Jay Duncan, Birth Doula/ Childbirth Educator
My name is Jay Duncan and I have worked as a Doula and a Prenatal instructor for almost 18 years. I had many jobs after University before I settled on working as a Vocational Trainer for people who had Developmental Disabilities. I helped find work and conducted on the job training for people who needed assistance. Since I was about 11 years old though, I was always fascinated with pregnant bellies. It was a wonder to me that babies grew inside of women and I was equally fascinated as to how those babies were going to come out! I would read many illustrated books on how babies grew in tummies. When I was pregnant with my first child, I believed in the natural occurrence of birth and trusted that my body would know what to do. I chose to be cared for by midwives instead of doctors as I believed in their extensive knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth. I was lucky enough to have two very positive (but still challenging) birth experiences with my daughter and son (who I had at home). I was certain that I wanted to pursue Birth Work as a career when my children got older.
Since I loved teaching adults and adored birth work, I decided that I would train to become a Childbirth Educator and teach other expectant parents what to expect when they went into labor. I soon realized that I would make a more effective teacher if I experienced a wider range of birthing experiences. It was there where my teaching instructor told me about Doulas (she happened to be one), and that I should look into it. A Doula was a person who provided emotional, physical and informational support to a birthing woman/person and their family. Doulas are not trained to do anything medical, so the focus is mainly on the physical comfort and emotional wellbeing of the birther. I went on my first birth with her, and from there, I was hooked! The opportunity to support a birthing person and their family through such an emotional and physical life altering experience was magical to me. I couldn’t believe that people did this for a living! I decided to seek Doula Training here in Victoria through the Mothering Touch in 2007.
“The opportunity to support a birthing person and their family through such an emotional and physical life altering experience was magical to me. I couldn’t believe that people did this for a living!”
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