Excuse the long review, but Dr. Labrant is one of the most outstanding health care providers I've ever had and I want to recognize how wonderful she is, especially if my feedback can help others. As an African-American pregnant woman, I had concerns about receiving adequate medical care during my pregnancy given the above average maternal mortality and morbidity rates among women who look like me. I initially selected an African-American OB, but during my first trimester I decided to switch doctors given that I wasn't satisfied with the OB's level of care. After conducting a lot of research, I switched to Dr. Labrant and was so happy with my choice. Although her practice is in an area that doesn't have much socioeconomic and ethnic diversity, she has extensive experience working with women of color (volunteered in Ethiopia, worked with Medi-Cal patients); so even though this time around I didn't have an OB that looked like me, Dr. Labrant's familiarity with women from my community made me comfortable and I always felt seen (no medical gaslighting). Throughout my pregnancy, Dr. Labrant was very accommodating. She always took the time to answer questions during each visit; my husband and I never felt rushed, which is unfortunately such a common feeling in the healthcare system. I worked with a doula and also had specific birth plan requests, and Dr. Labrant was very supportive of these decisions. When she had a different perspective for some of the requests, she was polite and pragmatic in her approach. She would often provide medical evidence to support her recommendation, which always led us to happily agree with her and feel confident in our joint decisions. She also balances her medical knowledge and proficiency with a friendly and down-to-earth vibe, so it always felt like a safe space with her. My pregnancy ultimately led to an induction which eventually led to a C-section. I was terrified because this was my first time ever getting surgery and also because a lot of maternal deaths occur among C-section patients, including a very well known case with an African-American woman at the hospital at which I was delivering. However, during this stressful time, I was so grateful to have Dr. Labrant by my side. She was very clear and thoughtful when explaining why a C-section was necessary. A lot of women of color are pressured into C-sections, but Dr. Labrant didn't pressure me and instead provided strong medical evidence on why this was critical for the health of my baby and me. She also accommodated specific requests I had about how the surgery would be performed to ensure I would be comfortable. Her approach and support allowed me to feel confident and relaxed as I prepared to get major surgery. Right before the operation began, she even thoughtfully asked me if I keloid easily to preempt post-op keloid scars. I am someone who experiences keloid scarring, yet this didn't even occur to me as something to look out for, so I was pleasantly surprised and grateful that Dr. Labrant brought this up and incorporated steroid treatment during the surgery to minimize this risk. After my delivery, Dr. Labrant continued to provide excellent care during my 6 week post-partum period. I am so grateful for her and look forward to getting her care again in the future. Thank you so much, Dr. Labrant!
Mary H. | Nov 03, 2023
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