About me
CHIARA LOPS, THE ENGLISH SPEAKING DOULA FOR MOMS LIVING THEIR BIRTH JOURNEY IN ITALY
My story
Giving birth abroad and finding out about Doulas
It all started with my pregnancy, in 2011. Before that, I worked in a different field, often finding myself abroad since my experience as an exchange student in the United States. Everything changed when I gave birth in China, facing a situation where I understood the value of emotional and practical support throughout the perinatal period.
My son Alessandro was born in the water, in a hospital in the city of Hangzhou. I was supported by Sandi, an American midwife whom I had only met a few hours before. She guided me through labor, step by step, in a natural birth that was thankfully different from what had been planned (watch the story of my child’s birth). It was she who, a few months after the birth, told me about doulas and suggested that I explore their role.
Despite the fortunate situation I experienced during childbirth, in the following weeks, I realized how important encouragement, practical support, and information are (as I was a foreign mother living thousands of miles away from home). The postpartum period was challenging, and I felt the need not to be alone in caring for my baby: I would have greatly appreciated the support of a doula!
A certified professional
How I became a Doula
As I came back home to Italy, in 2014, my life took a completely different path for a few years, as I went back to work in my previous field of business, tourism.
In 2020, with the onset of the pandemic, I had to face significant life and career changes. It was an opportunity to make an important decision that I had always postponed: becoming a doula full-time. I decided to embark on a specific training path in this ancient art of assisting mothers.
In 2021, I graduated from the Doula School of the Mondo Doula professional association – recognized by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT – formerly MISE). The course, lasting about 10 months and including several internship experiences, allowed me to address every aspect that concerns expectant mothers, from the early stages of pregnancy to breastfeeding.
Since then, I have been available as a doula in Milan and throughout Northern Italy, specializing in one-on-one, all-inclusive support to foreign moms. As I walked this path before, I can fully relate to women living their motherhood experience abroad in Italy.
A commitment and an honor
Today, my professional identity embraces its own past constructively, as I continuously expand my knowledge and experience. During motherhood, I discovered my strength, going through a journey that indeed had its difficulties and shortcomings. That’s why I decided to dedicate my time, my heart, and my arms to other mothers who are facing this “journey”.
I believe in the ability of each mother to choose her own path in the best way possible, if adequately supported. A doula can act as a mirror, bringing out the resources that might, for a thousand different reasons, remain unexpressed.
A doula for foreign mothers in Italy
The experiences I’ve had make me feel a true connection to the stories of women who give birth in a foreign land, far from their original families and culture, and for this reason may need a little extra support. Most have created a beautiful family here in Italy and have strong roots in their adopted country, but still prefer to have a professional in the field who also walked this path before and understand their situation without needing to explain it.
For this reason, my presence as a doula is invaluable for foreign mothers in Milan and throughout Northern Italy (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino, Liguria, and Tuscany).
Do you live in a different region? Contact me! Together, we can find the ideal solution.
I am proficient in English and have worked with English speakers most of my life. At the same time, I was born and raised in northern Italy. This makes my assistance a valuable resource for women and couples who are not fully proficient in the local language, and need help with bureaucracy. Beyond providing continuous practical and emotional support, my commitment is crucial for understanding the Italian healthcare system (SSN): how it works, its rules, its possibilities, as well as its limits.
Building a network to enhance your well-being
The support of a doula for mothers and couples also includes the ability to create a network of people and professionals to fully support women throughout pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood. During my time supporting pregnant women, I can connect them with local specialists who are invaluable in these circumstances: midwives, medical staff, psychologists, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and more. This is crucial when you live abroad and you may find it difficult to find these resources and highly skilled professionals yourself.
Doula Chiara Lops
Who is a Doula and what can she do for you?
- My role is to stand by your side during one of the most important moments of your life: motherhood. It is an ancient task, as evidenced by the origin of the Greek word Doula, which means “she who serves the woman” in the sense of “a woman who takes care of another woman.”
- Today, this role has evolved and the word now stands to signify an experienced woman who accompanies another woman through the transition of birth and postpartum. A trained doula is able to establish a confidential relationship with the mother, providing help and encouragement.
- From the first weeks of pregnancy to childbirth and through the early stages of parenting, doulas take care of the emotional and physical well-being of the expectant mother and the family. A doula is not part of the family unit, so she can remain impartial and listen to the mother’s thoughts, fears, and doubts without bias.
A doula does not provide medical advice or interventions, nor does she perform clinical tasks.
Being accompanied by a professional doula has been a reality for decades in different parts of the world, and it is now becoming a widespread opportunity for women living in Italy as well. It is an innovative and engaging model of emotional support that can accompany families, couples, and single mothers.
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