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PALS Doula

cheryl murfin

Cheryl Murfin

Services

  • Areas Served: All of King County, South Snohomish
  • Attend Hospital Births: Yes
  • Attend Birth Center Births: Yes
  • Attend Home Births: Yes
  • Years of Experience: 15
  • Languages:
  • Fee: $1,500 to $2,400 (One & Only Client Contract promises I am exclusive available to you 2 weeks before and 2 after your EDD. Includes labor tub and TENS. I am happy to consider PRO BONO care in months I do not have exclusive care promised.

Biography

I’ve been helping mothers have babies for as long as I’ve had my own -- Nearly 16 years.

It is a work that I am both proud of and honored to continue. I learn something new from every family I serve and in this way, I know I am part of circle of women worldwide who are helping each other visualize a better world for our children.

I started my work life as a newspaper reporter but after having my own children, I realized I wanted to mix my work and my parenting. In 1995 I began writing for Seattle’s Child magazine in Seattle and have continued to do so over the years. I love the idea of creating a community of parenting through shared stories and ideas. in 2005, I became executive director of the Seattle Midwifery School, now a part of Bastyr University.

I attended by first birth in 1996 and was mesmerized. My own births were wonderful experiences that included midwives, doctors and doulas. I assumed every woman had easy access to a similar spectrum of care. Unfortunately, many women experience birth as trauma, unsupported and alone -- even with a partner present. I became a doula to help women and their families achieve the birth they dream of -- in essence to mother the mother and help all those present nurture her. In the end, I believe a mothered mother is most likely to mother well herself.

MY NEW APPROACH TO DOULA CARE: EXCLUSIVE SERVICE

For several years I have served between two and five clients per month. However, I am transitioning to a different service approach. As of September 2011, I will be offering clients exclusive doula care. That means if you choose my service I will not take any other clients within the two weeks before or after your estimated due date. My exclusive care fee includes quite a few extra benefits, including pre- and post-partum massage, a visit from a certified lactation consultant and infant photography services. I will be available to meet with you for walks, talks and connection as you near your due date. The cost of having exclusive care is higher than average doula costs, however I believe that knowing that I am almost 100 percent likely to attend your birth and will spend time getting to know you is worth this fee.

Please check my website to learn about the benefits of exclusive client care: www.nestinginstincts.org

I enjoy hospital, birth center and home birth settings and trust you to make the best choice for you! Here are my thoughts on each:

HOSPITAL

As your doula, I trust that you know what is best for you, your body and your baby. You are the expert here. I also understand that every woman comes to her birth with a unique life story and unique needs and therefore no one else can or should tell you what is best for you. Some women are more comfortable in a hospital setting for their birth and I fully support that choice. My own birthing experience includes hospital and home labors, each exactly where it should have been. For numerous reasons, some personal and some medical, a birthing woman may require one or many interventions. Whether in a hospital, birth center or at home, it is your body, your baby, your birth. I will listen to your story and be a resource for evidence-based information as you decide when, where and how to have your baby.

Research shows clearly that for mothers and babies in low risk pregnancies, little or no intervention during birth yields the best outcomes in terms of material and infant health, successful breastfeeding and other indicators of well being.

But for all its simple, incredible and precision mechanics, birth can sometimes be unpredictable and complicated. The best choices come from having information and strong support. Toward that end, I will seek to provide you with the most accurate, unbiased information possible as your transition into parenthood and I will strive to be strength for your journey.

If you are expecting a loss, disability, adoption or other circumstance that requires special time and attention or expertise, please give me a call. These are areas in which I have ample experience and a particular desire to assist mothers and families.

BIRTH CENTER

If you have chosen a birth center for your family you have made a strong commitment to an unmedicated birth and I applaud you for that your choice.

You have chosen a setting that will help you meet your goals. But whether you birth at a center, at home or in the hospital, you can expect the same focused, compassionate, information-based care from me. Every labor has its highs and lows and it is my goal to provide steady, centered support for you through it all.

As a midwifey consumer myself, I am thrilled you have chosen to entrust your care and your baby into the hands of providers who fully trust birth, believe in your personal power and in your body and are pledged to protect this sacred moment for your baby.

HOME

f you are having your baby at home you have made a commitment to an unmedicated, truly family-centered birth and I am very excited for you and your family!

But again, whether you birth at a center, at home or in the hospital, you can expect the same focused, compassionate, information-based care from me. Even in the more comforting and quiet setting of home, your experience of birth will be heightened by steady, centered support and it is my goal to be just that for you and your family through it all.

Research shows that home birth is as safe or safer than hospital delivery for healthy low risk mothers and babies. I am thrilled you have chosen to entrust your care and your baby into the hands of profession midwives--providers who fully trust birth, believe in your personal power and in your body and are pledged to protect this sacred moment for your baby.

Birth Doula Certifications

  • PALS, 2004
  • PALS, 2011

Formal Training

  • Birth Doula Training / Seattle Midwifery School
  • Postpartum Doula Training / Seattle Midwifery School
  • Professional Education in Lactation & Breastfeeding Support / Simkin
  • School for Allied Childbirth Vocations
  • When Survivors Give Birth training / Penny Simkin, CD, PT
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Mood Disorders / Seattle
  • Midwifery School
  • Hands-on Touch Techniques for Pregnancy and Birth / Laurie Levy, CD,
  • LMT
  • BA Communications/Journalism from University of Washington
  • Certificate in Nonprofit Management from University of Washington

Education

  • BA Communications/Journalism from University of Washington
  • Masters Certificate in Nonprofit Management from University of Washington

Continuing Education

  • Cheryl is the former Executive Director of Seattle Midwifery School, training midwives, doulas and childbirth educators for 35 years. 2005-2008.

Experience or Specialized Training

  • Extensive work with teen mothers
  • Extensive work with high-risk mothers
  • Extensive work with birth mothers planning on adoption
  • Significant work with parents expecting a loss

Other

  • Cheryl is transitioning to a one client per month exclusive care approach starting in September 2011. The cost of having exclusive care is higher than average doula costs. Please check out her web site to learn about the benefits of exclusive client care:
  • http://nestinginstincts.org/NestingInstincts.org/Services_%26_Fees.html
  • To read childbirth and parenting articles written by Cheryl, go to the following link:
  • http://nestinginstincts.org/NestingInstincts.org/Parenting_Articles_by_Cheryl.html

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