Hola, I am Pilar — your doula in Paris

I was born in Colombia in the 80s, the youngest of four daughters of an advertising-artist father and an artist-from-life mother. At seventeen, a first experience of life in the USA changed everything: I met inspiring people and, above all, I met myself. Stepping off the plane home, I remember thinking: “next destination, France”.

In 2005 a one-way ticket brought me to Montpellier, then Paris, where I built a marketing career for almost fifteen years. Along the way — thanks to the seeds sown by my sisters, my birth fairies — I encountered yoga, meditation and Reiki. In 2013, in search of meaning, I left the corporate world for a world tour with my partner; I came back knowing my life would change.

It was the pregnancy and birth of my son, Aël Luciano, that made it happen. I savoured every moment — and yet I felt that my wishes were not fully respected, and how hard it is to feel truly supported and informed. The postnatal period was difficult, far from my family, before I had discovered doulas.

It became obvious: every woman, every baby, every family deserves better support through these vulnerable, magical and powerful moments. The tools that fascinate me — yoga, hypnosis, rituals — help greatly. But what helps most is being there: supporting, listening, respecting and caring.