You can sense a definite theme
in the biographies of our team.
We all love SCBP and we love to travel the world!

What is a doula?

Doulas are trained childbirth attendants who provide women with continuous physical and emotional comfort and support throughout childbirth. Doula (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "caregiver". Whether it is a hand to hold, someone to lean on, or words of comfort during the pains of labour, women have been helping other women through childbirth for centuries. The SCBP has incorporated this age old tradition into its services by offering pregnant women the assistance of a doula.

Continuous support from a doula has been demonstrated to have impressive benefits for expectant mothers, including:

  • shorter labours
  • less need for pain medication
  • a reduced likelihood of having a cesarean section and other interventions

A comprehensive review published by the Cochrane Library, one of the best sources of evidence-based healthcare in the world, concluded that having a doula present at the birth increases your odds of a normal, satisfying childbirth experience.

SCBP provides doula support at no cost to you. If you decide that you want a doula, you will fill out a form indicating your preferences and our doula coordinator, Jalana, will match you with a doula best suited to meet your needs.

SCBP doulas have attended a DONA (Doulas of North America) approved birth doula training taught by our doula program coordinator, Jalana Grant. DONA is recognized internationally as the oldest and largest doula association whose founders are responsible for the first doula studies. Information about doulas and the results of the studies can be found in the DONA Birth Doula Position Paper. Information about locating a DONA Approved Birth Doula Training or about Douglas College doula trainings is available from the DONA website.

After their weekend Doula training workshop, SCBP doulas then participate in our mentorship program with experienced DONA certified doulas. After their mentorship program is completed, usually after 3-5 births, they are assigned clients in SCBP.

When your labour begins, the Doula usually comes to your home in early labour or may join you when you are admitted to the hospital. During labour, you will be supported by your doula and she keeps in regular contact with the doctor or midwife on call. Your doctor/midwife may check on you at home during labour and when you are ready, will admit you to the hospital.

Jalana has been working with childbearing families as a doula since 1983. Certified as a doula and DONA - approved doula trainer by Doulas of North America (DONA), she has traveled nationally and internationally since 2000 as Western Canada Director on DONAs International Board of Directors. This has included enthusiastic participation in DONAs annual general and Board meetings, and production of DONA-approved doula training workshops across Canada.

Along with these activities, Jalana has been instrumental in promoting and raising awareness of doulas contribution to healthy birth, and of DONAs value and role in doula care, in BC and Western Canada . As former British Columbia Doula services Association (DsA) President and Referral Coordinator, Jalana supported and nurtured that groups membership growth to over 200.

Jalana is also a Childbirth Educator, trained as such by both International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and Lamaze International. She has taught prenatal classes in the Vancouver area since 1989 and presented childbirth education topics to health professionals and others involved with childbearing families.

Jalanas participation in development and running of the exciting and innovative south Community Birth Project has been a career highlight so far. This creative multidisciplinary effort continues to grow in success, the best confirmation being enthusiastic evaluations by mothers and families who have been participants. Participation of doulas recruited from the communities that SCBP serves has been a significant component of that success.

Questions about the SCBP doula program can be emailed to Doula Coordinator Jalana Grant at doulaprogram@hotmail.com.