About Rachael

“The strongest medicine we can give new parents is a good night's rest.”

Rachael Gelineau

Postpartum Doula, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant (CPSC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)

Rachael first experienced the wonder of supporting someone during birth was as a teenager, when she was invited by her mother to be present at the birth of her two youngest sisters. From that point on she was fascinated by birth, but even more so drawn to the postpartum period and the way a family's story is written in those early days. It wasn’t until she was in her early twenties that she discovered that her passion was also a profession, and from that moment on she was fully committed to becoming a Doula.

Over the last decade Rachael has supported dozens of families through the journey that is birth and the postpartum period. It is those early months, where a family truly comes into their own, that she is the most strongly called to support. Her favorite way to do so is offering overnight support, allowing new parents to get much needed sleep so the entire family can thrive. Each family has taught her something valuable and opened her eyes to new ideas to help parents navigate those early months. A year spent as an LNA on the Mother/Baby unit at UVMMC helped give her further understanding about the support needed immediately postpartum, especially when navigating breast/chestfeeding challenges.

Rachael trained as a Postpartum Doula through both Doula Trainings International and Birth Arts International, which has given her an excellent knowledge base that has been built upon with years of experience. In addition to her training as a Doula she is a Certified Lactation Counselor through the Healthy Children's Project, which means she is able to offer hands-on, evidence based breast/chest feeding and pumping support to help families feed their babies in whatever way works best for them. She has also attended Postpartum Support International's Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder conference which has been instrumental in helping her understand how to help families navigate a variety of struggles that can arise after having their little ones. She has a particular love of helping families with multiples, and has extensive experience with twins. Rachael has certified as a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant through the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management and supports families both in person and virtually in her role as a sleep consultant.

Rachael lives in Essex with her husband, two sons, and a menagerie of house cats. They can often be found hiking, playing tabletop roleplaying games, and participating in the local branch of a historical reenactment society.