BACKGROUND:
The European Doula Network (EDN) launched the multilingual Feedback on Doula Support (FODS) surveys to explore perinatal healthcare professionals’ experiences with doula support. In many settings, doulas are an under-integrated yet valuable part of maternity care. This research aims to inform respectful collaboration within woman-centered care.

OBJECTIVES:
To assess how midwives and other professionals perceive the benefits and challenges of working with doulas, and to identify strategies for more effective collaboration.

METHODS:
The FODS I Pilot Study (2023), created with DONA International and the ICEA, collected qualitative data on key questions. Responses were tagged and analysed to identify recurring themes. These insights informed the design of FODS II, a quantitative survey (May–October 2025). Surveys were in multilingaul and distributed online and at international conferences including Midwifery Today (Bad Wildbad), FIGO (2023/2025), EBCOG, ECIC and EFPC.

RESULTS:
By June 2025, over 70% of respondents to FODS II were midwives. Over 90% had experience working alongside doulas. Of these, 65% rated doula support as very/extremely beneficial for women and families, and 60% saw similar benefits for clinical teams. Key FODS I findings revealed doulas provide crucial emotional support and improve communication but also highlighted recurring challenges, especially lack of role clarity and inconsistent collaboration. Top recommendations included promoting dialogue between doula and medical associations, including collaboration in training, and organising joint meetings.

CONCLUSIONS:
Doulas are valued by midwives, yet improved dialogue between midwives and doulas is needed. Mutual education and policy-level support could improve team cohesion and care.

KEY MESSAGE:
Strengthening midwife-doula collaboration through education, dialogue, and structural integration is key to advancing respectful, woman-centered care worldwide. Poster session 2 (Group A)