Draft:European Doula Network (EDN)

European Doula Network (EDN)
The European Doula Network, usually just EDN, is a European non-governmental organisation representing doulas in over 25 territories. Originally starting as a grassroots movement in several countries, it was formally founded in 2011 in Switzerland.

Core activities
The European Doula Network is a non-profit organisation focusing on connecting, supporting and informing doulas. It is a network of doula associations, training programmes and friends in the wider European region united through a shared Code of Ethics. It aims to promote better understanding of the role of doulas and to create opportunities for closer work with health professionals within networks of care.

Code of Ethics
The role of a 'doula' is not widely known and is often misunderstood, including by perinatal professionals. The ethical code was created in 2015 to clearly define the scope of practice and later updated in 2023.

All members of the EDN commit to working to the same definition of the role of a doula and the EDN Code of Ethics is translated into 20 languages.

Doula Surveys
The EDN has conducted surveys with over 600 respondents into doula training, employment, experience, and complimentary and continuing education.


 * 2020 (pre-pandemic)
 * 2023 (post-pandemic)

It also collaborated with the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and DONA International in 2023 to launch a pilot study asking healthcare professionals to give their Feedback on Doula Support.

Doula Solidarity and Support Initiative
In 2022, the EDN mobilised its network to facilitate the support of refugees displaced by the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian refugee doulas and local doulas and their networks were connected to offer pro bono help and share multilingual resources in order to support women refugees during pregnancy, birth and post-partum in the country in which they were hosted. In the words of Jeannine Parvati Baker Peace on Earth begins with Birth.

Partnerships
EDN is partnered with the Prenatal Alliance and the International Childbirth Initiative.

It also formed an international collaboration with the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and DONA International to represent doulas at the [[International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics|FIGO]] XXIV World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Paris, October 2023.

EDN has a long connection with Midwifery Today, bringing together midwives and doulas for a special session at the conferences held in Europe.

Annual Conference
EDN holds an annual meeting, which is organised by a member organisation and hosted in a different country each year.