In this edition you will find out all the details regarding the upcoming EDN 2021 Online Conference, presented to us this year by the Belgian Doulas. We also have tnews about a story café in Germany, doula wellbeing through singing, a birth story in Dutch and English and happily present two more EDN Office volunteers.
We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 24th September

14.00 - 16.00  CEST

(Central European Summer Time)

Welcome

"An opening ceremony to bring together our hands, hearts, voices and spirits.

This is an opportunity to settle into our online space together, while we hear from each

representative and reconnect with the doula situation across Europe. We will be setting

intentions and participating in a ritual of connection to weave us together, so that although

we may be separated by distance, our hearts are joined in doula love.”

Hazel Acland Tree (UK)

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19.30 - 21.30  CEST

Oxytocin, Pain and Pleasure

Oxytocin, the subject of this talk, is a mysterious hormone produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the hypofyse. It gives us - humans- two totally opposite emotions - Pain and Pleasure..... Obstetrics has always been like a hobby to me, and after 25 years and more or less 8500 deliveries, every baby I witness being born produces a rise in mine and the mother's oxytocin levels. Let’s discover more about this essential hormone together!

Dr Firas Cha’ban (B)

 

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Saturday 25th September

10.00 - 12.00 CEST

Simultaneous workshops

Together for Respectful Birth

As a doula, you sometimes find yourself in situations where respect is hard to find. This can be very frustrating. When does it go too far? And, more importantly, what can you do in these situations? The Flemish organisation, 'Together for Respectful Birth' is there to put the spotlight on midwifery violence and to look, together with all parties involved, for ways to make respect for the birthing woman, her wishes and her family the norm. We are honoured to speak at this international congress. Doulas are an important part of the road to more respectful birth care for all. Parents and carers alike.

Sophie van Cauwelaert and Ruth Sneyers 

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Birthmatters

Lieve wants to talk with you about physiology, guidelines and the rights of women. These should go hand in hand to help mothers achieve a birth that makes both mother and baby healthy and strong. What are the barriers to making this work and where do we need a shift in our system?

A lot of our problems are universal and together we can discuss possible ways to create a better balance between what women need and the pressure that guidelines put on midwives and gynaecologists. How can we regain knowledge and experience in undisturbed birth?

How can doulas be involved and be part of this story?

Lieve Huybrechts 

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Giving Birth

Pregnancy and childbirth can be a liberating yet difficult experience that forces expectant parents to confront their belief systems.

A mother-to-be’s journey is shaped by her and her partner’s personal and collective beliefs. Importantly, this experience is also greatly influenced by the professional, cultural and social beliefs of those who care for the mother and child. These factors make birth work an interesting and challenging field.

“If a woman trusts herself, her body and the people around her,

if these people trust and support her,

and if she has a voice and a choice,

she can give birth anywhere - in a hospital, in a bath tub or in the desert, for that matter.”

Herman Buurman 

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Red Tent

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14.00 - 16.00 CEST

 Simultaneous workshops

Together for Respectful Birth

As a doula, you sometimes find yourself in situations where respect is hard to find. This can be very frustrating. When does it go too far? And, more importantly, what can you do in these situations? The Flemish organisation, 'Together for Respectful Birth' is there to put the spotlight on midwifery violence and to look, together with all parties involved, for ways to make respect for the birthing woman, her wishes and her family the norm. We are honoured to speak at this international congress. Doulas are an important part of the road to more respectful birth care for all. Parents and carers alike.

Sophie van Cauwelaert and Ruth Sneyers 

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Birthmatters

Lieve wants to talk with you about physiology, guidelines and the rights of women. These should go hand in hand to help mothers achieve a birth that makes both mother and baby healthy and strong. What are the barriers to making this work and where do we need a shift in our system?

A lot of our problems are universal and together we can discuss possible ways to balance better between what women need and the pressure that guidelines put on midwives and gynaecologists. How can we regain knowledge and experience in undisturbed birth?

How can doula’s be involved and be part of this story?

Lieve Huybrechts 

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Postnatal Support Network

The power of vulnerability: How postpartum support can impact social change.

Being born and giving birth are two of the most impactful events in our lives. In the first 6 weeks after birth, a new reality sets in for the life of a young mother and her family. Rest, recovery and bonding have the highest priority. However, this is not the experience for many. Feelings of hardship, loneliness and insecurity seem to be the norm during this recovery period.

It does not have to be this way!

Asking for help during this unique time in your life may invoke a social revolution. Within the nucleus of a young family, a well-informed support network can make all the difference. But knowing the kind of help, the expected attitude and what knowledge to bring, is of equal relevance and should be known to society at large.

This lecture from Ingrid Bal, chair of the international charity Postnatal Support Network, is about the power of vulnerability. We will experience the needs of a postpartum mother with roleplay and speak about what help is necessary to invoke the awareness needed for a healthy and relaxed start in life.

Ingrid Bal 

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Red Tent

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20.00 - 22.00 CEST

Red Tents

Simultaneous workshops

• Selfcare for doulas
• Storytelling
• Doula in Covid times

 

 

On July 7, 2021, the Doula Cloud Munich hosted its first "Erzählcafe" online where two women and a couple talked about their positive doula-assisted birth experiences.  

Alissia, Tanja and her husband and Tatjana emphasised the helpful presence of their doula in different birth settings such as at a home birth and clinic birth. The guests, as far away as from Greece and The Netherlands, had the chance to ask various questions such as how to find a doula, what's the service of a doula and why do I need a doula, even when I have a midwife.  
 
The answers showed clearly that all parturients felt more empowered and secure with a doula at her side, the continuous presence of the doula eased her pain and relaxed the partner, too.  
 
Each narrator was supported by a GfG doula moderator to take note of key words and statements on the spot. This makes the difference to a café chatting: a birth cafe is a participative and interactive method of autobiographical narration. Using this kind of self-reflection with personal statements also makes the difference to a setting of discussion or argumentation - or even a "Kaffeeklatsch", coffee morning. The warm and pleasant atmosphere gives the narrators space and confidence to speak freely and helps the listeners to concentrate on a special topic for a certain time. Each story gets its own specific appreciation and each narrator is also appreciated for her great commitment too.  
 
Hopefully we will open the Doula Cloud Erzählcafe again in winter! Many doula-supported women want to tell their sometimes beautiful, sometimes dramatic birth stories and are ready to answer more questions related to the benefits of doula service, even in pandemic times.
 
Please check the EDN facebook page for further information or contact g.simmert-genedy@gfg-bv.de. 

Annieck Rietbergen Alkemade has been connected with the EDN since the early years and was a doula for 15 years.



In the later years she volunteered as a doula in her local hospital:

 

Here is the dutch version, please click here for English.

 

Het geboorteverhaal van Chimamanda

 

The birth of Chimamanda