Westside Doula

Kaiser: Cadillac (West LA)

6041 Cadillac Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90034 | (323) 857-2000 | Directions | Physicians
Maternity is on the 4th floor.

Treats for the nurses are welcome.

Birthing rooms:

There is a long couch and chair for family to rest. 
There is a nice big shower, but no birthing tub.
The TV in the room plays DVD and VHS.
There is no fridge in the room.
BYO birthing ball.
Moms stay in the same room for labor and birth and about 1h postpartum.  Then the family is moved to a postpartom room on the same floor.
Only two guests (Dad and Doula/support person) can be with the mom in the room.  No one under the age of 18 (swine flu prevention).
Squat bar is available, ask for it on intake.
BYO birth ball.

C-Section:

Kaiser, in general has a low c-section rate and Cadillac is no exception.  This is based on the fact that they practice the midwifery model of labor and birth.  That said, their default position is that only the father is alowed in the operating room.  Discuss with your doctor if you want to make sure your doula is granted access to support you in the case that your husband has to leave the room for any reason (like to take baby to NICU while you are left alone to get stitched up). 

In 2008: KAISER FND HOSP - WEST LA 27.3% , KAISER FND HOSP - BALDWIN PARK 27.2% .

Classes:

Please call Kaiser directly, as classes and location are subject to change.

There are lots of other classes related to health, illnesses, and pregnancy.  Here are the pregnancy related classes local to the westside as of 11/2009.

Some classes are not held at the hospital and held at other Kaiser office buildings such as: 

Culber Marina Medical Office Building , 12001 W. Washington Blvd. , Los Angeles   CA   90066, (800) 954-8000 (right at Washington and Inglewood).

Cadillac (West LA) classes:

• Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy
• Cesarean Birth and VBAC
• Breast Feeding With Success
• Breast Feeding Support Group
• Baby Care Basics
• Gestational Diabetes
• Labor and Delivery Process
• Maternity Tour
• Postpartum Care
• Prepared Childbirth

Los Angeles Medical Center

• Breast Feedng after 1st Month
• Have a Healthy Pregnancy
• Maternity Tour
• Prenatal Information Class
• Prepared Childbirth

Baldwin Park Medical Center

• Gestational Diabetes
• Labor and Delivery Process
• Infant CPR
• Prenatal Yoga
• Prepared Childbirth

Food Policy:

As with any policy, it may fluxuate depending on the specific health of the birthing woman and baby.
During early labor you are permitted to eat and drink as desired.   No "No Food" policy exists at Kaiser (yippee!).

There is no refrigerator in the room.  Nurses can help get ice, as patients/guests do not have access to the ice machine.  Hot water for tea is available from the tap or the nurse can help you get that too.

Hospital Notes:

There is no visiting hours, so guests are welcome at all time.

There is a waiting room just outside of the elevators (on the 4th floor) for overflow guests).  At night, it's a great place to labor if you get to the hospital before you can get admintted. 

IMO:  The care you will receive is not related to the horrible sinage on the floor.  Really, it's like an IQ test and I keep failing it.

VBAC:

Kaiser supports VBAC, and it is routinely available at this hospital.

Parking:

Valet parking avail
$1 every half hour for 4 hours
$8 after 4 hours
Validated parking for new dads
Parking is easy, and is directly adjacent to the medical center.
The gate is sometimes up at night