Connecting
This is one of the simplest and most essential elements of the European Doula Network.
Through a pandemic, through war, through all the challenges that face our societies right now, getting together socially is what helps make us individually more capable and more resilient and Stronger Together.
The annual European Doula Network event will take place in Istanbul, Turkey this year! Doulas from all over Europe will spend three days together in Istanbul, "Holding the Space, Bridging the Gap".
The event language is English only. Here is the full program.
This Year’s Highlights
- A workshop on baby’s birth reflex
- Sharing doula experiences from different countries
- A highlight panel discussion
- A joyful journey to Istanbul where the continents meet
EDN 2026 Conference Turkish Organising Team
EDN 2026: Istanbul, 2-4 October
EDN 2025: Vilnius
Many thanks to the wonderful organisational team from the Lithuanian Doula Association, whose care, love and attention made it a nourishing weekend of deepening connection between European doulas.
Read all about it in our newsletter.
This Speak! Hear! Doula! webinar is open and inclusive to all doulas and specialists promoting birth equity.
In 2025, the EDN launched an open call for Doula Solidarity and Support initiatives from across Europe — inviting doulas who work with ethnic minorities, those with refugee or migrant backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals, very young mothers, those living with physical and/or mental health challenges, the incarcerated, and all those in under-resourced situations.
This multilingual event brings together doulas, and perinatal professionals — midwives, doctors, researchers — working in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and birth equity, to connect across languages and borders.
EDN Annual Conferences
We’re a family of diverse, yet like-minded women, using our passion skills and knowledge to make a difference. We share many stories and experiences, attend workshops and talk about our challenges, dreams, projects and ideas.
"Virtual" Cuddles
Doula Hearts and Souls Online
The distances between us are immense, stretching to the edges of our continent and beyond. Funnily enough, we still find the magic spring of oxytocin even bubbles up in little squares on screens.
United by the Dulų Asociacija in Lithuania, 80 Doulas from all over Europe met in Vilnius to spend 3 days together, focusing on the EDN values: connecting, supporting, and informing.
Please see all doula Asta's wonderful photos here in the full slide show.
The Lithuanian Doulas and EDN 2025 Vilnius conference organisers
Lithuanian Sutartinės are polyphonic songs protected as UNESCO world heritage.
Singing plays a big part in doula get-togethers!
EDN Member Representatives from 21 countries
Vilma Kraelskaitė, our longstanding EDN Representative for Dulu Asociacija, Lithuania
EDN Volunteer Team
Contact and connection - this is what EDN and doulas are all about
Lina Gabrijolavičien presented: “The Perineum in Birth and Beyond: A
Psychophysiological Perspective”,
The space, Domus Maria, was perfect for our gathering
Each country presented a poster and spoke for four minutes about the situation for doulas
The EDN Core Organisers: Anita Budak, Ayșegül Boz Baltacı and Debbie Mitchell
EDN 2024: Lille, France
200 doulas united by a Coalition of French doula organisations.
Please see all doula Charlotte Moulin's wonderful photos here in the full slide show.
