About Rachel Richards

I am honored to specialize in helping new parents navigate the first weeks and months of life with their precious newborns! As a certified postpartum night doula and newborn care specialist, I have extensive training and experience in everything to do with newborn care from lactation support to infant sleep. You can rest assured you will have an experienced and capable set of extra hands on your side to support you through anything that might come up during the exciting and sometimes challenging time of the fourth trimester.

As a resident of beautiful Felton, when not assisting families and caring for newborns, I can be found hiking or volunteering in the nature store of the Henry Cowell State Park. Currently serving all of Santa Cruz County, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale and other nearby communities.

Contact

Email: nightdoula@proton.me

Night Doula Services

$60/hour in Santa Cruz County
$65/hour for the Bay Area and Monterey
Discounted hourly rate available based on hours booked per night

*Available for occasional daytime newborn care for postpartum night doula clients on a case by case basis

A baby lying on a white pillow, wrapped in a gray blanket with turquoise trim, smiling with open eyes.

Newborn Care

From recommendations for the nursery setup and providing resources for new parents to providing expert overnight newborn care, your night doula can be an invaluable resource and companion for those first weeks of life with your sweet baby.

As a full-time night doula, I am available up to 7 nights a week for 8-10 hours per night to care for your newborn so you can get much needed rest. I can also be available to help with daytime newborn care for occasional needs that arise.

Woman breastfeeding a baby at home, smiling and looking at the camera.

Lactation & Infant Feeding

I have completed over 100 hours of training in lactation support through both the Healthy Children’s Project and Lactation Education Resources giving me a thorough understanding of how to support new parents with establishing a strong foundation in order to maintain breast/chest-feeding for whatever length of time they desire for their family.

I also have resources to assist with choosing the best infant formulas for your baby if needed and with the safest way to prepare and store formula for formula-feeding families. 

Woman holding a newborn baby on a purple table in an indoor setting.

Bodywork

I am a certified massage therapist and Craniosacral Fascial Therapy practitioner.

Included as part of my night doula services, I offer CFT and infant massage to infants as needed and shoulder/neck massages to birthing parents as requested.

Testimonials

“From the moment she arrived, Rachel demonstrated professionalism, deep knowledge, and a calm presence that put us all at ease. I had no issues trusting her with our baby overnight, allowing me much needed rest through the first weeks of recovery.”
— Jeanine D.
“Rachel is outstanding ... her calm presence was an instant balm for us and for our infant. We felt so at ease leaving our child in her care.”
— April L.
“Rachel consistently goes above and beyond by providing us with valuable educational resources and advice. Rachel not only looks out for our baby, but also my well-being as his mother.”
— Kristen B.

Qualifications

  • BA in Psychology

  • Certified Postpartum Doula - BEST Doula Training

  • Certified Massage Therapist

  • Trustline Certified - Background check proof

  • CPR/First Aid certified for infants 

  • Newborn Care Specialist and Infant Nanny Training  - Gentle Ventures

  • Certified Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Practitioner for adults and infants

  • Newborn Sleep Education - First 14 Weeks - Sleepwonders 

  • Newborn Sleep Education - Professional Course - Sleepwonders

  • Pediatric Sleep Workshop - Harvest Moon Sleep School

  • Lactation Management for Doulas - Lactation Education Resources

  • Qualified Provider for Carrot reimbursement