Testimonial for Cheryl Murfin, MA/IAEd, CD
To think that I almost didn't even hire a birth doula! I am a very independent SMC (Single Mother by Choice), who hates to be coddled and didn't really want anyone at the birth of my twins except for necessary medical staff. But I decided to find a birth doula to be a liason between me and the medical staff, and I am so happy that I found Cheryl! I can't imagine having gone through labor and delivery without her!! She was a calm and extremely knowledgeable presence thoughout the process, and helped me to remain calm and make informed decisions about my care. She had many amazing tricks in her bag for managing the pain, and without her, I might have called for an epidural much earlier than I did! I was worried that a doula might be a little too touchy-feely and "out there" for my taste, but Cheryl is extremely grounded and practical, as well as supportive. She did not judge any of my decisions, but helped me weigh the pros and cons of each step in my labor care. When I ended up being encouraged by the medical team to have a c-section after a day of labor and nearly 3 hours of unproductive pushing, Cheryl helped me get past the worry that I was "giving up" on a vaginal delivery and feel confident about my decision to go ahead with the c-section (which ended up being an extremely lucky decision for both me and the babies, due to complications that might have arisen had we postponed birth any longer). She was there throughout my 3-hour, intense and complicated c-section, and supported me in the hours after giving birth, when I experienced a plethora of complications. Again, she was calm and knowledgeable through every step in the process, and gave me a much needed support that I hadn't anticipated fully needing!
-L.S.
February 16, 2010
Cheryl Murfin, MA/IAEd, CD
Nesting Instincts Perinatal Services
Birth Fee: $3000 to $5000
Postpartum Rate: $65
