sepulveda at National) (310) 598-5209 www.innatewellnessgroup.com: Top pregnancy acupuncturist on the Westside, Laura is excellent at turning breech babies around. 

 

• Dr. Berlin, Chiropractor (Wilshire at Fairfax) (323) 549-0070 www.doctorberlin.com:  He suggests four visits, they are not particularly fun but seem to be extremely effective.  He is a very nice man and explains what is going on before and during the different procedures, which are designed to help open your pelvis and prepare for birth.    He is one of a few local chiropractors who will work on pregnant women.  In additional to spinal alignment for the mom, he does three procedures to address breech:
  a.    Ligament massage
  b.    Muscle stretch
  c.    Muscle pressure (very painful)

 

• Erica Reid, Therapy for Head to Soul
  323-898-8235 www.head2soul.org ericadawnreid@gmail.com

 

 

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Doctors supportive of home birth (willing to act as back-up doctors to local midwives):

• Dr. Crane, Delivers at Cedars or UCLA Westwood, 310-659-5810
• Dr. Chin, Delivers at Cedars, 310-659-5810
• Dr. Wu, Delivers at Glendale Adventist, 818-244-3571
• Dr. Fischbein, Delivers at St. Johns in Camarillo, (805) 987-6807
• Kaiser Permanente supports the midwifery style of labor and birth
• UCLA Midwives have their practice at UCLA Westwood hospital

 

If you know of other doctors that are willing to act as back-up doctors to local midwives, please let us know.

 

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Medical Information

Find out how your doctor is evaluated:  RateMDs.com

VBAC Facts Quick Facts

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Post Partum Support

Shirly Buzzoni (Birth Doula & Post Partum Doula) 310-372-3783 Email DoulasIs@msn.com

Joan Durham (Post Partum Doula) 310-280-0555, Email Joand42@yahoo.com

Andra Brosh, ( Ph.D.Clinical Psychologist), 212 Marine Street, #102 Santa Monica, CA 90405  310.922.6969 www.motheringminds.com specializes in Perinatal Mood Disorders and the transition to parenthood.

Safe Passage: (http://www.asafepassage.info ) This site is dedicated to pregnant women survivors of abuse , their family and friends impacted by the abuse, and care-providers looking for information and training so that they may better meet the needs of women in their care who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, woman abuse, sexual violence or trauma from a previous pregnancy.

Wholesome2Go: (http://www.wholesome2go.com/ )Wholesome2go is a unique kind of healthy food delivery for the Los Angeles area. Wholesome2go provides you with healthy, chef-prepared meals on a daily basis. We make our food from scratch so that we control the quality of ingredients. We use organic, in-season produce and only the highest quality meats, seafood and cheeses. All of our meals are vegan friendly.

Mandy's Meals: (http://www.mandysmeals.com/) I come to you and provide beautiful dishes. I plan menus, do the shopping, the cooking, the clean up and leave you with complete heating instructions AND your kitchen exactly how I found it. I am your food fairy!

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Sitters / Childcare

 

If you aren't fortunate enough to have free childcare around the corner, you will be in need of quality sitters.  Here is my favorite bonded agency that serve the westside.

Westside Sitters: 310-488-7409

Green & Granola Domestics Agency : http://www.greengranoladomestics.com/index.html , 323-992-6787

 

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Therapists specializing in pregnancy and birth issues

• Cherionna Mezam, Ph.D   Sanata Monica ~ Phone: 310-526-6127 ~ Cell: 805-452-8815

 

• Andra Brosh, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist 212 Marine Street, Suite 102, Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310)922-6969 www.motheringminds.com , andra@motheringminds.com

 

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Random helpful sites

Baby Steals (great deals)

Baby Legs (leg warmers--great for eary potty training)

Mothering Magazine

Brain Child Magazine

Organic Birth Magazine

http://www.confidentbeginnings.com/shop   This is a great online store, run by some OC lactation consultants.  It's full of the eco/natural stuff that we love.  Discount Code: ICAN

 

 

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Childbirth Information Sites

There are a few sites that are great resources.  They are not trying to sell you anything.  Here is where I go when I am trying to find out about anything childbirth related:

Lamaze International

Childbirth Connection

http://www.askdrsears.com   Ask Doctor Sears

American Pregnancy Association

International Cesarean Awareness Network