LA Moms' Top OB Recommendations

Deciding on a doctor to deliver your baby can be stressful at a time when you most need to de-stress. Here are some of the top obstetricians according to Los Angeles moms and physicians.

Westside

Manoochehr Yashari, MD & Henrietta Stancz, MD

1260 15th St., Suite 616
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 393-4655
Yasharimd.com

Many mothers go into labor and are disappointed when their doctor isn't "on call" to attend to their delivery. Drs. Yashari and Stancz are known for being the OBs who will come in to deliver -- even when it's their night off. Their practice advocates natural childbirth and is pro-VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). This team also specializes in female infertility and minimally invasive gynecological surgery. The office is located within walking distance of Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center and St. John's Hospital, where both doctors have privileges. Dr. Stancz has two young children and is fluent in Hungarian, Slovak and Czech. Dr. Yashari recently became a grandfather and speaks Farsi, Hebrew and French.

High Risk

Khalil Tabsh, MD & Pamela Boyer, MD

Fetal Maternal Medicine
200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 430
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 208-4492
obgyn.ucla.edu

For the pregnancies that have severe fetal and maternal complications, the need to be under the care of a High-Risk Obstetrician, also known as a Perinatologist, is an absolute requirement. When OBs in Los Angeles are asked where they refer their high-risk patients, Drs. Tabsh and Boyer are usually top of the list. Mothers all over LA credit the UCLA Fetal Maternal Medicine OBs with seeing them through to delivery of healthy babies. Dr. Tabsh is an internationally recognized pioneer in his specialty. Dr. Boyer receives high marks for her cesarean section deliveries with barely noticeable incision scars.

South Bay

James Scharffenberger, MD

20911 Earl St.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 370-7277

"Wonderful bedside manner" and "very helpful office staff" are often repeated comments by Dr. Scharffenberger's patients. The practice includes three more OBs, Drs. Lisa Fisher, Zhanna Pinkus and Elena Rhoads-Baeza, who all have privileges at Torrance Memorial and Little Company of Mary Hospitals. The practice encourages individualized birth plans including VBAC, doulas and natural childbirth.

Valley

Lauren Hyman, MD, Imelda Tio, MD, Jennifer Steen, MD

Partnership for Women's Health
7320 Woodlake Ave., Suite 280
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 932-0728
www.partnershipforwomen.com

This all-female private practice receives rave reviews from mothers all over the valley. The personal connection these physicians have with their patients is evident in comments like, "patiently answered all my questions" and "had me laughing during my contractions." Dr. Steen joined this popular practice four years ago, enabling the group to accommodate more patients. Strong word-of-mouth referral has pregnant women coming from all over the valley to their office, located across the street from West Hills Hospital.

Elizabeth Peterson is a Los Angeles mother of two who writes about her adventures as a mom in LA over on her blog: Traded my BMW For a Minivan.