Download our presentation "What is a doula ?" (pdf)

7th Doulas convention in Paris, May 8^th, 9^th and 10^th 2009
On line registration and program

Welcome!

Our aims is to promote and provide to parents continuous, physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy, labor and birth, and postpartum. We are also developing a network of doulas to share experiences, knowledge, support each other and improve birth conditions.
They are very few of us today in France. Most people still don't know what a doula is or does, while her role has been accepted in many other countries.

Women supported by a doula during labor have been shown to have:
. 50% reduction of cesarean rate
. 25% shorter labor
. 60% reduction in epidural requests
. 30% reduction in analgesia use
. 40% reduction in forceps delivery
From The Doula Book : How a Trainer Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth
Second edition by Marshall, Phyllis Klaus and John Kennell (Perseus Press, 2002)

We believe that today doulas are part of the answer to birth issues in our country, together with making the parents voices heard. We're all working towards making labor support becoming a reality in France.

The Association Doulas de France aims are to promote and provide to parents continuous, physical, emotional and educational support during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period. We are also developing a network of doulas to share experiences, knowledge, support each other and improve conditions around childbirth.
We have over 185 members (2008).

Furthermore we endeavour to:
. support and inform women and parents, respecting their choices and their culture
. facilitate the mother-baby relationship
. highlight the necessity to respect the fundamental needs of the mother and the child
. promote the physiological process in childbirth and breastfeeding
. help prevent maternal difficulty, post-natal depression, ill treatment, to minimise their impact on the whole family
. support and create networks in the doula field
. encourage women to women support
. provide a going back to work opportunity for women

The members of the committee are all co-chairs. They are women who, since 2003, work on a voluntary basis. New members have since joined the team to help with specific projects and tasks of the Association.

If you wish to participate in this website, or if you have any questions please contact us : info@doulas.info.
Please allow for some delay in getting an answer as we do it on a volunteer basis.

Doulas conventions

. 7th Doulas convention in Paris, May 8^th, 9^th and 10^th 2009

On line registration and program

. 4th Doula convention in Paris, 2006 : Passing On Childbirth Tales

Report and pictures - Program

The European Doula Guide

In January 2006, the Association Doulas de France created a discussion list to link up all doulas throughout Europe. In 2007 we though it would be of interest to publish an accurate report on the European situation: number of organisations, number of practicing doulas, their activites and their statistics, the type of courses on offer ...
With The European Doula Guide, available to all, not only it will be easier to inform and to facilitate networking between organisations, parents, health professionals, government funded institutions but it will also help to the creation of a European Doula Organisation and a core training course.

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