When expectant mum and former cleaner Amber Chique found herself nine months pregnant, sore, swollen and still deep in the throes of the nesting urge, she realised there was a gap in the market, and a calling close to her heart. What began as a frustrating search for a cleaner who truly understood the needs of mothers-to-be soon became Nest & Nurture, a gentle, purpose-driven cleaning service designed to support mums through pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. Blending practicality with care, Amber has turned cleaning into an act of nurture, offering homes a fresh start and mums a moment to breathe. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
During my pregnancy, I had the nesting urge hard. Like scrubbing the walls, taking apart the bathroom exhaust fan, using a magnifying glass to search for a single speck of dust hard. Once I got to 40 weeks and still no baby, I was in that crazy nesting everything-must-be-spotless mode, but I was swollen and sore with chronic pain, sciatica and a belly I just couldn’t move out of the dang way. I contacted a cleaner for a full deep clean and had everything laid out, but once the cleaner came and went, it was more of a weight on my shoulders and my pockets were a few hundred dollars lighter. So, there I was, heavily pregnant on my hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom grout with a grudge bigger than the Grinch’s.
Then I began thinking… what if there was a cleaning service just for expecting mums? I was a cleaner before, so I already had the skills and know-how. I started to search around and there wasn’t a business like the one I had in mind. So, what the hell? Why not me!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I had previously run a residential cleaning business but felt something was missing. It wasn’t aligned with my values or the kinds of clients I wanted to serve. After having my second baby and going through the mess of looking for cleaners for myself, I decided to reimagine what a cleaning service could be: soft, supportive, intentional. I chatted with my main support people: Mum (of course, who else?), my husband and my doula. They gave me the confidence I needed to just go for it. A logo, an Instagram post and a leap of faith later I was all set to go.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Understanding that cleaning can be a form of care work was a huge shift. After the traumatic birth of my first baby, I began looking into doulas and I found the most wonderful gal ever. I was opened to a whole different world of support work and holistic care practices. It was exactly what I always wanted to do and experience (without the gore, I’m too squeamish). I realised that what was always missing from my previous business venture was a purpose. I had found a purpose. I didn’t want to be a “normal” cleaner; I wanted to lean into my strengths – rituals, warmth, aesthetic and storytelling. The Sacred Nest package, which includes deep cleaning, light organising and sage smudging for spiritual clearing has been a standout and is now my third baby.
Yin and yang: How do you balance work and family?
I dunno, you tell me. Please!
Mostly, it’s a three-ring circus but I try to let my business support my life and not the other way around. I only take on what’s manageable with my health and my little ones in mind. I’ve learned that slowness and softness are business strategies, too.
