about global doula

Lina Duncan is a Recognised Birth Doula and Postnatal Doula based in East London.

Lina moved from London in 1996, trained as a midwife in El Paso, Texas, Mexico and the Philippines in 1997-1999. She supported families from vulnerable communities in midwife-led clinics where all perinatal care was provided by midwives. A continuity model was offered and preferred so that women had relationship and could build up trust with their care provider.

From 2007-2016 Lina and her colleagues offered midwifery and doula services to an extremely varied local and international community in Mumbai, Pune and Nasik, India. Her private company provided bespoke midwifery and doula services in high-end private hospitals and homes.

At the same time Lina and her colleagues provided advocacy, pregnancy information, and birth companions for vulnerable families living in poverty. Lina facilitated access to life-saving and life-enhancing education, services for reproductive health and childbirth, alongside medical facilities in the Government system.

Mumbai Midwife continues to hold a long standing dream to train many doulas in a culturally sensitive manner that can facilitate gentle, supported, safe, compassionate support for women across the spectrum of extremely varied needs, backgrounds and living conditions that exist across India and beyond. Lina still networks with Indian friends collaborating to start a movement of midwifery across the nation.

During her time in Asia she became fascinated with the various traditions, religious ceremonies and customs surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. The extended rest period and “looking after” a MotherBaby in those first weeks as they adjust into parenting and all that entails, was different for every family.

Lina returned to London, UK in late 2016. She has chosen to train and work as a doula and focus on the change in roles that this brings.

As well as her native English, Lina speaks Hindi, Cantonese and some Cebuano.

Lina loves diversity in cultures, languages, music, films, good food and wine and is often playing football as a goalkeeper on Wandsworth and Clapham commons! She travels on her crazy colour bike and has hair to match.

“Every birth teaches me something and after welcoming more than a thousand babies, I’m still learning. I never lose the sense of wonder of it all”