The doula training I received from Valerie and Nurturing Birth in 2008 was absolutely world class. It was educational, inspiring, and well organised, with excellent supporting material. Additionally, the post-course support had been superb. Valerie has supported me as a doula in both Malta and the USA, and I have total confidence that I would be able to turn to her with any doula-related issues I had, no matter where I was in the world.
K.C. - 2008 - Seattle, USA

I always say that women who become good Doulas have, some how, always been Doulas in the way they have cared for others throughout their lives. Directly or indirectly. Sometimes the journey takes a long time and for me it took about 40 years and two children but when I made the decision to become a professional Doula I looked at various courses and had to make a choice. NB stood out by far for the following reasons:
- NB replied to my initial email in a matter of hours.
- NB responded to all of my questions on the phone in a very personalised manner.
- NB did NOT talk about what the others didn’t offer in order to make themselves look better.
- NB offers a very comprehensive package including: a preparation reading list, a great professional and confidential course, a very useful Hand Book, An Online Forum and follow up and on-going professional development courses.
- NB’s management is always available in tricky times and when emergency questions arise.
So over all NB was the perfect Organisation to give me the confidence to go ahead but also to support me throughout my professional life as a Doula. I feel that I was not just another trainee but welcomed into a caring and supportive group of Doulas. Ew
I do thank NB and especially Valerie for being so supportive and also so creative in her Business.
F.E-J. 2007 - U.K.

I trained with Valerie and her team of wise women in 2006. I was drawn to Valerie because she wasn't the slightest bit bothered that I didn't have kids (this was at a time when everybody else had "doula training for mothers and grandmothers" plastered all over their websites). My course was quite an education; we learnt and discussed birth physiology, factors that can help or hinder birth, breastfeeding, and also learnt about ourselves as future doulas- what were we bringing to the doula-client relationship and the birthing room? I picked up lots of practical tips, and not just about being a doula, we also covered the importance of how to take care of yourself as a doula. I left the course with my mind buzzing and my heart thumping, I was hooked! The support I've received since the course has been invaluable; being able to reach out to so many experienced doulas on the forum has meant that I'm only ever a few clicks away from support and information. Being a doula is a wonderful 'job', and I'll always be grateful to Valerie and her team for getting me started on my journey.
M.V 2006 - New York, USA

Having the chance to completing “Birth and postnatal doula course” in Hammersmith (2008) and meeting Valerie, was one the most fulfilling experiences, as it gave me passion and desire to grow in knowledge and understanding. Since then I have devoted myself to this calling. Greece as a country is a new field to these practices (even though “doula” is a Greek word) and my goal is to inform women about doula services".
F. Y. 2008 - Athens, Greece

Fancy coming on a doula course? words I never thought I would hear!! as a midwife/health visitor from the UK who has moved to Dubai UAE I never thought of or even considered training to become a doula. Yet the doula course with Nurturing birth - was and has been my "saving grace" and has rekindle my desire and passion to work with pregnant woman and their families. I left the UK burnt out, tired, uninspired,. believing I would never return to work in the world of birth again. Now here I am now entering my 4th year as a doula - offering doula services, placenta encapsulation services, hypnobirthing classes and breastfeeding support. I loved doing my doula training with Nurturing Birth, I loved meeting with and becoming friends with some of the most amazing, inspirational and fantastic women I have had the great privilege of knowing, working with and calling my friends. The support Valerie and her team offer is fantastic it is so comforting to know if I ever need to ask a question, share my thoughts that I can contact her or someone else to download to, this is particular important when you work in another country!! The other major advantage of the Nurturing birth course is the members forum were more experienced doulas are always there to help and also offer great advice or support or both!! If you are considering doing the Nurturing Birth course go for it! We now have a strong growing community of doulas in the Middle East mostly trained by Nurturing Birth, it is amazing to think that 4 years ago there was maybe 2 doulas here!! now we have over 90 members on our DOMES - Doulas of the Middle East face book community (closed group). All I will say now is thank you to Valerie and her team who had a vision for birth on an international level and where the first to offer doula training in Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Doha/Bahrain.
You really have nothing to lose but everything to gain from becoming a doula - if you have a passion for birth, for working with pregnant women and their families, then go on change your life and you may change the lives of others.
E.B. 2008- Dubai UAE.

I trained with Valerie whilst I was living in Dubai. I was very new to the world of Doula training but Valerie made it all so easy and most of all encouraged my knowledge and passion for being a doula with her own very inspiring and influential style. Her great wealth of experience both as a doula and trainer and the course materials provided gave me all the confidence i needed to set up my doula business and start practising right away. As a mentor she is always available and genuinely cares and is interested in your progress. She's also a lot of fun!
Now living in Canada, i have found my training with Valerie to be just as valid for the market here. It really has given me the solid grounding and tools to practice anywhere in the world.
N.U. 2009 - Toronto, Canada

Would I, as a mother have Valerie with me as a doula ? - Absoultely! Would I listen intently and learn form her as a trainer? Of course. Would I work alongside her as a facilitator? - I have and it was an honour! We are now in different countries but I have taken my love and respect for Valerie's work with me. I take her words into every birthing room I enter. Thank you Valerie for your inspiration, dedication and wisdom.
T.K. - Mexico.

I have found the skills I learnt on my Nurturing Birth Doula course in 2008 to be a thorough and inspiring grounding for my journey as a doula. Valerie and her team are knowledgeable, experienced, pragmatic and principled, and provide an excellent service. I particularly found the mentoring approach through certification to be of value in developing my thinking and approach to life and work as a doula, and Valerie was very mindful of the differences between practices in the UK and elsewhere around the world.
N.P. - The Netherlands/Dubai

I had never even heard the word DOULA when I saw an advertisement for the course, by the time I had googled, I was certain it would be a great job for me. The whole experience of the course was fabulous, the atmosphere and ambience was such a good feeling. It was a lot to take in, and although I had felt that I knew a lot about childbirth and the whole process of birthing a baby, I was blown away by the amount of new facts, ideas and experiences I heard and learnt about. Since becoming a doula I have never looked back, I have had the opportunity to witness some beautiful amazing births. I feel confident in my ability to support a mum through birthing her baby, and have learnt something new each time. I work in the Middle East, where most of my Doula Mums and Dads have no family or close friends around, and having a good relationship with their doula is key. We are a small doula group here in the UAE, so I particularly like the fact that even after a couple of years, I am well supported by the Nurturing Birth community, I can draw on the experience of all the other NB doulas and trainers, there is always someone available to help and support me with any questions I may have, and even if it is a case of having someone to tell my stories to, it’s a huge benefit to me. I have the ongoing opportunity to develop my doula skills and knowledge with Nurturing Birth, and it seems that as more people hear about being supported by a doula, more people realise what a huge difference it makes when you have this kind of help and encouragement through their pregnancy and the birthing of their baby.
J.M. 2009 - Abu Dhabi

Three years later, I am as passionate about the training and support I received from Nurturing Birth, as the day I completed my Birth & Postnatal Doula workshop.
To continue your journey as a Doula you need support and guidance from experienced Doulas, an evidenced based training and opportunities to discuss your concerns and aspirations. You will receive all this from Valerie and her dedicated team of trainers plus an online forum which includes research, Doula opportunities, workshops, birth & postnatal stories and a safe place to support one another as Doulas and as women.

My Doula journey continues in Canada and the training and guidance I received from Nurturing Birth has been key to my development as a Birth & Postnatal Doula.
M. H. 2008 - Ottawa, Canada

The initial training with Nurturing Birth was inspiring, informative and in my opinion essential for anyone embarking on the beautiful Doula journey. The support of the forum was beyond my expectations. It is like being welcomed into a huge family and being constructively supported throughout my career.
M.M. 2008 - UK

The NB course opened my eyes to an immensely emotive world- I signed up for the course thinking I would walk away knowing about natural childbirth and how to support women but I came away with so much more.

From learning the fundamentals behind the birthing process, the hormones and the animalistic nature in which women were designed to give birth, to learning truly how to listen and advocate for your client, the course became a stepping stone for wanting to know more. A doula's learning journey never ends, and Valerie and her fantastic team laid the perfect foundations for building on.

The course also covered some of the more alternative (for lack of a better word) movements in the birthing/parenting world, such as placental encapsulation, lotus birthing, attachment parenting and elimination communication. Other topics covered included the plethora of different parenting styles, nappies, slings, and of course, breastfeeding.

But when you finish the course, you are not left floundering. The NB community is alive and strong in the form of a popular forum for those doulas who have completed the course. The support of very experienced doulas is available at almost any hour if you need it.

Overall, this course taught me much more about birthing and parenting. It taught me about the strength of a woman and what can be achieved when we come together to support each other.
C.O. 2010 - UK

Such an inspirational course. I found it very intense and it brought a lot of issues regarding my own birth experiences to the fore front but I was supported to work through these, helping me feel that I could work as a doula more unconditionally. The course was very comprehensive and packed full of information and research to back it up, I was encouraged to look at the birth process in a way I never had before and challenge my beliefs. Since I completed this course, I have found the support to be second to none. Any questions I have had are replied to by email or telephone very promptly and the forum has become like a second family to me.
L.H. 2008 - UK

The reason I chose the NB training course was it covered both the Birth & Postnatal aspect of being a doula. What I loved most was that Valerie talked her talk and walked her walk. Her commitment doesn't end the day you walk away from the course as still 6 years later I know she is there for me, a shoulder to cry on or needing some advice at any time she always listens and helps in anyway she can.
C.O. 2005 -UK

Once I made the decision to go ahead with the doula training, I had to find a provider to meet the following criteria:
- affordability;
- frequent sessions so as to suit my needs;
- short course over a maximum of three continuous days in order to minimize travel expenses;
- post-course support;
- professional advice on how to set a doula business.

I found all this and more when I came across Nurturing Birth. Valerie replied promptly to all of my emails and calls and sounded not only knowledgeable but also very approachable and friendly.
The training was thoroughly enjoyable and educational. The post-course support from the trainers is continuous and the life-long membership to the doula forum that is offered to all who train with Nurturing Birth cannot be underestimated: it makes this provider to stand out from others.
Doula who trained in 2010 - UK

I cannot recommend the Nurturing Birth doula training highly enough. I trained in October 2007 and found the training to be very thorough, without feeling overwhelming. The Course manual and reading list were wonderful and gave me fantastic grounding to start to on my journey of learning more and more! But I do think that they best thing about training with Nurturing Birth is the after course support. As soon as I was finished my post course module I was assigned a mentor who genuinely was always there to discuss, answer question, offer suggestions and chat. I never felt thrown in with no where to turn as as well as my Mentor Valerie, there was Kicki my wonderful course trainer and all the other ‘womb wise women’ on the forum too. And of course all the other mentored and certified doulas who are always there to allow you to debrief, ask questions, and gather suggestions.
I also found the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) run by Nurturing Birth to be useful, reasonably priced and easily accessible and I have had inquiries through the Doula Directory.
I am so pleased I chose Nurturing Birth to train me as a doula and can honestly say that I feel that they have supported me for the last 4 years more than I could possibly have expected.
S.B. 2007 - UK

Having recently completed the Nurturing Birth doula training course I am full of praise. The course content was fantastic, plenty of opportunity to engage with the materials and look in depth at the many issues surrounding pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. All the communication from Nurturing Birth has been recieved promptly and has always been concise. The ongoing support I've recieved from Valerie since completing my training, comfirms that I made the rigt decison to train with Nurturing Birth.
R.B. 2011 - UK