Julie McBurney CD(DONA)

My pronouns are: She / Her/ They

About Me On A More Personal Note…

I was originally born in Lota, Chile, but I’ve spent most of my life in the U.S. I currently live in Raleigh with my wonderful husband of 21 years, our amazing kids, and our two rescue pups, Coco and Star. For the past 24 years, I’ve had the incredible journey of being a parent to my three fantastic kiddos: Mica, Béla, and Aradia. My youngest is about to be a teenager and we can’t believe we will be out of the younger years of parenting.

I chose to have homebirths for all of them, and while each experience was unique and had its challenges, they truly showed me how hard work can lead to something peaceful and even blissful. Each of their births was a beautiful experience that prepared me for the adventure of parenting, helping me navigate challenges and growing pains. I still use the same breathwork techniques to this day!

I also breastfed each of my kids as much as possible, despite facing various challenges like tongue tie, lip tie, and dysphagia. While it wasn’t always easy, I cherished those nursing years. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing support I received from my midwives, lactation consultants, and the wonderful La Leche League community. They truly made a difference on this journey!

In My Spare Time…

I absolutely love cooking up delicious meals with family and friends, and I enjoy exploring great restaurants too! I’ve been a vegetarian for 31 years, and for the last 12 years, I’ve also been navigating the challenges of a gluten- and soy-free diet. My most cherished memories of growing up are all the big dinner parties, kids running around, everyone bringing one their best dishes, music, dancing, waves of laughter, the best parts of having a community.

There’s nothing quite like catching live music, going on short hikes with friends, diving into a good book, or traveling to new places. They all renewed me and helped me to do my best at this unique job over the years. I also cherish family game nights filled with board games, card games, and even a bit of Dungeons & Dragons! When I’m not busy with all that, you can find me curled up on the couch with one of my kids, enjoying movies and anime together. It’s some of my favorite times!

My family's unwavering support for my on-call lifestyle and their admiration for my profession have created space for me to remain an active doula for the past 19 years. Each birth journey that my husband and I have embarked upon reaffirmed the profound value of doula support. I am deeply grateful for my family's encouragement in this unique career and for the incredible support from our community of family and friends especially during my kids’ younger years.

What led you on this path to become a doula?

A question I am often asked at an interview…

My journey with birth really began when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. I felt a need to understand the process (better than the run-of-the-mill books I found provided) and was fortunate to find resources that empowered me to move through the process in a way that was absolutely right for me. The information and support I had, made all the difference. It was beautiful, hard, empowering, and transformative. It was just the right experience to prepare me for parenthood.

After my first positive birth experience, in 2000, I found myself hearing a lot of negative tales from other mothers. I wanted to reach out to them and help them have better experiences. I found myself wishing I could have been there to support them mentally, emotionally, and physically. My compassion became a passion for better birth experiences. 

I can't remember how I found out about doulas; I believe it was from my midwife. But after hearing the experiences of others- it seemed like the right role for me. I wanted to help empower birthing people with the lasting memory of a good birth. Choosing to become certified by DONA International, I started attending births as a trained doula in the Summer of 2005.

When I think of birth, I think of it as a natural, normal event that involves a need for support, rhythm, and comfort. Having the right tools to move through birth makes a huge difference. I have a tremendous toolbox from almost 19 years of experience and constant continuing education; including things like optimizing fetal positioning, counter pressure, acupressure, or even a cool cloth at a perfectly timed moment. Having someone experienced in providing continuous care who is there entirely for you, if unexpected decisions come up, is also an invaluable thing I provide, as a doula. It is important, to me, that you feel confident with every decision you make.

One key thing I've learned, as I have gained increasing experience in birth, is that every journey is unique. I love working with families of all shapes and sizes. I love moving through a well-supported birth, whatever the details and preferences involved. My own births were right for me. The process of figuring out what my right birth would look like was transformative. My goal is to be a tour guide on that journey, for families, in finding their right birth. I've learned about options available in different birthing locations, comfort measures to pull from for bodies of all types, teaching styles for all forms of neurodiversity, and how to smooth the whole process from pregnancy to parenthood. I have, over many years of working in the Triangle, developed a network of professionals to become the "village" for families to feel confident that their needs are met, and met with deep respect to their personal autonomy.  

I want to complete the circle of support, around you, as a member of your birth team -encouraging everyone to nurture your preferences and vision. I am always honored to be invited to this intimate experience. I would love to support your journey through parenthood, as a Birth Doula and Postpartum Mentor. I believe, with all the links connected, that any birth can be a blissful, empowering, and beautiful experience. I know that confidence makes all the difference in birth. That level of confidence will not only carry you through your birth, but throughout parenthood too. I would be happy to join you as you labor towards the natural bliss of birth.