Most people don’t think about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum through the lens of the baby.

Birth Doula Rachel Bernhard holding newborn baby wrapped in blanket outside of NYC home.
Close up image of newborn baby toes while sleeping on birth doula's lap.

Birth Doula Support

As a birth doula, I work with parents who deeply respect and honor their baby’s experience of being born.

Through our partnership during one of life's most profound transformations, you will gain a deep understanding of how physiological birth works, while I guide you in making intuitive choices that honor yourself, your baby, and your partnership.

New mother breastfeeding baby with support from a birth doula.

If we choose to work together, I will walk alongside you through every stage of your journey, beginning in the first trimester and continuing through the fourth trimester. Preparing for birth also means preparing for a supported and successful postpartum period.


As a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner, I can offer tools and guidance on balancing your own needs alongside high-nurture care for your baby, while navigating one of early parenthood's most talked-about topics: sleep.

Our society has largely lost touch with what it means to honor the mother-baby dyad throughout one of life's most sacred experiences. Often, the advice we receive from our own mothers is rooted in the low-nurture approaches common during their generation.

Today, we have more knowledge about birth, infant development, and maternal well-being than ever before, and we know far more about what mothers and babies need

to thrive!

By working together…

We Can Transform This Season of Life


From what is often described as a stressful and sleep-deprived season into one grounded in confidence, connection, wonder, and awe!

A deeper understanding of your baby, your body, and your feeding rhythm

The toes of a baby, who's mom did virtual 1:1 sleep coaching with Rachel Bernhard.
A mother holds her baby after a virtual sleep coaching session with Rachel Bernhard.

Gentle Sleep Support for You and Your Baby

Sleep in early infancy is not something to be forced or trained, it is something that unfolds through safety, connection, and nervous system regulation. My priority is keeping the mother and baby together.

You Do Not Have To Choose Between Responsiveness & Rest.

A mother holds her baby after a 1:1 sleep consult virtual session with Rachel Bernhard.
A baby plays in a playpen after his mother had a virtual sleep support session with Rachel Bernhard in Monterey.

In this 1:1 consultation, we look beyond schedules and strategies to understand your baby as a whole person. Their sleep is a reflection of their developing brain, their environment, and their need for closeness.

Together, we will gently explore what is underneath your baby’s sleep patterns and create a plan that supports more rest, without asking you to ignore your instincts or your baby’s cues.

What We Can Support

  • Frequent night waking

  • Short naps or catnapping

  • Contact sleep and transitions

  • Bed-sharing or room sharing questions

  • Overtiredness and overstimulation

  • Creating rhythms that feel natural

A mother holds her baby after a 1:1 sleep consult and virtual sleep coaching session.

What makes this different

This is not sleep training. There is no cry it out, no rigid schedules, and no expectation that your baby should sleep independently before they are ready.

instead, we focus on:

Nervous system regulation, yours and your baby’s

Biologically normal infant sleep

Building sleep through connection and co-regulation

Supporting you in feeling confident and grounded

The toes of a baby, who's mom had a virtual 1:1 sleep consult with Rachel Bernhard.

What you’ll leave with

The most important thing for babies is to be deeply nurtured. Their nervous systems are shaped through connection and co-regulation. When mothers are supported and regulated, they can offer the calm presence that allows their babies to feel safe and thrive. I believe that breastfeeding and cosleeping are two essential pillars that support this regulation during infancy.

A mother nurses her newborn with the help of Rachel Bernhard's virtual 1:1 breastfeeding support.

Feeding Your Baby with Trust and Ease

Breastfeeding is more than nutrition, it is regulation, communication, and connection. And while it is natural, it is not always easy.

In this 1:1 consultation, you will receive gentle, personalized support that meets you exactly where you are, whether you are just beginning, navigating challenges, or wanting to deepen your confidence in your feeding relationship.

We approach breastfeeding through both a physiological and nervous system lens, honoring your baby’s cues while supporting your body and experience as a mother.

A mother confidently nurses his baby with 1:1 breastfeeding support from breastfeeding consultant Rachel Bernhard.

What We Can Support

  • Latch and positioning guidance

  • Pain or discomfort while feeding

  • Concerns about milk supply

  • Cluster feeding and frequent feeding patterns

  • Bottle introduction, if desired

  • Balancing feeding with sleep and daily rhythms

  • Emotional overwhelm or uncertainty around feeding


we focus on

  • Understanding your baby’s cues and communication

  • Supporting your nervous system during feeds

  • Protecting the breastfeeding relationship without rigidity

  • Helping you feel calm, confident, and informed


A deeper understanding of your baby, your body, and your feeding rhythm, so you can move forward with clarity, trust, and ease.

you’ll leave with

Whether you are navigating sleep, feeding, or both…

This Is A Space To Be Supported, Guided, and Gently Brought Back To Your Intuition.