ICAN OF SAN DIEGO
International Cesarean Awareness Network
We are a local chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network, founded in June 1982. Our current chapter was formed in 2002 with the goals of providing support and information for women and families who are currently pregnant, who have had cesareans, and for those planning a vaginal birth after cesarean ("VBAC"). We are a grass roots network of concerned
Contact: Tonya Jamois

 

Doulas

Birth Resource Network
Professional Association of Independent Doulas San Diego, California

Birth Resource Network is a non-profit association of independently practicing doulas serving all of San Diego county. Our group includes nearly two dozen doulas from various backgrounds including nurses, childbirth educators and lactation consultants working together to educate the community concerning the benefits of having a doula attend a woman in labor.

 

Midwives with Multiple Services:

Vickii Gervais, LM, CPM, IBCLC
Homebirth Midwife

Vickii Gervais is a California licensed midwife, a Certified Professional Midwife with the North American Registry of Midwives and an IBC Lactation Consultant. She has been offering midwifery care for over 12 years. She is committed to women discovering themselves during their pregnancies to reaffirm their inherent strength to birth their babies gently and powerfully.

Services: Personalized Prenatal Care, Homebirth, Preconception Counseling, Alternative Insemination, Lactation Support

 

EAST COUNTY:

Celesta Rannisi
Homebirth Midwife... Alternative women's health through Midwifery
Celesta Rannisi is a CA licensed Homebirth Midwife, UCSD extension graduate Lactation Specialist and Casa de Nacimiento Alumni. Celesta has been providing woman/baby care since 1987. Celesta started a primary care homebirth practice in 1990. She became one of California's first decriminalized midwives in 1993. Then in 1997 she challenged the State to allow her to "grandmother in" and sat for the medical board of California's first state midwifery licensing exam.

For the last 18 years, Celesta has worked as a primary care midwife, lactation specialist and alternative woman's health specialist. Activist for family issues, she holds a board position as Region 10 Representative of the California Association of Midwives (CAM). She continues to work towards providing access to midwives by women in California. Her approach is down to earth and holistically basic, with a home office out in the country where there is plenty of space for kids to play. She shares a peaceful environment for relaxing conversations and visits. The services provided by her practice are reasonably priced with most PPO insurance companies covering our care.

A sample of services provided:
" Midwifery and homebirth, Water birth, Well woman Gynecology, Lactation consulting (specializing in difficult cases), Doula support for birth and postpartum, Pre-hospital at home labor checks, Fertility awareness workshops, Childbirth, Breastfeeding, Nutrition, Sibling childbirth prep and Positive Parenting classes.
Other services:
" Alternative at home insemination, Cervical cap fittings, Cord blood collection, Alternative midlife woman care, Detoxification and colon irrigation, Healing metabolism and Weight loss. Juice Plus and Mannatech distributor. Happy Birthing!

 

Best Start Birth Center
Best Start Birth Center on 4th Avenue downtown, is San Diego's only State Licensed, Nationally Accredited, free standing birth center. Best Start has been providing childbearing services to San Diego families since 1983. Services are provided by expert midwives with extensive experience in normal childbirth. The birth center has the full support and cooperation of nearby hospitals, physicians, and emergency maternal and newborn services.

Best Start provides homelike comfort and privacy with the safety and security of a program and facility organized exclusively to support normal childbirth. Many years of experience has produced a long track record of happy families and healthy babies, as well as respect from other professionals in the community.

Best Start offers Midwives, Water Birth, Family Centered Birthing, Lactation Consultation, Childbirth Classes, Nutritional Counseling Services, Psychosocial Counseling Services, and Pregnancy Massage Services.

 

 

More San Diego Natural Parenting Resources

 

 

"... filled with scientific research regarding key issues of infant care. Provides parents information on healthy parenting choices in easy-to-digest language. It is a must read for new and expecting families and also an important text for educators." -- International Childbirth Education Association

 

 

This resource page provided by Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, DC, author of The BABY BOND: The New Science Beahind What's Really Important When Caring for Your Baby

Please let me know about any changes or additions to the list. lfpalmer@thebabybond.com