“I feel strongly that hiring Stephanie was the best decision we made in our birth process. It is hard to summarize in a few sentences how impactful and helpful she was. Working with a doula is for anyone, no matter what kind of birth you are hoping to have. I emphasize that because many people I have spoken to have misconceptions that doulas are for people who are really “crunchy” or who are untrusting of Western medicine, but that is not the case. When you work with an expert like Stephanie her goal is to help you have the type of birth that you want, whatever that may be! Her support goes beyond just the actual birth event and starts during pregnancy. We started working with her during my first trimester, and it was great to have another person to reach out to with small questions and concerns. I absolutely love my obstetrician and obgyn practice but having another person to reach out to was comforting, and Stephanie was much more readily available than my physicians were at any point in time during pregnancy. All of the classes that she provided and taught were excellent and full of useful information. When my due date arrived, Stephanie and I had been in close communication. What I had hoped for was an unmedicated hospital birth, and what I got was a c-section, but I felt empowered and supported in every decision that I made throughout the process. My experience showed me that no matter how much you research (or may know already), nothing can prepare you for the unexpected events that can arrive during birth. Having an expert by my side the entire time who has seen hundreds of births made me feel much more confident in every decision that I made. During the actual birth, Stephanie’s primary role is to advocate: she helps communicate to the birth team (doctors, nurses, and other staff) what you want. She does so in a way that is collaborative and effective. She gracefully ranges between firm advocacy and taking charge, and when appropriate, blending in and stepping back, keenly observing everything. Our post-birth visit was healing in many ways. I was sad that things didn’t go as I had hoped, and Stephanie helped me with those feelings while also giving helpful guidance for physical recovery. I credit much of my breastfeeding success to her classes and advice, and again, being able to text her with questions is such a boon. When I remember the most intense moments of my labor when I had crossed into another dimension, Stephanie was literally holding me up, and her presence was powerful and anchoring. I commend her wholeheartedly.”

“There is no way I would have had the birth that I wanted had Stephanie not been there to advocate for me, teach my partner and I to advocate for ourselves, and guide us every step along the way. I had to have an emergency induction, but had a very clear picture of how I wanted my labor to go. Stephanie took every new piece of information as it became available and patiently broke it down for us, guiding us to make the decisions that felt right for us, in spite of what the doctors may have been pushing for. She kept me as comfortable as possible, guided my partner on how to support me throughout labor, and was very real with me about pain levels and my progress.  She knew how to talk to me and my partner and commanded the room with her strong yet incredibly warm demeanor, gaining respect from the nurses and hospital staff. She kept me feeling safe and positive, even when things were scary. To say I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Stephanie would be a huge understatement. She protected the birthing experience for myself and my partner and helped bring our son into the world in the most beautiful way possible. I cannot recommend working with her enough.”

“Where to begin? Firstly my husband Sam was a little dubious about having a doula. He thought it was too “hippy dippy” and was convinced  it’ll be a “waste of money”! To this day Sam RAVES about how this is some of the best money we’ve ever spent, and how he didn’t think we’d be able to do it without Stephanie! Stephanie is magical. From the start we felt supported by her and found her ‘lessons’ informative, thorough and actually quite fun. Stephanie would tailor her classes to each individual parent and the hospital they were delivering at. This insight made it feel less daunting and more empowering and enjoyable. I found Stephanie very engaging and accessible for every ‘new parent’ question I had- and I had a few! When the day came, I was supported and held by Stephanie in a way I didn’t l think would ever be possible. She was an advocate for me in hospital and explained every single thing that we went through. I say ‘we’ because we really were in it together- Like family. We had a ‘plan’, and as you know ..things don’t always go to plan, but we were able to make it happen and I feel that is partly due to the support, nurturing and love that I felt throughout my birthing journey. She’s truly one of a kind and we’re forever grateful to her.”

“Stephanie is the BEST!!! She played an integral role in my pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum support. Her classes were immensely educational and really helped us prepare for our delivery, which reduced a ton of anxiety and stress for me and my husband. After laboring at home for 24 hours, my water broke and I was admitted to the hospital. The hospital was completely full and understaffed - it was so chaotic. By the time I got to the delivery room, I was already at 7-8cm dilated and in so much pain. I was 4th in line to receive an epidural and was told that I may have an unmedicated birth. NOPE NOPE NOPE. NO WAY. Stephanie worked her magic and got me bumped to the next person in line. Stephanie was a HUGE advocate for us and knew exactly how to navigate the system, and she brought so much peace and reassurance to both of us. She's the greatest gift and we couldn't imagine going through another labor and delivery without her!”

"As I write this, our daughter is asleep, spread-eagled on my stomach. The word that keeps coming to mind is one I've heard pediatricians and nurses use: she's "thriving." Anika is gaining some definite chub. She breastfeeds like she's in a race. Her color is good. She is increasingly alert and full of expression. I feel like so much of this is due to Stephanie. My labor was pretty long, and though I went into it physically fit, I didn't really understand how quickly a situation can change. You can have all the best intentions in the world for a natural delivery, and then all of a sudden, your options narrow. In the moment, exhausted and in a lot of pain, with no way of knowing how long anything will last for, it's very easy to panic. Before giving birth, I knew this was why having a doula was useful, but that was in the abstract. When it actually ends up happening, you realize how much turns on the specific people inside your delivery room. Stephanie was INCREDIBLE. She led me through panic, and a hell of a lot of pain. She's the main reason why I didn't end up getting an epidural, and later, a c-section. She was patient, loving, sympathetic and dogged (I never want to drink Vitamin Water again). She never told us what to do, but reminded us of our options at any moment, and it was that calmness that made such a huge difference. She knew how to support us without stepping on anyone else's toes, but also made sure that no one stepped all over us. At the end, the hospital midwife asked for Stephanie's contact information, which says a whole lot. In the weeks afterward, Stephanie was also an amazing resource for all things post-partum. She's also the main reason why I'm still breastfeeding despite getting off to a rocky start. Hiring her was the best decision we made. I can't imagine Anika's birth without Stephanie, which should indicate how fundamental she ended up being."

“My husband and I were on the fence about whether or not we wanted a doula for my delivery. We deliberated over the decision for a long time; I wasn't sure how I would feel with a relative stranger accompanying us during -- what I anticipated would be -- an intimate experience of labor, and I kept wondering whether the extra support would feel unnecessary if I had a straightforward delivery. As it turned out, I discovered that labor and delivery is far from an intimate process, and even though I (luckily) had a relatively smooth and easy labor, I am convinced that choosing to have Stephanie support us during the process was one of the best decisions I ever made. I could not imagine a more competent, comforting, and grounding guide to help us navigate this experience. Stephanie's birthing classes were detailed, informative and provided enlightening specifics into the ins and outs of various NYC hospitals. This helped to demystify the process for us and allowed us to go into the delivery with an understanding of what to expect and why certain decisions get made by hospital staff. During the delivery, Stephanie was a wealth of knowledge, guiding us through every step of the process and helping us anticipate what was coming next. She was a fantastic advocate for me; at several points during my labor, I believe Stephanie was critical to ensuring things stayed on track when I imagine they could've gone sideways. Stephanie had great relationships with all of the staff at NYU Langone, where I delivered, and the posture of mutual respect and collaboration between her and the staff made me feel very comfortable and certain in Stephanie's advice. Once labor really got going, I was so reliant on Stephanie that I have to say I became a little concerned when she had to step out of the room for several minutes during my epidural (only one partner was allowed to stay with me, per hospital policy). Postpartum was no different. Stephanie was a godsend in helping me to navigate lactation issues. Overall, my memories of my labor and delivery experience are filled with joy and warmth, and I know that much of this is attributable to Stephanie.”

“Having Stephanie as my doula was perhaps the best decision we made regarding our pregnancy. First, I felt so much more comfortable and prepared through the classes Stephanie taught in the lead up to labor. She has a way of explaining things clearly and conversationally and always makes it clear what choices you have. Second, during my labor and delivery (which was early and unexpected) Stephanie was the calm, in-charge presence we needed. She used a variety of techniques to get the baby in the right position to move through the birth canal, and I believe this was what prevented us from having to have a C Section. Finally, after birth, I struggled with nursing, and even though I saw lactation people at the hospital and nurses tried to help me, it was Stephanie's visit and her suggestions / tutorials that helped us get a latch and get breast feeding well.”

“Stephanie was a godsend from start to finish (and beyond) of my birthing journey. We were fortunate to learn about Stephanie early on in my pregnancy (around week 10/11) so I was able to take advantage of her excellent pre-natal guidance, classes and support. I remember the first time I texted her when I had just come from an ultrasound and was confused about the results. Stephanie called me immediately and we talked through all of my questions and concerns. I felt so much better! We took all of her prenatal classes on Zoom, which were great. As my due date got closer Stephanie counseled me on some tough decisions I had to make. Again, I was given confusing information by my doctor’s office and Stephanie helped me park through it all and understand what I really wanted and what was best for me (not just what was convenient for the hospital). Then, during the birth, Stephanie was a super hero! I actually called and spoke with Stephanie in the middle of the night when I was in labor and trying to decide if/when to go to the hospital. I decided to go right away and have Stephanie meet us there. Once I got the epidural I started shaking and getting very anxious and was really spiraling and then, like magic, Stephanie walked in and just seeing her and hearing her voice immediately calmed me down. Once she was there, the rest of the birth was incredibly smooth! She was so adept with all the monitoring machines, knowing when to turn me, when to increase the epidural, Pitocin, etc. We were worried that the medical staff would be annoyed that we had a doula, but in fact it was the opposite. She was beloved by the nurses and doctors and truly worked in coordination with them in a very respectful manner. That said, I honestly feel like Stephanie could have single-handedly delivered my child (although I know that’s not her role). Finally, she was incredibly helpful AFTER birth. She stayed with us until I was settled in the recovery room, and then made herself available for calls/texts after. We even spoke on the phone in the middle of the night on our second night at the hospital when, once again, we were given conflicting information by different doctor/nurses when I was having trouble nursing our baby. In the ensuing weeks, we texted Stephanie several times when we were feeling overwhelmed or confused and we always felt like she gave us a very calming and balanced answer. We got so much conflicting advice from various doctors, lactation consultants, friends, relatives and Stephanie became the voice of reason in it all. She listened to us and really helped us block out all the noise and get closer to what we wanted and who we were as new parents. In short, I can’t recommend Stephanie enough. She is truly a gift.”

“It is quite literally impossible to imagine going through my pregnancy and birth without Stephanie. She was a calm, steady expert to turn to when otherwise I would've been frantically googling symptoms. Her childbirth education classes comprehensively prepared me for what would happen in the hospital and postpartum without me having to wade through a thousand disparate sources. Most importantly, what could have been a mildly traumatic labor ended up being a literal joy from start to finish thanks to her presence. Not only did she provide emotional and physical support while making sure my husband and I knew what was going on every step of the way, she also diffused some tense situations with the hospital staff all while being relaxed and a delight. It's like having your best, most comforting friend in the room, if they were also the world's foremost authority in childbirth. An example of something I didn't realize I'd need: after we last-minute realized we didn't know how to put a diaper on, she taught my husband 20 minutes before I started pushing. I am devoted to this woman and want to get pregnant again ASAP just to hang out with her more.”

“I’d get pregnant again just to work with Stephanie! Just kidding (sort of). I can say that if we do add another family member, we’ll definitely have Stephanie by our side! We were on the fence about working with a doula but it was the absolute best decision we made. Stephanie was incredibly supportive, informative, and available during my pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. The experience can be very isolating and filled with uncertainty (you don't know what you don't know) and Stephanie was the calm and reasoned voice that we needed—from helping us navigate birth plans, endless product recommendation lists, pregnancy discomforts, the hospital and health care system, to coming home with a newborn. I recommend working with her to everyone.”

“Stephanie is absolutely amazing! As the non-birthing parent, I had so many unknowns going into our pregnancy. Stephanie taught me so much, from the biology of pregnancy and infants, to how to think about birth plans and options, to how to navigate the healthcare system. She also walked me through ways to best support my partner during pregnancy, labor, and recovery. I would have been so lost and useless to my partner without her. I cannot recommend her enough!”

“Working with Stephanie was the best decision we made for pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. The knowledge, skill, care, attentiveness, nonjudgmental advising, and intuition she brings to her doula work and lactation consulting work is unparalleled by anyone. Her birth Zoom classes are phenomenal — scientifically rich, procedurally detailed, and full of logistical information that addresses many birth anxieties. For example, in her Cesarean section class, she talked about how sometimes, during the surgery, doctors might be talking loudly and casually about what they had for lunch because these surgeries are so routine for them. And that some patients might feel comfort in the doctors’ chatter while others might panic that they are not being sufficiently attended to. Stephanie made it clear that in scenarios like that, she could speak up for us and let the doctors know what would make us most comfortable. Her advocacy in the hospital is next level — multiple times she noticed things that the medical providers didn’t notice, which saved me from further medical interventions. Her direct honesty in a chaotic situation is incredibly comforting — she spoke up when the medical providers didn’t, which helped me make a quick decision in a time sensitive situation that allowed me to deliver my baby vaginally when an emergency Cesarean section was on the table. All in all, I can’t recommend Stephanie enough. We feel beyond lucky we got to work with her and would literally time our potential second pregnancy around her availability if we could.”

“Stephanie helped our alternative family prepare for the birth of our baby in a myriad of ways. Her childbirth education classes were informative and clear, a great balance of research and science based recommendations, as well as learnings from her extensive experience in NYC hospitals (all of them!). I tried other classes and Stephanie's were the best. She helped us navigate the complexity of our specific hospital's policies, and supported me and my family during one of the hardest physical experiences I've ever had! Her warmth, care, joy and advocacy made it possible to make decisions under stress without judgement. And after the birth, she helped navigate the psychologically and physically hard month postpartum, steering me in the right direction when I had lactation issues. I tell everyone about Stephanie and the work she does - I can't recommend her services more highly. She was the mother/friend/supporter we all want by our side during hard times - supportive, loving, knowledgeable and protective of our agency.”    

“Stephanie brought warmth, humor, and an incredible amount of knowledge as she walked alongside us from pregnancy to postpartum. Her calm presence and steadfast support was exactly what we wanted and needed in a doula. Plus, we genuinely loved being with Stephanie; it always felt like a dear friend was by our side, constantly advocating for us and making us laugh at the same time.”

“I do not know what I would have done without Stephanie during the pregnancy, the birth and postpartum. Stephanie was there for any question or anxiety I had, always with patience and empathy. I had to go to the hospital during the pregnancy for scares - she guided me through the whole process in real time, telling me what would happen when I arrived, what tests they would do, what questions I should ask, etc. I had a difficult 36 hour labor that ended in an unexpected c section and she was there explaining everything to me, advocating for me and encouraging me every step of the way. She has such a deep well of knowledge about the hospitals, doctors and procedures and offers classes on different aspects of the process that I found so helpful. I was not expecting to need a c section but because I’d done a session with her on them, I knew exactly what to expect and what my options were. I also appreciated that she never felt at odds with the medical staff - it always felt collaborative. Postpartum, I credit her with helping me be able to breastfeed. Because of the difficult labor, it took a long time for my milk to come and I was so discouraged- she came and helped to get our latch going, gave me a pumping plan to get the milk to come in and most importantly, offered support and anecdotal success stories at a time when I really needed to hear them. She is kind, knowledgeable, funny and a delight to be around. 100% recommend.”

“From well before labor to the first weeks of life with our baby, Stephanie was vital. She has a steady, kind approach informed by deep experience and knowledge, and sitting down with her helped us to calm down and get thoughtful about the birth.  I had gestational diabetes and required an induction at the hospital. She knew exactly what to expect, choices that might arise, and how the process would work. Prior to induction day, I practiced a series of body positions that Stephanie taught us in order to help the baby spin around and get properly lined up for birth, which he was. When we got to the hospital, we were equipped with advance knowledge of how things would go and prepared with everything we would need. My labor moved very quickly and I decided I wanted an epidural once I was already in intense pain. I had my legs on Stephanie's knees as she helped me breathe through the long minutes awaiting it. I was scared but she held my hands, looked into my eyes and gave me strength. Without my involvement, she made sure that the specifications we had discussed, from making sure an attending doctor delivered me to, I later realized, dimming the lights and playing our music, all materialized. She was at my left side as I pushed, the nurse at my right, and led me through our son's excellent entry into the world (while Jimi Hendrix played in the background). After our son was born, Stephanie helped me to immediately feed him to avoid a diabetes-related sugar dip. We wouldn't have known about that option and the nurse had said he had to have formula and, if his numbers weren't high enough, require other treatment, but Stephanie knows these kinds of things and is able to ask the questions that help you and your baby get the best possible start together. My husband adds that she made him feel included throughout. We felt informed, supported, and safe with her around, and I have no doubt that we owe our smooth, happy experience in large part to her.”

"When my boyfriend and I started meeting potential doulas, we didn't feel a connection with anyone until Stephanie walked into our apartment. We almost immediately knew that she was the one. She has such a calming presence, is so upbeat and is incredibly knowledgeable about all things pregnancy, birth and baby. Throughout the pregnancy I always felt listened to and cared for. She was extremely responsive to any questions I had. As for the labor/delivery… I cannot see how I could have possibly done it without her. As first time parents, we could prepare all we wanted but there was no way for us to have known exactly what labor was going to be like and what we would need to get through it. Stephanie was AMAZING. She held the space for us, she was the in control, calm, confident, encouraging, sweet, gentle, knowledgeable, helpful presence we didn't know how badly we needed. I was in active labor for 17 hours, 12 of which without an epidural. There is absolutely no way I could have made it that long without her. It is without a doubt some of the best money I have ever spent. She is beyond worth it. I don't even think these words do her justice.”

“Hiring Stephanie was the best decision that my husband and I made for my first pregnancy, and we're working with her again to prepare for the arrival of our second baby three years later. Stephanie has a way of putting you at ease without "babying" you; she has worked with all sorts of clients and has a sixth sense for what a soon-to-be new mother needs. She is a total support system for not just the woman, but for the partner, too. (My husband loves being involved, so Stephanie kept him informed and guided him on the best ways to be supportive throughout the pregnancy, labor and birth.)While my first pregnancy progressed without major hiccups, my water broke 3 weeks early and I had to be induced to deliver my baby. Stephanie kept me informed and was with me every step of the way, and made a potentially confusing time pass by with humor and good memories. Because my daughter arrived 3 weeks early, my breastmilk did not come in for days. Stephanie was indispensable in guiding me through that befuddling time. I can see why most women stop trying to breastfeed their babies within the first few weeks, and I may have stopped if it had not been for Stephanie's constant, caring guidance. (I went on to breastfeed my first child past a year.)”

“My boyfriend and I knew within minutes of meeting Stephanie that we absolutely wanted to work with her. Such a fun personality!  She made us both feel at ease in that initial meeting and every one after that.  We were able to communicate with her with any questions throughout the entire pregnancy which was invaluable.  At the birth, it was Stephanie's voice I listened to and not the doctors.  She gave me such clear and encouraging direction and supported me the whole way through with my wishes for the birth that I really wanted. She was able to explain any questions we didn't understand so we felt completely comfortable with all of our decisions. We tell everyone who asks our opinion about what helps during birth and we both say "Stephanie!" 

 "My husband and I needed to terminate a pregnancy when we learned that our fetus was not viable. This was about 18 weeks in. It was a deeply upsetting, surreal time, and it was difficult to get all the information we wanted from our medical professionals about how best to proceed. We'd previously chosen Stephanie to be our doula, and when we wrote to her with our sad news she immediately became our best ally. She was forthcoming about the pros and cons of our options, gave us the information we needed to feel empowered, and most importantly supported our emotional experience -- something in short supply elsewhere. She was a profound comfort at a desperately difficult time. She also gave me practical tips for self-care that were invaluable in the healing process. It was an awful situation, but Stephanie made us feel like we could get through it, and with her help we did."

"I see that one mom on here said she'd go through labor again just to have an excuse to hang out with Stephanie. That is well put. Stephanie is totally wonderful, and I'm not really sure what we would have done without her. Going into labor for the first time, I had little idea what to expect, though our meetings with Stephanie did help prepare us. When it finally happened, I found it a huge comfort to be able to talk to and text with her, even before she came to physically join us. She answered so many questions during that time and was patient and alert to what was going on, but also respectful of my desire for alone time with my partner during the early part of labor. I was in labor for about 30 hours. When Stephanie showed up at our apartment after I'd been having contractions for 15 hours, she was resouceful, gentle, and sensitive in helping guide me through what was happening inside my body. What followed was a very long, dramatic night that included two trips to the hospital, a thick-skulled cab driver who, when we got stuck in traffic, kept suggesting we take the subway because (despite our telling him) he didn' get that I was in labor, and my almost giving birth, some hours later, in an Uber. There were dismissive interns at the hospital intake, and I was the only one on the floor going without an epidural, and thus screaming my head off. Stephanie guided us through it all, only leaving at 6 a.m., after our son was born, beautiful and perfectly healthy. I wanted to have a natural, unmedicated labor, which is actually quite difficult to do in a city where somewhere above 90 percent of women get epidurals. Without Stephanie, I would have had to be admitted earlier and likely would have been induced and/or medicated. Because of her, I was able to stay in the comfort of my home, relax in a bath when I needed to dilate, eat and drink as needed. I can't thank her enough. If I ever do it again, I'm calling her for sure."

"I can say without a doubt that hiring Stephanie was the smartest decision my husband and I made during my pregnancy. In our initial meeting, we both responded to her intelligence, sense of humor, expertise about all things related to maternal health, and high level of familiarity with NYC hospitals and healthcare providers. There was just an instant level of comfort that intensified throughout the pregnancy and in the days after our daughter was born. From the get-go, Stephanie was a font of valuable information, referring us to useful books, videos, links, and other birth resources. When I had a bout of bad back pain in my third trimester, she put me in touch with acupuncturists and massage therapist who helped clear it up right away. And when I ended up going 10 days past my due date, she checked in regularly and helped me stay sane -- which was not easy, believe me! Then there was the labor itself, which was very fast and intense. Somehow Stephanie beat us to the hospital even though we live in Manhattan and she's in Brooklyn. She confidently managed what otherwise could have been an overwhelming experience, helping us deal with the sometimes cranky hospital staff, coaching me through each and every contraction, and providing (literal) hands-on assistance once I got to the pushing stage. I ended up having a labor that was very close to what I’d hoped for, and while luck was of course a huge factor, so was Stephanie. I also know that whatever kind of birth I wanted, she would have helped me get there. She is completely non-judgmental, agenda-free and has a very practical, grounded approach to her work."

"I can't begin to describe what a fabulous job Stephanie did for us throughout my pregnancy.  I was high risk from the start, and Stephanie was a wonderful source of information and reassurance as we navigated a stressful pregnancy. When my water broke at 25 weeks, Stephanie provided us with comfort and support.  My husband kept in constant contact with her while I was on bed rest, and she guided me through delivery at only 29 weeks gestation. She gave me fabulous support and knowledge about pumping/breastfeeding while my son was in the NICU and after he came home. We cannot thank her or recommend her enough! She has a wonderful gift and we feel so grateful that she shared it with us during the most stressful (and happiest!) times of our lives."

"Your search for a doula can end here. Period. Stephanie was a dream. The ultimate partner for my partner and I both before the birth of our now two year old daughter, during her delivery which came compete with some unexpected complications, and in the weeks and months following her birth. She is calm, cool, knowledgable and ultra decisive and professional and I think of her often as I venture into the world of pregnancy and delivery again with a hopeful baby number 2..just wish I could import her to london where I am now living. Best of luck, and know that by choosing Stephanie, you're choosing wisely."  

 "Best decision ever. My first baby was a surprise breech baby at 41 weeks that quickly resulted in a c-section hours later. When it came time for baby #2 I knew I wanted to try for a VBAC since I was a good candidate for one. Learning from my mistakes with baby #1, I surrounded myself with the best possible team to accomplish my goal. It really does take a village and Stephanie was an INTEGRAL part of mine. She's super easy to talk to and clearly knows her stuff. I really enjoyed our chats at the pre-natal visits and felt that she knew exactly the right questions to ask and always had an answer for my (many) questions. I went almost 2 weeks over my due date and Stephanie was in constant contact with me to reassure me and provide guidance on the next steps since I was scheduled for an induction at the end of the week. Luckily that day never came and I went into labor at midnight the day before the induction was scheduled! Stephanie was texting with me from about 3am-5am when she rushed over to our house and rode with us to Mt. Sinai. Just like she predicted my labor stalled as we were checking in and instead we spent the morning laboring at a diner, in Central Park & finally up and down the median of Park Avenue! After checking in to the hospital we had to navigate a room situation, the US/Germany Soccer final & constant fetal monitoring. My labor stalled again around 6pm and it was Stephanie's suggestions that got it moving. When it came time to push she was right there explaining how to do it (not as intuitive as you would think!). There's so much more to the story, but I can honestly say I never would have accomplished a natural VBAC without her. The icing on the cake is that Stephanie knows a lot of people in the birth industry and is an invaluable resource after birth as well!"

"Stephanie is an amazing doula. My husband and I were admittedly skeptical about spending money on a doula, but Stephanie was worth every penny. We also had our doubts about having someone we didn't really know join us for such a momentous occasion in our lives - now we can't imagine not having had her there! When we hired her, we asked her to be our advocate at the hospital, to help my husband and I understand all protocols and procedures before and during labor and delivery, and because I wanted a vaginal delivery with no epidural, to help me dig deep when the going got tough. She did all of this and more. Thanks to Stephanie, I had the labor experience that I wanted. Even though I took classes and read books, when it came down to it, labor and delivery was a lot harder than I ever imagined, and there were times I didn't think I would have the strength to continue. Stephanie helped me to push past my known limits -  I honestly don't know if I could have done it without her. And because she was there, my husband remained calm during what could have been moments of high-stress, and was able to fully concentrate on supporting me every step of the way.  Even my doctor (who has delivered thousands of babies) mentioned to me afterwards how impressed she was with Stephanie! Regardless of what type of labor and delivery experience you want, I highly recommend Stephanie. She takes the time to understand you and partner, and helps you to have the best experience possible. She has an open mind and a warm heart, and her calm and confident demeanor when labor and delivery gets intense (and it will!) is truly a gift. "

 "We cannot recommend Stephanie highly enough.  From the initial meeting to our post-birth visit, she provided us a constant energy, love and support.  Stephanie took much time in the pre-natal visits to get to know us and ensure we were aligned in what we wanted, what our ideal birth looked like and how we would approach labor. She posed potential scenarios to us to ensure we were as prepared as we could be (these conversations ultimately helped us tremendously as we navigated a long birth).  She spoke directly to my husband, ensuring she could support him in a way that allowed him to have the role he wanted in our birth. We were a little overdue and Stephanie recommended a really good acupuncturist and other mechanisms to cope in the last few days.  When the time came, Stephanie was on call through the night, giving us tools & information when we needed it and instilling a calm confidence in us, from the very first sign of labor.  Our birth lasted over 2 days and the path took many unexpected twists and turns.  At every fork in the road, Stephanie was there, with continued support; she helped us articulate questions for the doctor and nurses, reminding us that we were empowered to make decisions right for us, wiped tears and shared in every joy.  She went above and beyond any expectation we had, she slept on the hospital floor, massaged, physically & emotionally supported us more than we could have known was necessary.  In addition to labor support, she has offered support in the first weeks of breastfeeding and in baby wearing that have all proven invaluable.  We are certain it was her presence that allowed us to truly experience the birth of our beautiful daughter! We are confident she will be part of our life for many years to come!"

"Stephanie was really exceptional from the moment of her first visit — before we had our baby — through the labor and delivery, and afterwards with her post-partum care.  It’s hard to describe just how crucial Stephanie’s role has been in keeping me (and my husband) calm and reassured through this happy, emotional, exhausting and daunting process. She’s knowledgeable, kind, caring and very practical and trustworthy.  Several times before and after the birth I was taken by surprise with problems I didn’t understand.  Stephanie was available immediately by phone, she was patient and careful, and she gave unstinting support until the problems were resolved.  She offered excellent, careful advice, and also helped me to get information from my doctor that I needed and hadn’t been able to obtain. My labor was very intense, including a photo-finish car ride from Brooklyn to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital at 2am.  I was freaked out and in agony.  Stephanie knew exactly what to say to guide me through what seemed like unendurable pain and fear, I don’t think I could have got through those hours without her. After the birth Stephanie went above and beyond her official duties in coming to the hospital to help with feeding.  She helped us out at home during the first few weeks, and it was amazing having her.  She organizes the house and the baby in a proactive, calming, non-stressful way.  She made everything nice and orderly, from the laundry to the meals to the baby herself.  I felt like I could stop worrying about things and totally recharge when she was around, which is a major achievement in the first weeks of new motherhood. Being pregnant and having Baby Halcyon was very exciting, wonderful and joyful, but it was also scary and unpredictable.  Our life before and after Halcyon’s birth would have been much, much more fraught without Stephanie, I can’t say enough how great she was".

"As a first time mom, I was very nervous thinking about how I would handle going into labor and giving birth. Stephanie was referred to me by a friend so I contacted her. As soon as I spoke to Stephanie on the phone, I instantly felt calmer. Stephanie was wonderful during the prenatal visits. She provided us with important techniques for coping with labor and was always professional and reassuring. When I was in labor, Stephanie knew just what to say to ease my tension.  After the birth of our son, my husband and I agreed, that having Stephanie with us was the best decision we could have made. She offers a reassuring and soothing presence and I would recommend her 100% to any woman looking for a warm, non judgmental, supportive, knowledgeable doula".

"As a first time father, I was offered a lot of advice. Some of it solicited some unsolicited. Interestingly enough, no one ever suggested getting a doula. After my experience with Stephanie, I feel very strongly that it was a great decision and a wonderful experience. Stephanie was not only an extremely helpful person during my wife's labor, she was also great before it all happened, answering questions, listening to our requests and offering guidance. The day my wife went into labor, Stephanie was just as excited as we were when we called her to let her know. She offered recommendations on how to best cope, reminding us that she can be with us as soon as we felt it was necessary. It wasn't long before she was in our apartment, helping both my wife and and me during the moments leading up to the birth of our child. Even keeled and observant of all of my wife's various needs, Stephanie also reminded me of my role and my need to take care of myself in order to be at my best for my wife. She went the extra mile and felt like a helpful family member as most of our family were miles away. It was a very real pleasure and if we are fortunate enough to have another child I would want her there as doula to our second child!"

"We had a wonderful experience with Stephanie.  She was so warm and encouraging, and she was available for us the whole time during my three days of labor.  She was in our apartment for many of those hours, and spent a good 20 hours in the hospital.  She is a trooper, and so much fun!   She always kept me on track with eating and drinking, and kept me focused on the final goal the whole time.  I definitely think her encouragement and interactions with the hospital staff helped me to avoid a c-section.  She even helped us do the breast crawl after our baby was born, it was so exciting!  My husband and I cannot recommend her enough!"

"My husband and I were so grateful to have Stephanie by our side throughout my labor and delivery.  She was an extremely knowledgeable resource and helped me to make educated decisions.  She supported my husband so that he could support me.  I think that her presence was an integral part of establshing and maintaining a calm atmosphere throughout the labor process.  I can truly say that I would not have changed a thing about the birth of our child, and I would highly recommend Stephanie to others looking for a doula."

"Stephanie was, and continues to be, an incredible support for my husband and I.  Our first birth experience was stressful going from a home birth to a cesarian 6 years ago.  This time we chose to try for a VBAC in a hospital setting but knew almost nothing about navigating hospital dynamics.  Stephanie was calm, kind, bright and skilled at helping us through the process, giving us plenty of thoughtful advice before, during and after the birth of our second son.  Her commitment to our agreed upon wishes remained stable throughout what is invariably an intense moment.  After our positive experience we hired Stephanie as a post-partum doula and have been so fortunate to have her support!  She is truly gifted with infants and mothers alike.  We can't recommend her enough!!"