Marta I. Arandia Ruiz-Clavijo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Marta I. , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately I have been finding joy in watching uplifting movies and tv shows, those that make you realize how much goodness and love we can share as human beings. Musicals are a big part of the equation, as I love singing and dancing. Feeling refreshed and inspired after a good movie energizes me to continue caring for my clients in the best way. I also love spending time involved in craft projects, such as embroidery, watercolors, knitting and crochet. They really soothe my mind and provide mental and emotional rest.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure thing! My name is Marta Arandia and I am the face behind Loving Belly Doula Services, LLC. My path to becoming a doula began in 2018, after twenty years as an early childhood teacher in the public school system. Becoming a mother myself—and experiencing the many sides of that journey, including loss—gave me a new perspective on birth and parenting. That experience inspired me to walk alongside families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey, offering the nurturing care, support and encouragement I once needed myself.
Today, I specialize in birth and postpartum support, lactation education, and perinatal bereavement. I believe each family’s journey is like discovering a new continent, and my role is to help them feel safe, nurtured, and confident as they explore life with their new baby. My hope is that parents know they are never alone, that their questions matter, and that they are already doing their very best.
This passion also led me to create The Wise Doula Podcast, a welcoming space where new families can access education and support in a friendly, peer-to-peer way. The podcast is a space to talk about pregnancy, postpartum and early parenting in a relaxed “coffee chat with a friend “ style. I like to think of it as an extension of my work with new parents and my lifelong dedication to supporting babies and families with warmth and care. You can find the podcast on your favorite audio platforms as well as on our YouTube Channel. Search for “The Wise Doula Podcast” and enjoy.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Fear, misunderstandings, and lack of communication are factors that contribute to breaking bonds. Fear comes in many forms. It could be insecurity, fear of appearing weak, fear of not being capable, or worrying about other people’s opinions. I see this quite often with my postpartum clients. Many of them are struggling with their physical and emotional mental health but are worried about asking for help, worried about appearing weak or broken. They present a facade to the world that is different from what is happening inside, and this affects their health and relationships too. Once they put things out in the open and start getting support, the real healing begins. When we communicate our needs thoroughly, identify our support system, and learn to lean on community and compassionate professionals, we can restore those bonds and find comfort in being authentic and vulnerable.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that she is beautiful and enough the way she is. That she doesn’t need to look for perfection, or feel bad when not being invited to a party. The people that love her and enjoy her company will always be there, they will always appear. That she doesn’t need to please other people constantly, and that the little behavior quirks that get her in trouble at home or at school, are actually part of her superpowers, that she will discover later in life. I would tell her to enjoy every moment and now that she is loved and cared for.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The concept of family and community support as the most valuable assets in our life, especially during pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby, but truly anytime in life. Having grown up in Spain, community life is a big part of my culture and I truly believe that we grow stronger when we are well supported. Living in the US means that I have had to recreate that community here, and whether it happened with work buddies, dance friends or with my podcast audience, I value it tremendously. I never want to lose that sense of community. There is real power in combining our wisdom, in sharing our troubles and joys, in finding solutions together. There is power in knowing that when storms come, we are never alone.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am watching a beautiful sunset or sitting in nature. Watching a sunset at the beach is at the top of my peaceful activities, but I can’t get there as often, so I have learned to appreciate the sunset wherever I am, to simply stop and just enjoy it. A gentle piece of music, deep breathing and quiet times with my spouse also make me feel very peaceful. Sitting in my office after recording a new episode of my podcast is another experience that brings calm and deep joy, and a beautiful sense of accomplishment too. When I was younger I thought that I needed a perfect set of conditions to feel relaxed. Nowadays, I am teaching my body and mind to enjoy the small peaceful moments that happen every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lovingbellydoula?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=2f7d8c86-dd67-4dfe-8cb2-57eb24e8f94c
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovingbellydoula/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-arandia-ruiz-clavijo-lovingbellydoula?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BRnQKsRvH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisedoulapodcast
Image Credits
Credits: Marta I. Arandia
