"Murial's presence alone always makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. The birth was great, she anchored me physically and mentally and I think I even had a little fun! For post partum care, she was present with me if I needed to talk something through, she sensed when I wanted to be alone and rest, she was great with our baby and my toddler loved her as well. I was so tired I couldn't even think what I wanted her to do and she just figured out what we needed and did it, from laundry to wearing my baby to organizing to researching preschools for my toddler. I really trust her and I just like her a lot too."
"Oh, Murial... What would we have done without Murial? My husband was initially hesitant about the whole idea of a doula, as I imagine a lot of partners are, but Murial quickly won him over with her laid-back approach and warm personality. She was very present and easy to get a hold of with questions during my pregnancy, and our birth prep sessions with her were much more informative and helpful than anything else I'd read or heard. I ended up having an extremely quick labor, but my husband expressed that he was so grateful for Murial's extra set of hands and her calm, clear-headed presence. (Imagine getting a vomiting woman in active labor out to a car in the middle of the night in pouring rain... ). During what I consider to have been an extremely painful labor, Murial kept me going from one contraction to the next, and I truly believe her awesome doula-skills are what kept me on track to have the birth experience that I really wanted. When it was all said and done, my husband and I felt like she was family, and I am so happy that Murial is forever a part of my son's birth story."
"Murial is a beautiful person and an extraordinarily attuned listener.
I hired her for the birth of my daughter at the end of May, and she went above and beyond in caring for us. I'm a single mother, and she worked tirelessly and skilfully to make sure that I felt taken care of with plans for a backup doula and for post-partum support that was needed.
I treasure the video clips of Murial holding my baby while doctors were finishing my c-section. It means the world to know that she was protected and loved by Murial in the first hour of her life.
I highly recommend Murial."
"Murial Barkley-Aylmer is outstanding! Murial was with me for the entire labor, not just with her incredible wisdom, presence, and joy, but in the prep we did prenatally. As a first-time parent-to-be, I wanted support. I wasn't sure what a doula would be like for a personal experience like childbirth. When I asked Murial why she chose to be a Doula, her passionate answer convinced me that we were a great match. She spoke of her commitment to helping, supporting, and creating a safe space for new mothers and birth partners. Murial and I met for prenatal guidance, and she was charming and kind while explaining some of what to expect in the birth process. She suggested exercises, helped us understand a birth plan, guided with humor and humanity throughout. My baby was 3 weeks early but Murial was able to be with me in the hours leading to the birth, and was with me for more than 16 hours. I could not have imagined a better doula! Post-partum, we were happy to see Murial and our baby loved being in her arms again. Simply put, Murial is amazing. If you're lucky to work with her for your birth. many congratulations!"
"I cannot recommend Murial's doula services enough!
As parents-to-be, we all feel anxious about the process of pregnancy and childbirth - and we all know that we cannot control what this process will require of us! BUT we can choose who we take with us on the journey. Murial is an amazing choice.
My journey was a particularly long and unpredictable one - and though it was trying, Murial's patient, kind, and encouraging presence was a constant.
She fed me, held me, coached me, educated me, made me laugh, let me cry, massaged me, looked in my eyes when I was scared, encouraged my husband... Without exaggeration, she was my guardian angel throughout the entire experience.
Not only is her heart completely devoted to the sanctity and magic of child birth, but she has the wisdom and education to execute that devotion in a highly professional manner. Expect nothing but the most raw, honest, and integral doula work from this incredible provider.
We love you, Murial!"
"I didn't have a doula for my first baby, and when my water broke at home, the subsequent birth process felt very out of our control. Our doctors were excellent but also very pro-pitocin, pushy with how fast I was (not) progressing, and very pro-epidural. They gave us a healthy baby girl, but overall the experience was demoralizing and pretty traumatic, and a jarring way to be introduced to motherhood.
When I got pregnant for the second time, I decided I wanted a doula. We worked with Murial Barkley-Aylmer, and I can't recommend her highly enough. She is a gentle, loving, wise soul.
Even though I wanted to try a natural birth and deliver in a hospital, I was scared of going without pain medication. So during our intro sessions we spent a lot of time discussing strategies for dealing with labor’s increasing pain. (She also is TOTALLY open to epidurals and really just wants to help couples have a positive, supported, loving, safe-feeling delivery)
She helped me realize that it was the lack of safety and comfort that scared me the most the first time through. And the more I spoke with her, the more I realized that she is the kind of person who can help make challenging situations feel better/safer/etc. When labor started, I knew that I had a plan and tons of support, and this time I found that I was both relaxed and excited, and not scared. Murial was amazing and helped my me and my husband be a great team.
We labored outside of the hospital until it was clear that we needed to go in. That laboring and birth could not have been more different than our previous experience. Our son's birth was beautiful. Hard and joyous. I wouldn’t have believed it could be like that if we hadn’t experienced birth with Murial. She is so grounded and special. What a wonderful doula."
"Murial assisted me in having an unexpected home birth. I am so grateful to her that my son was able to be delivered without hospital interventions. I had not made arrangements for Murial to be my doula yet. I thought I still had time to decide but I was accidentaly induced at 38 weeks when given a pap smear at my doctor's visit. Labor came on suddenly that evening and I went to the hospital but they sent me home because I wasn't dilated enough. I was given morphine for the pain but sent home in that state. I was able to rest but the next day was wary of returning to the hospital because of the ordeal I already went through. We called Murial and luckily she was available and came to my home. She helped me with some simple exercises to make labor progress at a steady rate. She offered massage which helped me relax and drop into my feminine nature which was ready for this daunting task. At the point I needed to go to the hospital, she helped me feel confident in making the decision to try having Bodhi at home, something I had wanted to do but did not feel sure about and had not yet hired a midwife. Luckily the midwife I wanted to hire was available and came right away. Murial cancelled something she had to do that day so she could stay with me. I labored until 1pm the next day. Murial was by my side massaging me and making sure I was fed and hydrated and supporting my partner, and I'm sure doing many things I wasn't even aware of. I am so grateful for her willingness to stay and support me even though we had not made these arrangements before. In the back of my head I kept thinking I'd have to go to the hospital and i knew if i was there I would accept any pain relief or intervention available. I wanted that baby born! Luckily I had all the support I needed to do it on my own at home. Thanks to Murial for being essential to Bodhi's natural birth!"
"I had the honor of co-doulaing beside Murial, and it was a joy to watch what a natural she was with our client. She has a servant’s heart that enables her to see a need and fill it. She showered the mother with encouragement, massage and attention. Murial looked for opportunities to make Dad shine and made the waiting family members feel "in the know" by bringing them updates and reassurance. Her charming personality wins over family and staff alike and her vivacious spirit refreshes and renews even the most sleep-deprived mother. I am happy to call Murial my Doula Sister and give her my highest recommendation!"
"I've never used this expression before but Murial is "the real deal". Murial was our doula for our second child, she also made placenta pills for me and she helped us out with post partum care. She is caring, informed, funny, calming, energizing, composed, silly, professional, personal, and supportive."
"I met Murial through a mutual friend, and learned she waa a doula later. When I became pregnant, I immediately knew that I wanted Murial to help me with my birth. She is extremely woman and body positive, peaceful, and knowledgeable. Our contact during the pregnancy was perfect. She was a wealth of information. Her informational materials that I filled out about myself for her, about how I wanted my birth, asked great questions and I think really helped her understand my needs. My husband also trusted her instantly.
My birth didn't go at all as I planned. She helped me stay calm through every unexpected twist and turn. She smoothly helped me represent myself and my goals to my doctors, which is what I wanted her for most. She was a perfect peaceful presence, without being too woo-woo.
I highly, highly recommend Murail as a birthing partner and doula. I have nothing but great memories of my birth, largely because of her.
She also invited me to consider encapsulating my placenta with out overselling it to me. I appreciated the scientific evidence she presented about this topic, and her rates for this service were very competitive. I received my encapsulated placenta in a timely manner, with clear instructions, and I do think it helped me.
I love Murial!"
"Murial was our amazing doula at the birth of our first baby, Charlie. She helped us make decisions and reassured us throughout the labor and birth. She is very sweet, and has a very calming presence which made the experience so much easier. She helped us plan our birth, so we were as prepared as possible for Charlie's birth. Murial has a wealth of knowledge regarding pregnancy, labor and childbirth. We can't imagine having gone through it without her help."
"My husband was hesitant to hire a doula. He had all the typical concerns: cost vs benefit, do we REALLY need someone to provide advice and guidance, what will a doula do that a nurse won't do. Etc.
This was our second birth. Our first went okay but wasn't enjoyable by any stretch and fell short in many ways. Specifically knowing and fully understanding all options and their implications.
This time I just really wanted someone knowledgeable and experienced who was completely our advocate. Murial came highly recommended by another trusted healthcare provider.
Murial has been amazing.
She listened and taught us how to be better at getting the care we wanted. My husband felt totally supported and relieved of the burden of going it alone as my only support. That was HUGE!
She was available every step of the way - and thankfully, due to an unexpected change of doctors - was our security and constant in a whirlwind of change right before the birth of our son.
We LOVE Murial and highly recommend her to anyone wanting an intelligent, caring, knowledgeable birth educator and personal advocate."
"Murial Barkley-Aylmer was our sibling doula, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is an incredibly special person. She is a birth/sibling/post-partum doula, and she was a gift to us in all those capacities. Our primary arrangement with her was as a sibling doula for our 3yo son during the birth of our second child. She and our son already had a relationship before the birth because she nannied very part time for us for a while (before she made the switch to doula work), and our arrangement with her was for her to come to the house once my labor had started, and then she and our son could go "have a little adventure" while the baby was being born.
Murial is, in my opinion, a priceless combination of calm and bright energy. Her presence is soothing - for a few hours before our son woke up, she was able to act as a birth doula for me, and I still think about her gentle foot...holding?? (I mean, wtf was she doing?! I don't know, but it was amazing.). But she also has this bright energy that both kids and adults are super attracted to - creative, fun, silly, respectful, empathetic, intuitive - all the things I wanted in the person who was going to be with my son during such a pivotal and vulnerable moment in his life (the birth of a sibling). He had a fun time on his adventure with Murial, and then she stayed for a few hours after they returned - she made sure I was fed and my needs were met, made me a placenta smoothie and prepped and froze more placenta, and continued to help with our son.
In the months after the baby was born, we continued to have Murial come a few times a week in the capacity of post-partum doula. Her help and presence were critical to my mental and emotional health at that time - the baby was colicky and a poor sleeper and finicky nurser, our son was regressing in many areas, and my husband's back went out(!) and then he went back to work. But when Murial was in our house, everything seemed to be okay.
One other nice thing about Murial is that she is a certified counselor. So she is basically a professional listener/empathizer/guidance giver. :)"