We are the EDN!

They say that nothing worth doing is easy. Like every non-profit, we have to navigate bumps in the road. But we wouldn’t change a thing. Why? Because throughout our journey we’ve honed our skills and put our abilities to the test, so doulas everywhere can benefit from each other's experiences.

We organise in circles according to a sociocratic approach and as can be seen above, we discuss in 'rounds'. Our statutes provide boundaries so that expectations are clear and the organisational aspects can be more easily managed.

Who is the EDN?

WE ARE THE EDN


Connecting • Supporting • Informing

United for birth

We invite you to find out more about doulas and the EDN through our documentary mini-series.

Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.

Consent & Show

Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.

Consent & Show

Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.

Consent & Show

Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.

Consent & Show

Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.

Consent & Show

The EDN is a Non-Profit Organisation

The European Doula Network was founded in Switzerland in 2011. The EDN Code of Ethics, agreed by all members, was created in 2015 and updated in 2023.

Non-profit status:
The European Doula Network is an association within the meaning of Swiss legislation (Art. 60ff. ZGB). According to the decree of the cantonal tax office, the European Doula Network is recognised as a charitable organisation and is exempt from state tax, general municipal tax and direct federal tax.

The European Doula Network is a legally independent organisation committed to the principals of humanity, impartiality and being neutral in terms of politics and denomination.

The EDN is a Sociocracy

We work in circles, focusing on open, respectful dialogue, collaborative and inclusive participation and arriving at decision making through consent.

The EDN Office Core

This is the beating heart of the EDN, warmly supported by our volunteers and member representatives. We meet monthly online and always look forward to meeting again in person!

The EDN Focus Circles

We have a number of focus circles to carry forward our special projects, involving EDN doulas with a special passion for making things happen.

Our Network

We’re more than a cuddle of doulas. We’re a family of like-minded doulas, using our passion and listening skills to make a difference in whatever way we can.

We are also partnered with key organisations in the wider international birthing community:


Our Projects

We're always working on something!

  • In 2020, we launched our first EDN Doula Survey, in the early days  of the pandemic. In 2023 we relaunched the survey to help understand how the pandemic changed doula work.. 
  • In 2022, we created the Doula Solidarity and Support Initiative to help doulas support refugee women.
  • In 2023, we formed a global collaboration of doulas supporting ICI's Step 4 at the FIGO World Congress or Obstetrics and Gynecology and launched a pilot study asking for health professionals to give their feedback on doula support.
  • In 2024/2025, EDN has been collaborating with Postnatal Support Network and Geboortnis, surveying European mothers on their postpartum experiences over the past 5 years and creating the Postpartum rEvolution Summit to create an action plan.


Our Motivation

Being there as a doula for doulas is our driving energy. It's the reason why a close-knit group of volunteers get up every day and do what we do. 

We love forming deeper connections that help us deal with every new challenge. 

If being a part of the EDN as a member organisation, friend or volunteer speaks to you, please join us!


Partnerships

We believe that we have bigger impact when we don't just work with each other, we work with everybody who shares our goal for better care and wellbeing, especially in the perinatal field.

The 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care


The International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) have joined forces developing a single global initiative to provide guidance and support for safe and respectful maternity care, building upon their previous work and incorporating the most recent evidence and insights into what constitutes optimal maternal and newborn health.

Launched in 2018, this initiative, The International Childbirth Initiative (ICI): 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care provides clear steps for implementing evidence-based maternity care worldwide, acknowledging the interaction between the MotherBaby dyad, Family and Environment as well as their interactions with health providers and health systems. 


Created with Sketch.

We are individually and collectively committed to fostering the following values, worldwide: 

 

  • Prenatal parenting – The importance of parenting our baby prior to conception, at conception, during pregnancy and birth 


  • Babies first – The unborn baby is a conscious and sentient being who reacts, responds, learns; he/she thrives when surrounded by love and harmony, nurtured by his/her mother, especially when she is supported by the father, family and society at large 


  • Safety – Women need to feel safe and respected during the time they are forming and welcoming a baby into this world.


Globally united doulas in support of ICI 

at FIGO XXIV World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics

& EDN at Midwifery Today, Germany (2023)

Doulas de France, EDN, DONA International, International Childbirth Education Association and Doulas in Austria united at FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2023.

You can read all about this from Debra and Uta, representing DONA in the International Doula.

DOULAS PROVIDE continuous SUPPORT

EDN, ICEA and DiA united at FIGO World Congress, Paris

Here's Debbie's back story about how this all came about.
And Tara's story from the ICEA blog.

EDN connecting doulas and midwives at Midwifery Today, Bad Wildbad in 2023.

Here's Silvia's story and pictures of the event.

Volunteers

Volunteering with EDN


We have a truly amazing team and so many exceptional projects to help connect, support and inform doulas and the communities they are part of! 
We need your ideas and enthusiasm, plus your communication and organisation skills to nurture these projects to become seeds, that become plants, that bare flowers and fruit!
We have a fully organised volunteer framework to support you and bring your skills into the sunlight. We recognise everyone has many commitments and we trust that shared kindness and open communication will mean everyone is getting the support they need in their role. 

In Memoriam 

May 31, 1938 – April 11, 2024

Penny Simkin

Originally posted by DONA International Social Media Channels and shared on Penny's website; reposted here with permission:

Created with Sketch.

Penny’s heartbroken family shares this sad news of our beloved Mom/Gummy/sister.

With profound sadness and a heavy heart, DONA International announces the passing of our esteemed co-founder, Penny Simkin, PT, after a brief battle with cancer. Her departure on April 11, 2024 marks a tremendous loss not only to our organization but to the global doula community, childbirth educators, perinatal researchers, families she supported, and the countless lives she touched through her pioneering work in childbirth and maternity care.
Penny’s unwavering dedication to supporting families during one of the most significant moments of their lives has left an indelible mark on the field of labor support and childbirth education. Since 1968, Penny, a skilled physical therapist, embarked on a mission to transform the childbirth experience, making it more empowering, informed, and supported.

Her tireless commitment to this cause led her to prepare over 15,000 individuals, couples, and siblings for childbirth, directly assist hundreds of families through labor as a doula, and author several influential books that have become staples in the field that have been translated into several languages.

Penny was a visionary and a luminary in every sense. Her work has paved the way for a new generation of doulas and childbirth educators, instilling in them the values of compassion, evidence-based practice, and relentless advocacy for birthing people and their families. Through her profound contributions and co-founding of DONA International, Penny has revolutionized doula care and childbirth education across the globe, leaving a legacy that will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.

Her book, The Birth Partner, remains a beloved resource for anyone involved in the childbirth process, illustrating her commitment to not only the physical but also the emotional well-being of doulas and families during childbirth.

Though she recently stepped back from her professional endeavors to focus on her family, Penny’s legacy continues to thrive through the work of the many doulas she trained, the families she supported, and the impactful works she left behind. Her life was a testament to her passion for making childbirth a positive and supported experience for all.

Penny’s life was rich not only in professional achievements but also in love and joy. She and her husband, Peter, were blessed with four grown children, nine grandchildren, many grandchildren-in-law, five great-grandchildren, and a beloved dog, Casey. Her family was her pride and joy, and she cherished the time spent with her loved ones.

As we mourn the loss of Penny Simkin, we also celebrate her extraordinary life and the countless ways she has enriched ours. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we carry forward her mission to improve childbirth and support families around the world. Penny’s spirit lives on in the work of DONA International, in the lives of the families she has touched, and in the hearts of the many who loved her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to DONA International in Penny Simkin’s memory, to continue her life’s work of supporting and educating doulas and families. For more information on how to make a contribution, please visit https://www.dona.org/impactprogram/

We invite all who knew Penny, were touched by her work, or wish to share their thoughts and memories to do so by sending them to [email protected]. Your stories and memories will be a great comfort and a cherished collection for her family during this difficult time.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Penny’s family, friends, and the many individuals whose lives she has touched. May her soul rest in peace, and may her legacy of love, support, and education continue to flourish in the years to come.