Will you keep wondering “what if”… or take the first step?

How many times have you caught yourself thinking, “One day I’ll…” or “I’ve always wanted to…”?

We tuck those thoughts away between busy days, family commitments, and everything else life throws at us. But they don’t go away.

They whisper.
Sometimes quietly. Sometimes insistently.

They show up in moments when you’re driving, walking the dog, folding the washing. Those little nudges that say:

• You could make a difference.
• You’d be brilliant at this.
• This could be the life you’ve been craving.

Becoming a doula so often begins as that whisper.

I’ve lost count of the number of people who tell me they’ve been thinking about it for months, years and sometimes even longer. They follow us online, read every email, look at the course dates… and then talk themselves out of it because “now isn’t the right time.”

And then one day, something shifts.

Six years of “what if”

A few weeks ago, I had the joy of welcoming “S” to one of our courses.

When we got chatting, we worked out (via an Instagram conversation she’d had with us) that she’d first reached out to Nurturing Birth six years ago.
Six. Years.

She’d felt the pull even back then - the sense that supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood was something she was meant to do. But life got busy. There were bills to pay, family to raise, commitments to keep. Each time she considered it, that whisper in her chest was drowned out by the practical noise of everyday life.

But the nudge never really left. It sat quietly in the background, waiting.

And then — finally — she said yes.

• She booked onto the course.
• She showed up.
• She brought her whole heart with her.

Watching her blossom during those days was incredible. She found her people. She stepped into a space that felt like home. She spoke openly about how it felt to be surrounded by others who “just get it.”

And at the end of the course, she said:

“I wish I’d done this years ago.”

Imagine where you could be

That sentence echoed in my head long after she left. Because the truth is, so many of us live with our “what ifs” for years. We tell ourselves we’ll wait for the perfect moment. When the kids are older, when work is calmer, when I have the money, when life finally slows down.

But here’s a little secret: that perfect moment rarely comes. Life is always full. There’s always a reason to wait.

Imagine if that lovely doula “S” had said yes six years ago.

Six years of experience supporting families.
Six years of building a business she loves.
Six years of growing in confidence and skill.
Six years of belonging to a warm, supportive doula community.

Of course, I’m thrilled she’s where she is now and that she finally gave herself permission to do the thing she’s been dreaming about. But I can’t help wondering how different those years might have looked if she’d trusted that first nudge back then.

The first step is often the hardest

Here’s the thing, you don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. You don’t need to know exactly how your future as a doula will unfold. Most of us didn’t.

What matters is taking that first step.

Because once you say yes, the energy shifts.
You start to see possibilities instead of obstacles.
You find people who understand you.
You start walking toward a life that’s meaningful, flexible, and yours.

What’s stopping you?

I know that saying yes can feel daunting. Maybe it’s money. Maybe it’s time. Maybe you’ve tried learning something new before and felt like it wasn’t for you. Maybe you’re wondering if you’ll be able to keep up, or whether this is even possible for someone like you.

Here’s the thing, at NB we see you. And we’ve built Nurturing Birth so that these barriers don’t have to stop you.

Financial support: We offer payment plans to help make training accessible and we also have some half scholarship places available.
Learning support: We welcome all learning types and abilities, including those who are neurodivergent or have learning differences. Our courses are designed to support every pace and style.
Practical and emotional support: From tech guidance to personal mentorship, from course materials to the weekly Virtual Cuppa, we make sure no one feels lost or left behind.
Community: You’ll never train alone. You’ll be part of a supportive, diverse network of doulas who are there to cheer you on.

Whatever’s holding you back, we have tools, structures, and a community in place to help you navigate it. You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to take that first step.

If this is your whisper…

If something in you lights up when you hear the word doula, that isn’t random. That’s your whisper. That’s your nudge. That’s the part of you that already knows this work matters.

Believe me, I know it can feel scary to say yes to something new (I was so scared to take over NB but I’ve never looked back) but if not now, when? Another year might pass. Or two. Or six. And you might still be thinking about it.

This story about “S” isn’t a cautionary tale - it’s a reminder that it’s never too late to start. But it’s also an invitation to ask yourself:

Will you keep wondering “what if”… or take the first step?