Today we’d like to introduce you to Ofelia Aragon.
Ofelia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 17 years old, I left my dear Guatemala and I arrived in the United States like everyone else … crossing valleys and mountains, a few days on foot and others on the train, heartbroken for leaving my beloved family, thinking that they may never see them again.
Living in this country, I discovered that the only way to get ahead is by following the examples of successful people. So, I began to study and prepare myself to become just that, I decided to study to become a Doula while cleaning houses. It has always been that the greatest satisfaction and passion in my life has always been being a mother to my three boys. The responsibilities of motherhood gave me a sense of self-belief and strength so powerful. This sense of empowerment is something that I wanted to share to others overtime.
In addition, two experiences greatly shaped my passion for my career. First, in 1976, during the great Guatemala earthquake, was accompanying a neighbor in labor, I had the experience of seeing how a woman could give birth in such a tragic environment and yet bring into existence something so precarious, and though the strong tremors followed, and there was no medical assistance in sight. I made sure not to leave her side. Then being in the United States, one of my youngest sisters gave birth to her first child. Since the medical staff did not allow relatives to enter into the delivery room, she had to suffer alone. I felt so powerless not being able to be to support her.
These two experiences were transcendental to my life and made me think that no woman has to go through labor alone or without help. Since I consider childbirth as one of the most important events in a woman’s life, and therefore mothers must receive the protection and care they deserve at this important time.
This belief and motivation is why I started to prepare and be able to assist future mothers, to care for them before and after delivery, to help them breastfeed, and to allow them to experience and have memories of a good labor.
With the success that I have had with hundreds of families across Los Angeles my Doula Company and I have grown and succeed, Mothering the Mothers Inc., continues to provide a unique and genuine service for our clients and with more than 25 years of experience. Today, I continue to share my knowledge as well as teach the important lessons to successful parenthood and childrearing to families across Los Angeles.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like everything in life there are always obstacles that may stop us from moving forward. An obstacle for me was the English language within this business. Reason being, if you cannot learn English well you will not be given opportunities to succeed. Overtime, this has no longer been an issue.
In addition, at the start of my career, being Hispanic has also been another obstacle that I experienced because it has often been hard to be recognized for my quality of work early on. This line of work is predominantly ran by Europeans and northern Americans, so these last few years I have sought to recruit Latin Doulas who have a passion and heart for taking care of a new mother. In order to inject more diversity and ethnic opportunity for women of color into this field. This has also been one of my company’s mission goals, to give opportunity for and to seek out Latin Doulas who have a genuine desire and interest in caring for mothers and their families.
Mothering the Mothers – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business specializes in prenatal and postnatal childcare for soon to be mothers.
In addition, I approach my style of work with each mother and family with a level of patience, respect, and awareness for each of my client’s unique feelings and individual experiences. For example, when my clients have unique circumstances which are hard for them to resolve, I become a life coach, where I give very personalized services that not only gets them through these problems but also help them find their own healthy styles of parenting and solutions. I am there to assure them that this new start of parenting is a process that requires patience, love, and lot of consistency and I am here to teach and support them.
My team and I are here to provide such support. As well, I prepare new mothers and fathers for this long journey that is raising a family, with teaching them the values, discipline, and parental attachment necessary to build a strong foundation moving forward. I do not just provide Doula services but I am a teacher, builder, and advocator for creating strong foundations for new families.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
A blessing that has carried with me is my authenticity and the earned respect and admiration that my clients have for me. This is a blessing that has allowed me to have lots of clients and work. I have also had the blessing to have a husband and a family that continues to support me today. Without the help and support they provide me, nothing could be achieved.
Pricing:
- Post-Partum Support During the Night: $40-50 Dollars per Hour.
- Post-Partum Support During the Day: $35-45 Dollars per Hour.
- Labor Doula Support: $1,800-3,000 Dollars. Dependent on Doula’s Experience.
- At Home Lactation Specialist: $150.00 Dollars per Hour.
- Placenta Encapsulation Services: $300.00 Dollars.
- Permanent Nanny Services: $25-30 Dollars per Hour.
- Daytime or Nighttime Nanny Services: $30.00 Dollars per Hour.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1944 20th St., # 2,
Santa Monica, CA 90404 - Website: www.motheringthemothers.com
- Phone: 310-804-5517
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotheringtheMothers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mothering-the-mothers-santa-monica-4
- Other: https://plus.google.com/+MotheringtheMothersIncSantaMonica
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
