Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Maternity Patient Shares Her Story

A Positive Experience from Prenatal to Postnatal Care

By Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Women's Center
| 12:10 a.m. June 8, 2023

Health

In her profession as a pelvic floor physical therapist, Anjelica Yoder spends a great deal of time helping women understand their bodies – especially in pregnancy and postpartum. As someone who has spoken to countless women about their childbirth experiences and teaches birth preparation, Anjelica knew that she wanted a healthcare team that would listen to her wishes and work with her through the birthing process. Many women are left feeling pressured into certain methods of birth or feel rushed.

After speaking to two friends who assist women during childbirth, called doulas, about what she did and didn’t want, they recommended Dr. Joel Hallam at Lakewood Ranch.

“My friends told me that as long as mom and baby stayed safe, he honored the birthing plans of his patients. I found this to be true,” says Anjelica.

Dr. Hallam, DO, FACOOG, is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with the Lakewood Ranch Medical Group OB/GYN team. The team delivers babies at the beautifully appointed, spa-like Women’s Center at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

A Positive Experience from Prenatal to Postnatal Care

“From the beginning, I had a wonderful experience with Lakewood Ranch Medical Group,” Anjelica says. “I never had to wait in the waiting room for more than a few minutes. The receptionists and nurses were very friendly and attentive to my questions, and Dr. Hallam and Dr. [Terrell] Martin always took their time when responding to my concerns. I never felt rushed. I also loved when Dr. Hallam shared real-life experiences of his wife’s story from the births of their two boys. It made him very relatable and easy to connect with.”

Along with Dr. Hallam, midwife Angie Scarpa, CNM, ARNP, also of Lakewood Ranch Medical Group, was an integral part of her birth experience. Anjelica credits her birth doula, Laura Meyer with Sarasota Birth, as a key part of her support system, from start to finish.

Anjelica gave birth to a baby boy named Silas Kai Yoder. Being born three weeks early, his stay was extended. Both Dr. Hallam and Dr. Martin checked in on her and baby Silas each day of their stay until they were ready to go home.