Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Fahnenstich.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into the world of babies began long before I ever became a mother myself. Some of my earliest memories are of waiting for my dad — who was a neonatologist at the time — surrounded by caring nurses tending to tiny newborns. As a four-year-old, being in that environment felt not only special but deeply important. Growing up as the youngest of four, with a nurturing mother who instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility for the well-being of others, made that experience even more meaningful.
As I grew older, I naturally gravitated toward childcare. I started babysitting, which eventually evolved into full-time nannying. After moving to the United States, I became a mother—and that’s when everything shifted. Despite all my experience with babies, motherhood was a completely different kind of challenge: overwhelming, humbling, and all-consuming. I struggled to nourish myself, meet my own needs, and understand who I was becoming in this new role.
Looking back, I’m deeply grateful for that time because it shaped the work I do today. My personal experience taught me how beautiful but also challenging the postpartum period can be—and how deeply mothers need care, nourishment, and understanding during that season.
After staying home with my daughter for a few years, I found my way back into the world of newborn and postpartum care through a friend. What began as a simple opportunity became a no-brainer. I completed professional trainings including Ayurvedic postpartum care, and began offering daytime support to new families, eventually adding overnight care. A few years later, I expanded my skills by completing my birth doula training at Bini Birth. That experience helped me bridge the gap between birth and postpartum care, allowing me to better support families through the entire journey—and honestly it’s been a game changer!
Mothers today are constantly bombarded with advice—from friends, family, social media, and countless “expert” opinions—and not all of it is helpful. While my professional experience has given me a wealth of knowledge, my true goal is to help mothers discover what works best for them. I focus on guiding them to make choices that align with their own values and, most importantly, to trust their instincts and trust themselves while they are stepping into all that motherhood has to offer.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road – I would be shocked if it was for anyone! Motherhood has been my biggest teacher—and honestly, one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. When I first became a mom, I was completely consumed by caring for my baby and forgot to care for myself. I struggled to eat well, rest, and do the things that made me feel like me. I was truly pushed beyond anything I thought I could ever do and now I try to find pride in that.
I have always struggled with self-care, but it wasn’t until I hit that point of exhaustion that I truly learned how important it is. Real self-care isn’t bougie—it’s nourishing your body, setting boundaries, and asking for help when you need it. Learning to take care of myself so I could show up fully for my daughter and my clients was a huge part of my own growth. Obviously I am still not perfect at it but thrive to find balance.
I do believe that those challenges helped me not only how I show up for my daughter but also in my work. They gave me empathy and a much deeper understanding of what mothers actually need—not just surface-level support, but real care that helps them heal and thrive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Doula Sophie?
I help women have an easier, more supported experience through both pregnancy and postpartum. As a birth and postpartum doula and coach, I guide mothers from pregnancy through birth, recovery, and early motherhood.
I’m known for blending evidence-based care with a calm, intuitive approach. If you chose to work with me you will soon realize that my focus is always on you—your health, your emotions, and your overall well-being. Whether I’m helping with birth preparation, navigating labor with confidence, or finding balance in the postpartum weeks, my goal is to make sure you feel empowered, reduce stress and anxiety and feel truly cared for.
What sets my work apart is how personal it is. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all advice. Every mother has her own values, preferences, and instincts and ever woman has their own path that brought them where they are today. To me there is a unique value that each woman brings to the table — it is so incredible to watch and learn from these women. I simply help women see their unique profoundness of themselves as well as trust their intuition, so that they can make decisions that feel aligned and empowering—whether that’s during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum recovery.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that my work feels warm, real, and approachable. Everything I create—from my in person support to my virtual coaching programs, digital guides and social content– comes from my heart and my purpose to empower as many women as possible and make their lives easier.
I want readers to know that my services are here to bring calm, confidence, and ease to the entire motherhood journey. I believe that our society relies on the well-being of each mother and family. I feel we owe it to them, us and our future generations to raise women up in all stages of womanhood — I simply happen to focus on pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Whether you’re preparing for labor, planning an empowering birth experience, or looking for guidance through those first few weeks with your baby, I’d love to be by your side.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is the simple, everyday things—my family, spending time in nature, and the work I get to do. I am also probably the happiest when I am eating 🙂 or when someone enjoys the food that I made them.
Also watching my daughter grow and seeing the world through her eyes brings me so much joy. She is incredibly creative and has the greatest sense of humor.
I also just feel grateful every day to live in the U.S., where I’ve been able to build a life and a career doing something I truly love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doulasophie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doula_sophie_la/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophie.doula.2025
