"Childbirth is a natural process in a woman's life.  It is not to be feared.  Good midwives, both at home and in the hospital, carefully observe a pregnancy and assume it to be healthy until proven otherwise."

                                                 --Dr. Porrino

Childbirth Training Dr. Rebecca H. Porrino, received her Natural Childbirth training from lay midwives, Naturopathic Doctors, and Certified Nurse Midwives. In addition to many hours in the classroom, she trained intensively in an integrative natural childbirth practice for 3 years in Portland OR. She currently holds a Certificate in Obstetrics from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

California State and Midwifery

Currently, the State of California limits the safe practice of homebirth for Naturopathic Doctors.  We expect this to change as our state organization continues to lobby for full practice rights for NDs. In the meantime, full maternity services and natural adjunctive care are available for expecting mothers—including prenatal monthly visits until a care provider is found, all necessary labwork/ultrasounds, labor support, and postpartum mother and infant care.

Our Philosophy and Practice We view childbirth as a natural process. Our goals is to help prepare you both mentally, emotionally, and physically for your ideal birth and to empower women through education, information, and their achievement of a natural birth. Safety of Homebirth Worldwide, well-trained midwives have safely ushered new babies into the world at home.  Evidence shows that there are less infections, postpartum hemorrhages and neonatal death with planned home births compared to hospital births. Statistically, there are fewer unnecessary interventions (such as medications and episiotomy) during the birth process, fostering a healthier labor, childbirth and postpartum recovery.

Unique Services

In our practice, we use natural therapies such as relaxation techniques, holistic nutritional counseling, herbs and homeopathy to facilitate a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Our clients receive individualized dietary plans for morning sickness, anemia, and prevention of PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) and gestational diabetes.

Journals that have information on home birth include:
Midwifery Today and Mothering.