Doulas on the Way
My experience as a doula trainer in Tbilisi
In early August 2024, I was in Tbilisi as a guest teacher for a doula training program to teach new doulas to be. Nino Berdznishvili, a clinical psychologist, instructor, and doula who founded the Caucasus-Asia Doula Association (CADA), invited me a couple of months ago to be a guest instructor and visit Tbilisi for her association’s doula training. She has started doula trainings in Georgia, based in Tbilisi, with the goal of cultivating new doulas in Georgia, as the doula profession is relatively new there.
Before visiting Tbilisi, I had two online classes with this group of new doulas-to-be. In our first class, we talked about the role of a doula. We discussed the roles and responsibilities of a doula, their communication style, how to become a doula, and the significance of the inner-self journey. In the second session, we talked about interaction with the medical staff and the boundaries between each profession involved in birth. These two sessions were more theoretical parts of the course.
In August, I was on the way for an in-person session to teach these new doulas on the way. During this two-day session, we thoroughly covered all the doula support techniques in a cozy and comfortable setting. Doula support techniques require practice and implementation; therefore, having in-person sessions is crucial in an ideal doula training.
A brief information about the doula trainings around the world
Currently, there are various types of doula training available around the world. Some doula trainings are available online, some are conducted in-person, and some are hybrid, combining both methods. Some give certification and some don’t. Some are as short as 4 days, while some last a year. Some are local, and some are international. Recently, the International Childbirth Initiative hosted a webinar on the differences in doula training around the world. As part of this webinar, we, as the European Doula Network, presented on the doula trainings in Europe, drawing on data from our own surveys and the trainings of our members.
What excited me the most in this journey?
1. To see news and excited doulas
The attention and questions I received filled me with excitement. I sensed the doula energy and the willingness of these women to serve and remind other women of their inner power. It was also fascinating to see how surprised they were as we progressed through the techniques and learned what doulas really do.
2. The physical existence in the same room, the power of the touch while teaching.
It was amazing to be able to show the practices in person and encourage people to try them with each other.
3. To remember that birth is universal
I love to see how universal the births are as I work with expat couples living in Turkey. I felt it all over again while teaching in a foreign country. Although our world is international, birth is universal.
4. To be visiting a neighboring country that I have never been before
This was my first time in both Georgia and this city. Although I did some research before visiting there, I didn’t know much about Tbilisi. I instantly loved the city center once I saw it. It has an architectural texture. I arrived one day before the training, so I had time to discover the city on my first day. I walked around in the city center and discovered all the amazing and famous spots, from Liberty Square to Clock Tower.
5. Nino’s hospitality
In the afternoon and evening, I was with my doula friend Nino. She showed me around, took me to a beautiful hill and park. She hosted me so well throughout my stay. She was amazing. She showed me so many things in this little time I had, not only the first day but also the following day after the classes. The Georgian food is amazing, and I had the chance to try many of them thanks to her. And of course I tasted, the great wine with many varieties.
6. The enthusiastic approach of the interpreter
Our lovely translator, who herself is a psychologist, showed a lot of interest in the course while translating all my speech to the trainees. For me, this was an unexpected benefit of teaching. The doula profession is still not very well known in some countries, and having attention and interest is inspirational.
Doula Supporting Techniques
Doulas use complementary methods. We also call them non-medical pain relief methods. We have lots of tools to help the mothers feel more comfortable, calm, and peaceful. We use our own nervous system and tools to regulate the laboring mother.
In the basic doula training, there is generally an overview and practical information about these methods. This depends on the content and duration of the training. In the trainings I got as a birth doula (Childbirth International and Istanbul Birth Academy), they were pretty comprehensive and covered these techniques. However, as a doula, if you would like to get deeper about these techniques, learn more, and use them more efficiently, you need to take individual trainings about each one of them. That’s what I choose to do. That gives me the opportunity to use them widely and also teach them to new students.
While I was teaching in Tbilisi, I prepared a combination of my knowledge and my experience.
I would like to mention here that the most important skill of a doula is ‘to-be’ rather than using lots of techniques. That’s why they are supporting techniques. Sometimes they can be used to make the birth more comfortable, and sometimes you just be present, protect the mother’s space to give birth to her baby.
Some of my lovely attendees, Nino and me
European Doula Network connecting doulas
This amazing two-day-long session could have happened because of the power of EDN. I met Nino at the EDN 2024 Conference in Madrid. As we participated in the conference, the breaks, lunches, and dinners allowed us, all doulas, to get to know each other. We shared and discussed our work. We wouldn’t have known each other and each other’s work if we weren’t there. This is the true meaning of a network: connecting people.
I believe international exchange of information and experience is so precious. I love teaching and passing on my knowledge and experience. I look forward to visiting Tbilisi again soon, possibly for the next training.
