Paula Espaillat is a shy person, detailed-oriented and dedicated. She is a wife, mother of a baby on the way, and a faithful believer in God. Paula is also a doula. The journey to becoming one and helping women and families go through one of the most beautiful and challenging processes has had many twists and turns.
In this informative and loving interview (and our first one for El Chisme!), Paula addresses motherhood and the dignity and importance of making informed decisions during pregnancy and delivery.
In your words, what is a doula?
The doula is a trained person who, with information based on scientific evidence — not what you find on social media— helps you understand everything that motherhood and fatherhood imply, in addition to exploring what they may want as a family.
Where did your interest in being a doula come from, and how did you become one?
From a very young age, I have been very curious about the whole world of pregnancy and newborns. After several career changes, all related to children, I realized that none were quite for me. I identified more with accompanying the families, looking after the mother and father's emotional well-being, and baby care.
One day, long after I graduated in psychology, I happened to be at the clinic when my cousin went into labor. I ran up to her room and accompanied her throughout the process. That day I felt fulfilled, and that's when I started looking for information on doulas and midwives. A couple of months later, I went to visit my cousin and her family, and she asked me: "Have you considered becoming a doula? Because that’s what you were to me without knowing it."
I found an opportunity to become certified as a Birth doula in Santo Domingo, and that was when I officially entered this world that never ceases to amaze me.
What is your accompanying philosophy and style?
Respect, information, and kindness. My priority is that families feel empowered to make their own decisions based on knowledge and trust, not fear.
How do you help families?
Giving them information. Guiding them so that they know how to choose between today's bombardment of information, and ensuring that their wishes and aspirations during labor and the entire process are respected and fulfilled.
Would you say that doula service is necessary?
I consider it an essential service to live a much more empowering experience, with more peace, knowledge, and, above all, with more confidence. The family, the doctors, and the entire health system benefits from it.
We know that the doula service is not accessible to all Dominican families. How do you think more people can have access to services like yours?
In principle, making alliances and reaching agreements with gynecologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, and different health centers to include this service. Thinking more to the future, ideally, insurers would include this service in social security plans, understanding the benefit and cost reduction of hiring a doula.
In your experience, what are the challenges of motherhood and fatherhood in the Dominican Republic?
As a country, we have many challenges. The main ones are information overload, myths, people with many opinions, inadequate health care, and high costs.
Do you feel that there is any stigma about natural childbirth? How do you help potential clients who may have fear or doubts?
There is so much talk about the suffering and how difficult natural childbirth is, and so little about the benefits and recovery that families decide to have a C-section based on fear. Natural childbirth and cesarean section are two wonderful ways, each with its benefits, to bring a human being into the world.
I help by providing them with information, support, and security so that whatever decision they make, they feel respected, supported, trusted, and empowered.
Is there something that you would like or do you think is necessary for future parents to know?
Ha! So many things. But, above all, that information is power, that you will never be ready to be a parent, that it's worth making mistakes, and that one learns along the way, without judging us or judging others because everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they have at the moment.
