Inspiring Conversations with Jessica Gillan of Bellies, Boobs, Babies & Bliss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gillan.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I embarked on serving Families as a young teen, being a Mothers helper. I often babysat for the families on my little brother’s T-Ball team. Something must have been in the water because it seemed like the whole team was having babies within a 2-3 month period.

Word got around the T-Ball team and I was quickly booked for evenings and weekends. As I got older and gained more experience, I started booking summer jobs to help families with the first few weeks of having a baby; or going from 1 to 2 kiddos. I was their Postpartum Doula without knowing I was doula-ing them. It was so natural for me, to care and nurture. I assisted with laundry, cleaning the kitchen, making snacks for their toddler, and giving the Families time to rest and recover. I even traveled with the families, so they could have an extra set of hands and eyes.

In 2002, while studying to be a Clinical Esthetician I was invited to attend a birth. I took my first doula course so I could have all the tools and knowledge to best support her. Witnessing that first birth lit a fire in me. I quickly learned that working towards owning a medspa wasn’t my passion, after all.

I Doula’d my family and friends and always felt “at home” in that setting. I continued to offer Postpartum Night Support for high-profile families while attending college for Child Development. When my calendar was booked, I referred out to my Doula-Friends and this transcended into opening a Nanny Agency in San Francisco, California.

After winning “Best of the Bay Area” five years in a row, I sold ‘A Nanny Solution, Inc.’ to pursue Motherhood and a Birth Doula, Lactation career. I took a few years off to be a Mom, we moved a lot for my husband’s career back then and I waited for my youngest to wean so I could commit to the long hours that birth work often involves. Since going back to Full-Time Doula work I have obtained three Lactation credentials, additional Birth training, I obtained a “Midwife Assistant” certification from the Farm, in Tennessee. (YES *that* Farm!) and got Certified in HypnoBirthing. I would love to become a Midwife and open a free-standing Birthing Center, here in Saint Augustine. I now offer Birth & Postpartum Support, Lactation Consulting, Night Care, Childbirth Education, and complimentary Birth Photography to my package; capturing the raw beauty and joy of such a special day.

Bellies, Boobs, Babies & Bliss continues to grow and support Families all over Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, and St Augustine with 2-5 births a month and many Lactation appointments for Nocatee Families, as well. I truly feel this work is what I am meant to do. I never feel like I am “at work”.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being a Doula involves many curveballs and bumpy roads. It’s sad when you see Families lose their precious babies and/or when you witness Obstetric violence, racial injustices and birth trauma. That part is so hard. Those births never leave me. Those families, their beautiful babies- I will never forget them. Never.

Even though I may not convey it in front of my client, there are many times I leave a hard birth and have a good cry in the car before going home. This work can be very emotionally draining. I want to do more, protect Mothers and give them space to birth in the way THEY feel best and safe. They deserve joy and to experience euphoric birthing. I feel many Mothers are robbed of this. Maternal Care in America needs to do better.

Being a Doula isn’t always cute babies and baby bumps. There is a dark and sad side to this industry. It’s important to have a good support system behind the scenes and someone you trust to help process the injustices and obstetric violence we witness.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I feel so blessed to have been included in so many birth stories. I am one of the most experienced Birth & Postpartum Doulas in the Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Nocatee, St Augustine Florida areas. Hundreds of families have found my guidance brought a positive impact to their pregnancy, birth, lactation, and postpartum journey.

From having over 21+ years of Birth and Postpartum Doula experience, being a Certified Lactation Specialist, hundreds of births attended, working as a Midwife Assistant, caring for over 50+ sets of newborn Twins, an expert Newborn Care Specialist, to being a leader for La Leche League for 8 years, having 12 years of Lactation Experience and over 700+ hours of education/training.

I wear many hats and pulls from my vast experiences, credentials, and certifications to bring the highest level of personalized, holistic focused care to local families.

What makes you happy?
I am happiest when I leave birth and my Family is on cloud 9. In her oxytocin high, beaming from ear to ear; her birth was everything and beyond her dreams. That is my goal. I go home to my amazing husband, 2 beautiful daughters, snuggle and recover with them; and I always try to spend some time at the beach, in the sun- It is my happy place that really recharges my internal battery.

Having a supportive partner that covers all the bases when you are gone, is huge. Doulas need support, too! I honestly would not be the Doula that I am if I didn’t have my husband, Dan. He handles so much at home so that I can work my passion. We have been together for 20 years and he’s always been my biggest cheerleader.