About Birthwise
Birthwise is a place for birth workers to learn, meet one another and deepen their practice. Here, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to offer thoughtful support to mothers and families through pregnancy, birth and the early weeks with their baby.
Caroline Devulder, co-founder, doula and educator, leads Birthwise. She shapes its vision, develops its courses and guides its growth, working alongside tutors who bring their own expertise and first-hand experience.
The face behind Birthwise
I’m Caroline. I’ve supported couples as a doula since 2016. Along the way, I’ve trained in hypnobirthing, pregnancy and postnatal massage, bodywork and closing rituals.
In my work, I see again and again what it means for a mother to feel heard, respected and supported. That experience is at the heart of what I want to share through Birthwise.
As a tutor and mentor, I want to help you put what you learn into practice when you’re supporting a family. Alongside hands-on skills, you’ll learn to listen, respond to each family’s needs and build trust. There’s room to discover who you are as a doula and how you want to do this work.
Today, I lead Birthwise with my own vision and everything I’ve learnt along the way. I continue to develop our courses with the needs of mothers, families and future doulas in mind.
What we stand for
Knowledge you can put into practice
Theory comes to life when you put it into practice. Our courses combine hands-on exercises, shared learning and examples from working with families. You’ll learn to stay present, communicate with care and support parents in making their own choices.
Working with care and professionalism
We update our courses as new insights emerge in birth work. You’ll explore your role, the boundaries of your practice and how to work with healthcare professionals. You’ll also learn how to build your own practice so you can get started with confidence.
Finding your own way
Every doula brings their own background, personality and strengths. At Birthwise, you have space to explore what you bring to this work and build on it. Personal and professional growth go hand in hand.
Connection and peer support
Doula work calls for real commitment. It helps to have colleagues you can turn to with a question, an experience to share or a need for support. We encourage an atmosphere of respect, openness and collaboration during your training and beyond.
Meet the team
The women who make Birthwise what it is
Anke
Verhulst
Anke has taught hypnobirthing since 2012 and has supported couples as a doula for many years. In 2021, she qualified as a midwife so she could also provide clinical care during pregnancy and birth. She teaches and mentors students on the doula training programme.
Caroline
Devulder
Caroline has worked full-time as a doula since 2016. She became a hypnobirthing teacher in 2020 to help couples prepare more fully for birth. She teaches and mentors students on the doula training programme.
Kathleen
Van Vaerenbergh
Kathleen began working as a birth photographer in 2017. She published the book Navelstreng and qualified as a doula in 2021. She draws on her marketing expertise and experience in birth work to support the Birthwise team and its doula students.
Marijke
Thoen
Marijke has been a professional birth photographer since 2008 and has won several international awards for her photographs. She works behind the scenes at Birthwise and teaches birth photography courses on the platform.
How it all began
Birthwise grew out of a shared passion for birth, parenthood and supporting families.
Caroline and Anke Verhulst met in 2016 at the international Less is More gathering in the Netherlands. They soon discovered they shared a vision. Drawing on their conversations, practical experience and a dream for the future, they created their first hypnobirthing course. In 2021, they founded Birthwise.
Anke left Birthwise in 2025. Her contribution remains part of the foundation on which Birthwise was built. Caroline now leads Birthwise into its next chapter.
Did you know?
Birthwise has held the BC9022 quality label since 2025. It recognises our high standards and our commitment to providing reliable, professionally taught courses grounded in expertise.
