Stephanie Norquay

Melbourne Doula

Offering experienced, personalised birth support,and continuity of care through your pregnancy and postpartum experience.

Birth is a normal, natural, family event.

I believe that women are powerful, intuitive and resilient, with great capacity for meeting the joys and the challenges of childbirth and parenting.  I have witnessed many times how with good preparation and support a woman can achieve a rewarding birth experience that gives her the best start to her mothering.

I value and support normal physiology; autonomy; personal responsibilty; collaboration; consent; open communication; and women’s innate wisdom and authority.

I am deeply committed to supporting women and their partners as they explore the choices available to them in pregnancy and birth; helping them to create positive and empowering experiences together throughout this time of enormous change and transformation, and to develop confidence in their new roles as they transition into parenthood.

Offering experienced, personalised birth support, and continuity of care through your whole pregnancy and postpartum experience…
I look forward to supporting you as you embark on this wonderful chapter in your lives!

 

Stephanie

Ph: 0412 619 174

Pregnancy & Birth Support

Having consistent support from someone known and experienced throughout your pregnancy and labour can make all the difference to how it unfolds and to how you feel about the experience afterwards.

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Post Natal Support

Having someone there in those first few days, weeks, months at home with your baby can be invaluable in helping ease the workload, catch up on sleep and rest, support family connection, build your confidence and adjust to your new role/s.

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Baby Massage

Massaging your baby is a wonderful way for you to connect, communicate and share time together. It is also a unique opportunity for you to learn more about your child and gain confidence in your parenting.

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Birth is not only about making babies…
Birth is about making mothers…
strong, competent, capable mothers,
who trust themselves and know their inner strength.

– Barbara Katz Rothman

My Services

I have been providing personalised support to a wonderfully diverse range of women and their partners for almost 20 years.  It has been my great privilege to be able to do this work; and each birth is unique.

From the moment we meet, I focus on building a warm and trusting relationship between us so you feel safe and supported as your journey unfolds.

Walking beside you through your pregnancy, birth and early postpartum time I aim to provide a completely individualised care experience…  I am there for regular check-ins; to listen and offer a safe space for your questions, thoughts and emotions as they arise; help you source balanced information for decision making and integrating your learning; support you to have important discussions with your partner and your care providers; recommend physical and emotional supports where appropriate; provide focused attuned support during your labour alongside your birth team; to believe in you; fully support the decisions that you make and help you prepare together as parents.

Testimonials

Tip: Hover over Testimonials to pause the transitions!

“I don’t even know where to start with how integral Steph was for the smooth and successful birth of our daughter.  With Steph’s presence, my partner was able to fully focus on being an emotional support and dissolved his anxiety surrounding the birth process.  I don’t think I could have gotten through my labour without pain medication without Steph, and I will be forever thankful for her kindness, knowledge and confidence in the birthing space.”

PASHA NIELSON – 2023

After much deliberation on hiring a doula at 37 weeks to help achieve my VBAC, I couldn’t recommend Stephanie enough. After an emergency c-section with my first child in 2019 due to failing to progress from a suspected narrow pelvis, my desire to attempt a VBAC was clouded by doubt and worry.

From the moment I met Stephanie she had a sense of warmth and kindness about her. She provided me with valuable information, gentle exercise and meditation techniques and most importantly the confidence boost I needed.

During my labour, Stephanie could expertly read my body language as to what techniques and positions were working for me and she would make gentle suggestions to help guide baby down. With Stephanie’s help, I achieved my VBAC on the 24th April 2022!

Her postpartum care was second to none, I felt so cared for and could debrief the labour and birth with any questions I had. The follow up texts and calls were much appreciated in the weeks post birth, it was nice knowing someone was checking in on me also.

VIRGINIA ROSS – 2022

“It is difficult to express my gratitude to you for transforming my childbirth experience into such a positive and loving event.  I was initially so unsure about having a doula, and my prenatal anxiety made it hard for me to deal with the pregnancy and the prospect of birth.  Your support was exactly what I needed throughout the process of bringing my son into the world.  

I’m now a total evangelist for doulas in general and for you in particular, and I would encourage all future parents to snap you up quickly!”

Kate – 2024

“We met Stephanie at the 38 week mark. At the 40 week mark, I had emergency knee surgery. Stephanie was exceptional at every turn. As additional challenges arose pre-labour, she effortlessly and carefully considered the best approach and supported me to make decisions. During labour, she really shined and was an impeccable support whilst not stepping on the toes of the midwife or obstetrician. With the additional hurdle of my knee still healing whilst giving birth, she made what felt impossible an absolutely magical natural labour experience. I will forever look back on it as one of the most beautiful moments in our life.”

Tania – 2021

“Stephanie is a wonderful doula. She is professional, caring, extremely knowledgeable and an excellent listener. With Stephanie’s guidance, support, and calming presence, I was able to have the un-medicated birth I was hoping for.”

Ellen & Reece – 2021

“Thank you for being so beautiful, caring and always there for us when we needed you. 

Looking forward to seeing you at the next birth! “

Tanya, Jake & Hudson – 2021

“Stephanie was compassionate, encouraging, caring and untiring in her role as birth support person to Sean and myself, giving us confidence and strength that we didn’t know we had.”

Anita King – 2009 & 2013

“Stephanie was an amazing person to have on our birth team – both times! I cannot recommend her highly enough!”

Leo Mullins – 2006 & 2010

“This whole birthing experience was just beautiful… my wife was able to have a drug free birth that we are extremely proud of…”

Aaron Holding – 2013

“We cannot recommend Steph highly enough…
If you want to feel supported but also want to know your partner will be supported and guided on how to best support you during the labour, Stephanie is for you.  
She will be at our next birth that’s for sure!“

Ellie & Jake – 2021

“I highly recommend Stephanie as a Doula. She is passionate, skilled and truly has a calling to help women in labour.”

Laura Schwartz – 2013

“Our family will never forget Steph… she will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Tammy Hales – 2013

“Thanks so much for everything you have given.  We all feel extremely blessed and grateful to have had you to support us and so gently nurture us on this journey. 

You have so much amazing knowledge and wisdom, and I am so thankful to have learnt many things from you!”

Xadi – 2023

“If we decide to have a third, Stephanie, you are again expected in the birthing suite!”

Louise Dyer – 2008 & 2010

“Stephanie was such as wonderful support after the birth of our first child. After expressing milk for almost a month, I had almost giving up on the idea of breastfeeding, Stephanie showed great patience and care when helping me get my baby back on the breast. She was always just a text or phone call away when the wheels seemed to be falling off.

I can’t thank her enough for the support and encouragement she gave me through the ups and downs of those initial weeks of parenting. Stephanie certainly left me a more confident Mum!”

Anna O’Grady – 2014

“With Stephanie’s support we were able to lose the anxieties that we had about this labour and approach it calmly – even look forward to it! … and were lucky enough to have a great VBAC experience.”

Jemma Gibcus – 2015

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