Nurturing Birth has been providing doula training courses in the UK and beyond since 2004, starting the journeys and supporting the development of nearly 3000 doulas. Since the start of 2014 Nurturing Birth has been owned and run by Florence Etienne-Jackson and Sophie Brigstocke, both experienced birth and postnatal doulas, who have been facilitating the doula courses for over 5 years. Florence and Sophie are supported by an incredible team of doulas, mentors and professionals in the pregnancy, birth and parenting worlds, and are proud partners of Wise Hippo and BabyCalm.
Florence Etienne-Jackson
Florence is a recognised Birth and Postnatal Doula. She is a Breastfeeding Buddy having undertaken various breastfeeding support programmes. Florence is one of only a few trained Lamaze International childbirth educators practicing in the UK and is working towards her final exam.
Having worked for 10 years in a Sure Start programme prior to becoming a Doula, she has plenty of experience working with Midwives, Health visitors and Social workers. Her valuable experience of working in partnership with parents to be and the NHS has proved very useful when advocating women’s choices in childbirth and building and maintaining positive relationship with the medical team.
Florence runs a monthly Home Birth Support Group and Positive Birth Movement Group and is passionate about the benefits of using water during childbirth as well as the power of breathing as a natural way of coping during the birth journey.
Florence is originally from France and speaks both French and English fluently. She now lives in the Worcestershire where she shares her life with her husband, two children and dog, Lily.
Sophie Brigstocke
Sophie is a birth and postnatal doula, Doula Mentor at Doula UK, Breastfeeding Supporter and Baby Massage Teacher. She was awarded “Doula of the Year” at MaMa Conference, 2017.
Sophie started working with mums and babies in 2004 when she trained as a baby massage teacher with Peter Walker, something she regularly teaches with busy courses around SW London. She also trained as a Therapeutic Massage Practitioner at the London College of Massage, specialising in Pregnancy and Post-Natal treatments. She offers Closing the Bones postnatal massage and ceremony to new mothers, as well as babywearing support.
Sophie became a Breastfeeding Network Peer Helper in 2011 and is currently training as a National Breastfeeding Helpline volunteer and BFN Supporter. She volunteers on the postnatal wards of St Thomas’s Hospital, London. She is on the Maternity Forum for St George’s Hospital, Tooting, and on two of the South West London Collaborative Commissioning pioneer work streams looking at improving choice and personalisation of maternity services nationally, as well as focussing on improving continuity of care. Finally, she is still trying to complete her online Childbirth International Antenatal Teacher Training course!
Sophie lives in Clapham, SW London, with her two gorgeous kids Alfie and Emily, and her equally wonderful cats, Frank and Lily. When she isn’t thinking about pregnancy, birth and parenting she can usually be found singing, at the theatre, eating dark chocolate or in a bikram yoga class!
