11/02/2026
Childbirth support is not about “preferences”.
It is about safety, continuity and informed care.
Some time ago, I was interviewed by BRUZZ, to talk about the role of doulas in maternity care.
One fact stood out clearly in that conversation:
between 10% and 30% of women report childbirth as a traumatic experience — not necessarily because something went medically wrong, but because they were not informed, not asked for consent, or not emotionally supported during critical moments.
This is where the work of a doula is often misunderstood.
A doula does not replace midwives or doctors.
A doula does not make medical decisions.
A doula provides continuity, presence and translation — emotional, physical and sometimes linguistic — in a system that is under pressure and fragmented.
In hospital settings, care is often excellent but discontinuous.
Different professionals rotate, priorities shift rapidly, and the woman is expected to repeatedly explain her wishes while in a vulnerable physiological state.
My role is to remain with the woman:
to help her stay regulated and informed
to support consent-based communication
to reduce unnecessary stress responses that directly impact labour progress
Research has already shown that continuous support during labour is associated with:
fewer medical interventions
lower cesarean rates
shorter labours
better maternal satisfaction
This is not ideology.
It is not “natural birth vs hospital birth”.
It is care quality.
In a multilingual and multicultural city like Brussels, this support becomes even more relevant.
Language, culture and trust directly affect how safe a woman feels — and safety is not optional in childbirth.
Doula care is not a luxury.
It is a response to a structural gap in maternity systems.
And when women feel seen, informed and supported, outcomes change — clinically and psychologically. (https://www.bruzz.be/actua/gezondheid/een-doula-voor-zwangere-vrouwen-ceremoniemeesters-van-de-bevalling-2024-04-11)
