Meet Shanee, a doula from SisterWeb, an SFHP partner

For Shanee Jones, the doula journey has come full circle.

“As an African American woman, it is important for me to stand up for myself and be an advocate for the Black community. I want to make sure parents who are expecting understand their birthing rights,” said Shanee.

Shanee grew up in San Francisco. She is a doula (birth worker) with SFHP’s partner, SisterWeb. SisterWeb is a group of doulas in San Francisco. They focus on helping Black birthing people and families while working for birth equity and justice. Shanee finished SisterWeb’s first training program for doulas. But before she became a trainee, Shanee had her own doula.

“I had a high-risk pregnancy during the pandemic, and knew I wanted more support after the complications I faced during my first two pregnancies,” she recalled. “Having a doula was extremely helpful, especially when I got COVID. I was in the hospital twice, and my doula always supported me in the ways that I needed.”

Doulas support birthing people before, during, and after pregnancy. They can help you talk about your health care with your doctors, get health education, and give you physical, emotional, and other support throughout your pregnancy. As of January 1, 2023, doula services are a fully covered Medi-Cal benefit. If you have SFHP, you can get a doula at no cost.

“Within the community I grew up in, many of us did not have enough health resources, and it is so important to make sure that our families do,” said Shanee.

As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are more likely to face problems during pregnancy. In the United States, they have the highest rate of deaths due to problems in pregnancy – almost three times more than White women.

“Motherhood is a life-changing experience, and the most important thing when you’re giving birth is to have people there who really support you, especially during labor,” said Shanee. “Having the support of a doula helped me learn to trust and believe in myself. I felt empowered and capable.”

Shanee welcomed her baby with her mother, doula, and nurse at her side. Today, as part of the SisterWeb team, Shanee works with the same doula and nurse who helped welcome her daughter almost three years ago.

“My journey as a SisterWeb client was one of the best moments I could ever cherish, and I feel it is my calling to empower other women and support them on their journey,” said Shanee.