My journey to becoming a doula began with my own experiences of childbirth.

The births of both my son and my daughter were not the empowering, supported experiences I had hoped for. Although I gave birth in a hospital setting, I felt unprepared, unheard, and overwhelmed. After my son was born, I struggled deeply in the postpartum period. What I later came to understand was undiagnosed postpartum depression, something I lived with for months while feeling lost and unsure of myself as a new mother.

At the time, I didn’t have the education, advocacy, or emotional support that could have changed my experience. Looking back, I know how different that season could have felt if I had been informed, supported, and truly cared for. That realization became a powerful motivator in my decision to become a doula.

Through my training and years of working with families, I’ve learned what research continues to show: people who feel informed, empowered, and supported during birth tend to have more positive and memorable experiences. When support is lacking, families often leave feeling inadequate, disconnected, and unsure—feelings I know personally and deeply.

I have also seen an increase in families navigating anxiety, ADHD, and sensory overwhelm during pregnancy and early parenthood. These are experiences I understand both professionally and personally, and I have developed gentle, practical strategies to help families feel more confident and regulated as they care for their babies and themselves.

My goal is simple: to be the doula I once needed.

I am deeply committed to empowering birthing people with knowledge, preparedness, and compassionate support so they can move through birth and the postpartum period feeling confident and capable. It brings me great joy to support families as they welcome their babies, care for partners, and adjust to life together. With a background in Early Childhood Education, I also offer thoughtful support to siblings as they transition into their new roles.

As my work with families has evolved, so has my understanding of infant sleep and early development. Questions around sleep are often a source of stress and division for families. Through continued education and neuroscience-informed training, I’ve come to believe that sleep support should be gentle, respectful, and rooted in understanding how babies’ brains develop, always honouring the relationship between parent and child.

I am proud to serve my community as the acting President of the Ottawa Valley Doulas Association and as a member of the Association of Ontario Doulas and DONA International. Staying connected to these organizations allows me to remain current, informed, and grounded in best practices.

At the heart of everything I do is a deep belief that every birthing person deserves to feel supported, no matter how their baby is born, how they choose to feed, or what their family looks like. I will always meet you without judgment and with unwavering respect for your choices.

It would be an honour to walk alongside you during this transformative chapter.

Stephanie 💕