We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Poyo-Nieto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
The old adage that “peace on Earth begins at birth” proves itself more true as I age. Birth is meant to be a transformative spiritual experience, and we live in a world where it has been commodified, medicalized, and controlled for profit. When a woman goes into birth feeling informed, loved, connected, and listened to, she becomes the kind of mother that knows her worth and her power. It allows her to move through matrescence (the process of becoming a mother) with faith and understanding, allowing her to surrender to the evolution she must endure to truly love, protect, and care for her children. She expects and welcomes the challenges, she is aware that perfection is not the goal, and she finds beauty where society says she should only find grief. She is more able and willing to fight for what she wants and what her children need.

When society watches mothers move through this powerful experience in the way is was designed to be experienced (with reverence and joy), there is an exponential increase in respect and appreciation for women and their role as life-givers, as a portal from the Divine straight onto the Earth. It is my dream that all women have the ability to experience the fullness of joy that comes from feeling heard and seen, revered for their power.

In my work, I seek to support new mothers throughout the childbearing year, because it is a cycle of change that requires us to have a Village of Support, which no longer exists in our modern world. I find such joy in providing guidance and practical education in pregnancy, helping mothers navigate their labor and birth, and guiding them through the challenges of postpartum (healing, feeding, sleep, emotional) to bring them to a place of peace in their journey. My intention is that this work should bring humanity back to connectedness with the Divine, and bring mothers to a place where they feel empowered in their strength and do not feel the need to outsource responsibility for their babies to any “authority”.

It is my fervent hope that mother reconnect with their inner knowing, and feel utterly loved and supported.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started off, as many do, working for large hospital systems trying to help new mothers to breastfeed their babies. I spent a decade fighting the system to get better education and supports in place for mothers to succeed, and realized at some point that the system is never going to change. It is working exactly as it was designed – lots of lip service, no action. Once I realized I was fighting a losing battle, I began to feel called to go out on my own. It was terrifying, but I followed my intuition in 2021, and I’ll never go back. I’m now able to blend my skill and passions into a fun (and funny) package, and give new parents the information, validation, and belly laughs they need to make it through the life-altering process of bringing in new life.

In many ways, it was pretty easy to build my business (despite having no “IT guy” or assistants, which has definitely caused some headaches). I have spent the last 15 years building connections with incredible midwives, OBs, other IBCLCs, bodyworkers, and healers which has allowed me to learn so much more than any single certification I hold could ever hope to provide me with. This means I’ve got a large and ever growing referral base that keeps connecting me with the incredible families I am honored to support. I have also WALKED THE TALK for 14 years. I have birthed, and healed, and parented in ecological and physiologic ways – so when I encourage parents to consider what their bodies, minds, souls, and babies NEED in their pregnancy and parenting choices, it comes from a deep understanding that it is not the “easy” road, but the road most worth taking.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a homeschooling family, we spend an inordinate amount of time at parks in LA – and there are so many good ones! A nice walk through Griffith Park up north, Malaga Cove down south, or along any of the beaches in between, and you’re set. Barefoot, face in the sun, with a good coffee in hand? That’s all anyone really needs! Honestly, the weather and ability to ground and sun yourself in SoCal is the main attraction.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My children were the catalyst for my own development as an empowered mother, particularly my eldest. I’m honored to be stewarding these incredible souls through this life! I also have to shout out my husband, who holds down the fort while I am running around trying to save the world, and who has been a staunch supporter of everything I’ve been called to do. He is as much a part of my client’s success stories as I am. In the end, it is God I have to thank for giving me this calling in this life. It is not always easy, and I often find myself doubting my worth and ability, but I continue to be called to and support in this work by My Creator.

Website: https://www.ageofraya.org

Instagram: @age.of.raya

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ageofraya

Image Credits
Jesus Nieto, @laserfocusphotography

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