In A Day With... Nathalie Solis Pérez
All images belong to Nathalie, taken by Bridget Wood x
Firstly, are you able to tell us a little about you; where is your hometown, where are you living at the moment and what do you do ?
I was born in Lübeck, a picturesque town in North Germany close to the Baltic sea. My mum is German and my dad is Guatemalan which is why I also spent a lot of time in Guatemala growing up. I’ve always been at home in different places. I went to school in Barcelona and lived and worked in the U.S. for many years.
Since meeting my partner André 13 years ago we’ve been living between Berlin and Byron Bay. At the moment Australia is our home base. I feel grateful that my children are able to grow up in this subtropical paradise.
For the past 8 years I have been working as a birth doula and childbirth educator in private practice attending hundreds of births at home, in hospitals and birth centres. I feel very privileged to be invited into the birth space and it’s an honour to support families during this pivotal time in their life. I still shed a tear every single time I see a baby being born - it is just that magical! Witnessing the raw vulnerability and power that the birthing parent experiences as well as seeing how much courage and trust is required of us in birth never ceases to amaze me.
For the past year I’ve also been working as an international family guide for Cleo, a company that provides virtual support to families worldwide from pre-conception until their child turns 12. I really enjoy working with families from around the world who are at various stages of preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood. Every day I learn so much from the families I work with and it makes me happy to know that my support makes a difference in their life.
What drew you to become a doula ? For someone who doesn’t know, can you describe what a doula does and what makes your role so important ?
I’ve always had a deep interest in women’s health, rituals, healing, and spirituality which led me to get a Masters in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on gender studies, cosmology and traditional medicine amongst indigenous people in Latin America.
When I became interested to work in the birth field it felt like an organic continuation of my previous work. Being a doula doesn’t even feel like work to me - I just love it so much and never tire of supporting and empowering parents as they embark on this journey into the unknown. When I started out as a birth professional I had a strong desire to learn everything I could from the best in this field which led me to train with Michel Odent, Liliana Lammers, Spinning Babies, She Births and many more.
In my work I ensure parents have the most optimal experience possible during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. How we bring babies into this world is not only important on a personal level but has implications for humanity at large. As a doula I work with parents to ensure they have a positive and satisfying birth experience. I am their emotional, informational and practical support from the moment they find out they are pregnant until their baby is a few months old. I meet with parents prenatally to talk about how to best prepare for birth, providing antenatal education, discussing birth preferences as well as doing postpartum planning. I provide hands-on support throughout labour and birth and visit the family at home after birth to ensure mum is recovering well and to help parents feel confident in caring for their newborn.
As a doula I work in harmony with both natural and medically assisted births and offer non-judgmental, evidence-based education and continuous support to ensure parents feel heard, respected and cared for.
WE WERE NEVER MEANT TO GO THROUGH THIS STAGE OF LIFE WITHOUT SUPPORT!
How do you usually start your day ?
At the moment I wake up to sweet little baby babble around 5 or 6am. So before I can form a thought of my own I already have little people around and on me. We always start the day together as a family.
Every morning we have a ritual of having a cup of tea/coffee in bed (even on school days!) and lately we’ve added babyccino for Dei to the menu :-) We just cuddle, chat and hang out before everyone’s day starts. To me this time of the day when we are all together and connect is very precious and one of the secrets to our family's happiness.
What does your dream day look like ?
Having tea in bed with André and our kids, then heading to the beach for a surf or swim, heading to one of the National Parks for a bush walk or driving one minute down the road to go for a headland walk. We love going on nature adventures together. After that we often head to our favourite café for some yummy brekkie and then home to indulge in something creative, music, or we simply hang out and play. In the afternoon we love having friends over or continue adventuring outside...
What is your beauty routine ? Do you have any favourite natural products or skincare rituals ?
My friends always laugh when I tell them I don’t have a beauty routine other than using water to clean my face and moisturiser in the morning. For me less is more! It's all about quality so the products I use on my skin are as clean as the food I like to eat. No nasties! Favourite brands include Dr Hauschka, Weleda and local brands like Imbibe and Retreatment Botanics who I've worked with in the past. The sun in Australia is intense in summer and I've noticed that my skin ages much quicker here than compared to when I lived in Europe. So before I leave the house I usually apply an organic moisturiser with SPF such as Noosa.
Do you have a favourite scent? If so, where does it take you ?
My favourite scent is smelling Dei’s little head which takes me back to the present moment and makes my heart overflow with joy!! Apart from that I love diffusing essential oils such as lavender or smudging the house with sage or palo santo. I am currently also enjoying Raconteur’s range of Australian Native plant scented candles and diffusers.
Do you have any food or health philosophies that guide how you and your family eat ?
We try to eat clean, local, organic whole foods wherever possible. I feel pretty blessed to be living in such a health conscious community which makes it relatively easy to look after my family’s health.
Are there any food/beverages that you try to integrate daily ?
I am a bit of a raw cacao addict which I think is due to my Mayan roots. I love making hot chocolate with a ceremonial amount of cacao and medicinal mushrooms at any time of the day :-) It is one of my favourite little rituals and provides a short and sweet moment of me-time. Other than that I try to include lots of greens into our diet. For the kids this can be in the form of soups, dhals, green juice, kale chips or green smoothies. Drinking plenty of filtered water and eating lots of healthy proteins and fats feels good for us as well. I am also well known for frequently making healthy (raw) treats which Pablo loves helping me with in the kitchen.
How has becoming a mother changed your views on health and “wellness” ?
I've always been a very health-conscious person so going through two pregnancies, breastfeeding for many years and parenting around the clock has really reinforced the importance of being well and eating well for me. I try to make sure that the majority of what we eat and put into our bodies is medicine - which doesn’t mean we don't sometimes eat (healthy) 'junk food'! It's all about balance: if I offer plenty of healthy food options every day I can relax when we feel like indulging in some 'naughty' treats every now and then.
Becoming a mother to two children has also made it very clear to me that I cannot give from an empty cup and need to look after myself even more than before. Healthy food, exercise and meditation are not optional anymore but necessary for my own and my family’s health and wellbeing.
What is your favourite way to move your body ? Does movement play a part in your everyday routine ?
During my pregnancy with Dei I moved from practising Yoga to doing Pilates and have been loving it ever since. I try to go to a class once or twice a week. While my yoga practice has always stayed with me in the form of regular meditation it’s the Pilates that makes my postnatal body sing at the moment. Raising two boys I need to feel strong! On days I don’t do Pilates I include some gentle stretches into my day.
When do you feel your most beautiful ?
When I come home from the beach, skin and hair salty and sandy, jump into the shower I come out feeling like a goddess. I just love that soft feeling on my skin after the beach...
Do you have any night-time rituals to wind down ?
Most nights I enjoy doing a short mantra meditation before drifting off to sleep. This helps me unwind from the day and leaves me feeling energetically cleansed. On some nights though what’s needed is a glass of french red on the verandah with my beloved.
Are there any old-school natural remedies that you always have on hand for you and your family ?
Lavender essential oil for insect bites, minor inflamed or damaged skin. Some basic homeopathic remedies, rescue drops, and Arnica cream for bruises.
If you could teach or instil one piece of advice to your children, what would it be?
To always listen to their intuition and heart. To follow their own compass and instinct.
What do you think are some of the hardest things about becoming a mother that perhaps women overlook when preparing for birth and beyond ? Do you have any advice to help the transition ?
I think the hardest thing about being a mother is not having enough support. Whether this is on an emotional, mental or practical level. It’s so important to have a village around you - during pregnancy, after birth and in the early years of parenthood. Because we live in nuclear families motherhood can often feel isolating and lonely.
In traditional cultures no newborn mother with baby would ever be left alone in the first 100 days after birth. Yet in our Western culture the norm is that the working parent returns to work two weeks after birth which means the birthing parent spends a lot of time alone at home caring for baby. This has mental and emotional implications for the mother-baby unit.
So call in your village of support before you need it. This can be in the form of perinatal professionals who can support you with your individual needs, fellow parents, empathetic friends or supportive family. This will make a huge difference during your transition into motherhood.
I also recommend doing some thorough postpartum planning to prepare yourself and your partner for life with a newborn so that you have realistic expectations of yourselves and your baby (ie. when it comes to crying, feeding and sleeping). Knowing what is biologically normal and to be expected vs. what our culture suggests babies should be doing. I also highly recommend learning about the Fourth Trimester by reading books and working with a doula who can help create a postpartum plan that is tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.
To part, are you able to leave us with a favourite recipe of yours?
One of my favourite weeknight meals that delivers a motherload of greens is this Kale Spinach Feta Pie with pine nuts and a little bit of lemon zest - so delicious and easy to make!