About Me

Hi, I'm Stephanie! I'm a mother of two, and I aim to live my life with creativity, courage, and kindness. Supporting pregnant, birthing, and postpartum families is truly my calling.I became a doula in 2007 after completing my training with DONA, and I was certified in 2008 after working with a local midwife and attending several births. After welcoming two babies of my own in 2009 and 2013, I took a break from birth work before returning in 2020 with a Birthing From Within training for Doulas and Childbirth Educators, certifying as a Childbirth Educator in 2022. I'm always pursuing more learning to stay excited and engaged in my work. I'm currently completing a lactation course and a Prenatal & Postnatal Exercise Specialist Certification, and I've also trained in Spinning Babies, completed a Postpartum Doula program, and certified as a Birth Story Listener.

I love to incorporate art, story, and metaphor into my work with families whenever possible, while also deeply valuing evidence-based practice; I follow the Evidence-Based Birth website and podcast to stay current.

Before becoming a doula, I was an urban farmer in Chicago and spent a year as a traveling farm-sitter and volunteer in Europe. I'm also a homeschool parent and used to help run a local homeschool co-op, where I taught theater classes. Most Sundays, you'll find me working for a local, sustainable farm (Sage Mountain Farm) at the Claremont Farmers Market. Some of the things I love: singing in my community chorus (The Claremont Chorale), roller skating, hiking, walking my dog, reading out loud to my kids, traveling, and enjoying good food and drinks with friends. My goal is to help you feel supported, prepared, and cared for every step of the way.

Practice Philosophy

My philosophy is rooted in wanting you to feel seen, heard, understood, and supported throughout your journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. My ideal is that you always feel you have options and agency, no matter what happens. I take the time to get to know your desires, preferences, and motivations, so I can support and advocate for you whenever you need it.

When something unfolds differently than planned, I help slow things down, making sure there's a pause and time to ask questions and consider alternatives, so you can make decisions with clarity and confidence. I also love helping families prepare and recover, both physically and emotionally, so you feel like you have someone to turn to throughout the postpartum period.

Overall, my goal is to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered, with options and agency, every step of the way.

Specialties

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• Childbirth Education
• Prenatal & Postnatal Exercise Specialist
• Birth Story Listener
• Spinning Babies
• Lactation Support
• Postpartum Support
• Art
• Story & Metaphor in Birth Work
• LGBTQ+ Families
• Advanced Maternal Age
• First-Time Parents

Services Offered

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• Prenatal Care
• In-Person Labor & Birth Support
• Postpartum Care
• Pregnancy Loss Support