Full Name please and date of birth
Paula Anne Merritt Mallis Oct 28,1980
Full Names of children and age
Madeleine May Mallis, May 10,2012 (& currently expecting)
Where are you based?
Los Angeles
If you could describe yourself in one sentence.
I am a woman of integrity and authenticity.
What was your childhood like?
I was raised on a horse ranch in NC with my mom, dad and three brothers. I am the oldest child and was very bossy, always trying to keep my
brothers in line.
My life as a child was simple and small town. I was always dreaming about what was beyond my small country town life as a kid. I began traveling at 15 years old beyond my small town and haven’t looked back since. I am so grateful for my small
town childhood experience as it is a reference point to keep me grounded.
Tell us about your life before motherhood.
Before motherhood my life was all about my selfish wants and needs. Pick up and go whenever I wanted. Single life, traveled
and had a lot of exciting experiences that have shaped who I am today.
What do you do for a living?
Founder of WMN SPACE Birth Doula Facilitator of Women’s Circles
What inspired you to become a doula?
I was inspired to become a Doula when I became pregnant with my daughter Madeleine. I entered my doula training the same day as I found out I was pregnant.
What was your birth experience like with your daughter?
I had an amazing transformative birth with my daughter Madeleine. It was sacred, intense, deep, surreal and tremendous life changing experience.
What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
Holding space for babies to enter earth side and support the mother and family during the process is the most rewarding job
I have ever experienced or had! I love the entire process of working with women and families from conception, through pregnancy, the laboring and birthing process and into motherhood.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I fix breakfast for the family in the mornings before school drop off and before my husband leaves for work. I meditate after drop off in the school parking lot or as soon as I get to WMN SPACE. I try to include some type of self care into my every day, salt bath, mindful movement, nourishing foods and meditation.
What is WMN SPACE?
WMN SPACE is a conscious space for women to gather in service to their own healing. A space for women to attend
circle gatherings, educational workshops around women’s wellness, one on one healing sessions and events. WMN SPACE is a space to gather in community and support each other on our own unique journey’s.
Describe being a modern mother
I am not sure what it really means to be a modern mother? As a mother I feel inspired to tap into the ancient teachings and ways mother’s would mother themselves and each other when we once all lived in villages and communities. The modern mother I believe struggles and you might even say suffers from the “Modern” way of mothering or the new way of keeping up with the Joneses. With the over influence of social media and technology, we are so over exposed today and have the answer from a google search at our very finger tips. I am not saying this is all good or bad but that I encourage the women and mother’s that I work with to go within our own hearts and intuition for the answers instead of the outside approval or projection from the world.
What’s your biggest advice for an expecting mother?
All the answers reside within. Seek out guidance that supports you in tuning into your own inner knowing for what
is right for you, your baby and family. Educate yourself on the labor and birthing process. Be open and curious.
Can you give a quote about that you think of Mother Muse?
Mother Muse is authentic, truthful and resourceful.
Read Paula’s full exclusive interview inside Edition Two of Mother Muse
MOTHER MUSE 