Doulas are trained professionals, experienced in attending childbirth to provide continuous physical and emotional support during pregnancy, labour and postpartum. At VCBF, our doulas also serve as:

• Advocates: Ensuring patients’ needs and preferences are respected.

• Cultural Brokers: Offering culturally competent care and bridging gaps in understanding.

• Knowledge and Language Translators: Simplifying medical terms and providing multilingual support to empower families.

This personalized, compassionate care leads to better mental and physical health outcomes for patients and their families. Evidence suggests that doula support can have enormous benefits for the pregnant person, newborn and family. Doula care has been shown to increase rates of breast/chestfeeding initiation and duration and increase parental self-efficacy and confidence. Doula care reduces postpartum depression and anxiety, neonatal morbidity, emergency cesarean sections, social isolation and birth trauma.

The  Vancouver Community Birth Foundation relies on donations and grants to keep doula care accessible and barrier-free for all families seeking one - especially those most vulnerable.