About Jana - Supported Birth • L.A.'s Premier Childbirth Class

Philosophy

After a 7 hour unmedicated birth to my daughter in 1992 (with doula and midwife at a women’s hospital in Israel), I was empowered by the lesson that our instincts and choices can lead us to have powerfully fulfilling and transformational birth experiences.

My desire to become a Childbirth professional was not from an intellectualized vision that all women should have the same birth experience, but rather the wish to convey that instincts and knowledge, together, form the core of strength and yielding that a woman needs.

I believe in meeting women wherever they are along the spectrum – from fear of birth to idealization of birth – and helping them move further along to a place of confidence and realism.

I believe that successful childbirth classes are not a series of lectures or instruction, but rather a process of growth and self-discovery that prepares new parents for this life transition.

“I’ve been sitting in on my mom’s classes for 16 years, since I was 2. There is no better class than this. I still learn new things whenever I listen to some of the discussions. She knows everything, is completely honest, and is fun. Also the best mom I could ever wish for. She’ll definitely be my doula when I have a baby someday, no question!”

Orit Wernor – January 2011

Bio

Jana Wernor became a Certified Childbirth Educator and Labor Support Educator in 1995 through the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (AAHCC). After completing the Midwifery Licensure Challenge Competence Program through Association for Childbirth at Home Intl.(ACHI) in 1996, she created Supported Birth Childbirth Education and Doula Training.

Supported Birth has educated and prepared thousands of couples for the births of their babies and their entry into parenthood. As founder and director, Jana has served as teacher, mentor, guide, doula, and supporter. She is an advocate of choice based on knowledge and instinct.

Supported Birth Doula Training has trained over 100 doulas and teachers, many of whom went on to become midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, and postpartum professionals, practicing throughout the U.S. and the world.

Jana is an ICEA Certified Postnatal Educator, an ICEA Certified Advanced Labor Support Professional, with additional professional trainings from Pam England, Sheila Kitzinger, Spinning Babies, and Midwifery Today. She has trained in Breastfeeding & Infant Care, HOPE Parenting Skills, Resources for Infant EduCarers, and received credentials in Basic Fetal Monitoring from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

She completed the Birth Partner Training Program at St. Anne’s Maternity Home, attended births of teen moms, and participated in the St. Anne’s Mentor Mom Program (postpartum support).

As a doula, Jana has supported more than 3/4 of her clients to achieve natural birth outcomes.

Jana has been a speaker for the 12th Intl Conference on Nursing, Gynecology and Women’s Health (Paris 2023), Israel Childbirth Education Center, the Maple Counseling Center, the Intl. Cesarean Awareness Network, and the L.A. Mamagathering.

She is the author of the Supported Birth Course Book, the Supported Birth Doula Training Book, and has published articles on parenting and childbirth.

She is affiliated with the Wagner Paraprofessional Counseling Program, Temple Beit T’Shuvah, Insight Meditation, Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Hotline, and several Youth Mentoring programs. Jana enjoys psychology, music, reading, meditation, swimming, yoga, nature and visiting her wonderful daughter, who specializes in Children’s Studies and Infant-Toddler Development. Her dogs have always enjoyed participating in classes as well.

"I feel knowledgeable, empowered. Every question I had was answered honestly and openly. There was a comfortable environment open for discussions. I feel that she understood where I was coming from. I feel Jana is very receptive and genuinely cares - she is a wonderful resource."

"We want to both tell you how incredible our birth class experience was with you - we felt completely prepared and capable of dealing with anything that came up in our labor. The approach of your teaching was the key for dealing with & being flexible with the challenges and we were able to achieve a drug-free birth and were blessed with the most beautiful healthy baby! You've had such a positive & significant impact on our birth experience. Thank you!!!"

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your guidance, sharing your infinite wisdom and genuine caring. You are a true friend and someone I would recommend to anyone having a child if they want to feel confident and prepared as they enter the most important day of their lives. I don't know what we would have done without you."

"The most amazing thing about Jana is that once you're her student, you're always her student. We took the class years ago, but recently reached out to ask her a few questions; she responded immediately, gave great advice, and invited us to call if we needed anything else. It's very clear she's in this because she loves people and wants to make their transition into parenthood as perfect experience as possible. We can't recommend her highly enough."

"Jana is great - calm, informed, non-judgmental, funny, enthusiastic. Especially if you're looking to have a natural birth with as few interventions as possible, this is the class for you. She also does a good job explaining the pros and cons of medical choices, so I think anyone would feel very comfortable in her class and she by no means sets up a natural birth as the only way to go. We met some great couples in the small, intimate setting, and had all of our questions answered. I'd recommend Jana to any couple looking for more info about pregnancy, birth, pain relief, baby issues, relationship issues, etc. A wonderful class."

"Jana is amazing. We left the first meeting feeling a huge sense of relief -- the environment was so welcoming, with a small, intimate group, and Jana makes you immediately feel at ease and like you can totally, absolutely, without a doubt birth your child. I really enjoyed Jana's sense of humor along with her willingness to be open to all kinds of ideas and choices. It was indeed a relaxed, happy and comfortable environment. We loved the class and feel so empowered and safe going into this experience."