Marina Alzugaray MS CNM
Midwifery is a love filled path.
A path I have traveled for over thirty years. It all started in the Santa Barbara neighborhood clinics in the 70's. In the 80's I worked as a Certified Nurse Midwife(CNM), attending births in Santa Barbara homes, and at Cottage and Goleta hospitals. My education includes a Masters of Science from UCSF, and a BA from Antioch University in SB. I am also a Nurse Practitioner and an RN. In addition to my educational programs, my greatest teachers have been all the mothers, babies and families who have shared their sacred, loving and peaceful births with me from my early days in SB to this day. I’m honored to say that I’ve participated in over 3,000 births, each one as magical as the first.

Those early experiences in SB helped shape who I am today. It is here in SB that I first developed the sequence for “AquaNatal” that evolved into a prenatal water program and education module. There are now over 100 AquaNatal instructors worldwide. Although ancient in tradition, the “Red Tent” concept, previously known as a women’s moon lodge also birthed in our sacred local mountains. My masters thesis and lectures entitled “The Birth Dance: movement and sound during childbirth”, teaches about freedom of positions during home births, and like those mentioned above, was also inspired by local birthing women.

We lost our home and all our families possessions in the ’90 painted cave fire. The experience rocked our world. With no earthly ties, we picked ourselves up, spread our wings, and flew town to warmer waters closer to my place of birth. I was born in Cuba and was able to attend births from many Latin American and Caribbean families living in Florida. My work in the 90's involved childbirth services in large and small community hospitals along with birth centers and island homes, from the Navajo reservation, to Appalachia, to South Florida and the Florida Keys. Through the years I have witnessed birth in many forms.

During the last 20 years I’ve had the pleasure of teaching midwifery and waterbirth education to midwives and doctors in national and international birth conferences like ACNM, ICM, MANA and Midwifery Today. I also served as a MANA board member, which gave me the opportunity to meet many wonderful midwives and traditional healers, along with policy makers and birth activists from Argentina to Budapest, Japan to Trinadad, Sharing knowledge of sacred births has taken me around the world.

The birth of my grandson Tavai, in ‘09 to Sharin and Adele, made my return to Santa Barbara a true joy and inspired my life's work to come full circle. I am grateful to my friends, family and community for welcoming me home as a grandmother, and midwife in SB once again. My husband Steve and my return, to our SB nest gives me the opportunity to share the fruits of my work with this community which I hold dear to my heart. I’m delighted to be working with Moriah and honored to midwife new life, here again, one baby at a time. I look forward to sharing time with family, friends, and many new moms, dads and babies.

Lovingly,
Midwife Marina

Moriah Whoolilurie
 I heard my calling to become a midwife when I was 13 and have been studying midwifery since I was 17. I received my Doula certification when I was 18. After a long and windy road, I’m grateful to say that I recently graduated from midwifery school in El Paso Texas and will be taking my national boards this summer to become a California Licensed Midwife. Yeay! I’m honored to have participated in close to 200 home, birth center and hospital births thus far. To all the mothers, babies and families who have welcomed me into their sacred birth circle, I am grateful.

I was born at Cottage Hospital in ‘79 and raised on the east side of Santa Barbara. I also had the great fortune to travel the world with my family as a child, and attended first grade in Spain, second grade in Italy and third grade in Argentina. Not only did this experience expand my world view, but it also taught me about language and culture. I now speak both Spanish and Italian fluently, and have been serving the Latino community through birth for years.

After 12 years of adventures away from SB, I recently moved back to my
hometown. I’m excited to be working with Marina as a doula and childbirth educator until I get my midwifery license. Once licensed, Marina and I will continue to work together as partners, complimenting each others wisdom and experience. I’ve been practicing as a professional masseuse for the past 12 years and provide pre-natal, deep tissue, and craniosacral therapies for the whole family.

Are you getting married?

Would you like a special and unique ceremony of any sort?

I’m also a licensed minister and here to serve.

I’m happy to be home and sharing the magic of Santa Barbara with my husband John of 10 years, pregnant with a baby of our own, and surrounded by love of family and friends.

Sincerely,
Moriah Whoolilurie


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(805) 973-7311

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Moriah and Marina are happy to offer
Child Birth Classes
in Santa Barbara
Join a group this summer at Peanut's

 

waterbirth homebirth

 

 

Red Tent a Moon Lodge
every new moon in Santa Barbara

Ina May and Deborah
in a red tent we set up in Austria

 

 

Marina is honored and excited to be part of this new book.
Into These Hands: Wisdom from Midwives


The book has arrived, it has more on my midwifery story.
click here for more information.

 

 

Our Mission:
Is to provide gentle birth services, in response to you,
your baby's and your family's unique needs.

Marina Alzugaray and Moriah Whoolilurie homebirth midwives