Lompoc Mom feels Supported, Nurtured through Childbirth

When it came time for Lompoc resident Karla Bueno to have her first child, she purposefully chose Lompoc Valley Medical Center’s labor and delivery unit.

“There was no question in my mind that I was going to have my baby elsewhere,” Karla says.

Karla is a Lompoc native, delivered 30 years ago by LVMC’s Dr. Rodney Huss. The father of Levi, her baby boy, was also born in Lompoc.

“We’re very big on trying to keep everything local,” she notes. “We’re very proud of where we’re from. We wanted our son to grow up the same way we did.”

For Levi’s birth, Karla used Lompoc Health OBGYN Dr. Lloyd Trujillo, whom she regularly saw as a patient for gynecological check-ups.

“He always made me feel comfortable,” she says. “He answered my questions and said there were no dumb questions when it comes to your health. It’s heartwarming.”

She said her sister and her mother both see Dr. Trujillo – her sister as an OB patient and her mother as a gynecological patient. Because her mother is Spanish-speaking, Karla said it helped that Dr. Trujillo was able to communicate in her mother’s language.

During her birthing experience, Dr. Trujillo reassured Karla at every step, even though the birth ended up being via cesarean section after her blood pressure increased.

“The nurses were great and Dr. Trujillo showed up and said, ‘Let’s get that baby out now,’” she recalls. “He explained everything calmly and said everything would be OK. I was freaking terrified. It was comforting, that at that point, I could put all my trust into him. I trusted his judgment. I was taken care of and felt heard by my nurses and doctor. Honestly, it was a dream experience. I wish I could relive it. It was so amazing.”

Since Levi was her first child, she really didn’t know what to expect. Her goal, she said, was to get the baby delivered safely. She said the anesthesiologist walked her through every step.

“I’m the one that likes to know everything,” Karla says. “That made me feel comfortable. It’s part of my personality that I want a sense of control. At that moment of my life, I had no control. She reassured me.”

After the baby’s arrival, Karla was able to touch him forehead-to-forehead before Dr. Trujillo needed to finish her surgery. Once she returned from the operating room to her labor and delivery suite, she said it was “oddly peaceful, after all that stress.”

“He was immediately breastfeeding,” she says of Levi. “Even though my official birth plan didn’t happen, I just felt at ease. I was happy.”

The labor and delivery nursing staff not only took care of the new mother, but her fiancé as well, she recalls.

“They made us feel very comfortable to be there. We were so impressed with the food. It was amazing how good it was.”

She and her fiancé also were able to have a special meal prepared by the LVMC Dietary staff for new parents, which also includes a small silver spoon keepsake for the newborn.

“It was so nice,” Karla says. “I still have that little spoon. It’s in Levi’s keepsake box.”

She does acknowledge having some birth trauma psychologically after the baby was born.

“I had a really hard time,” she recalls. “It was hard for me for a couple months. I couldn’t tell you how many times I broke down. Dr. Trujillo really listened to me and made me feel safe. I’m very glad he’s here. He advocated for me afterward.”

Karla was able to see a Lompoc Health Behavioral Health specialist, who assisted her with anxiety and other issues.

Even more than a year after her son’s birth, Karla continues to tell everyone she knows that they should have their babies at Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

“It’s the best care you’re ever going to receive.”