About Us
Rachel Leyland, CD (Dona), CVD(TVL)
Certified Birth Doula • Childbirth Educator • Perinatal Coach • Mama of 3
I truly believe that children are blessings from God, and that alongside this gift, He has given women the remarkable ability to grow, nourish, and birth their babies. Through both experience and education, I have come to deeply appreciate the incredible design of the female body and the physiological process of childbirth.
From the way our hormones work together, to the way the body instinctively progresses through labor without us telling it to, to the intricate hormonal communication between mother and baby—birth is an incredibly complex and beautifully designed process.
I entered the birth world because I saw a gap between what many people are taught to expect from labor and the physiological design of what labor actually is. My passion is not only to educate mothers about the incredible physiology of childbirth, but also to walk alongside them through the many ups, downs, questions, and unknowns that pregnancy, birth, and postpartum can bring.
I haven't always held these beliefs or opinions, before I was pregnant with my first baby the door into the birth world was opened. I started having conversations with women who had chosen the non-hospital route to have their babies - home births.. home water births to be exact and I was shocked. I knew so little that I didn't even know that was a possibility, not to mention I thought it was a bit weird. Little did I know that 5 years later I would be giving birth in the water for the third time at home. Learning about the natural process of labor gave me confidence in the design, and thus I made the choice to have my baby where I felt most safe and supported. Although homebirth is not for everyone, every family needs to make the right choice for themselves and homebirth was right for us.
My daughter was born after a long 30 hour labor, and after that i struggled with postpartum depression for some time, but thankfully after being surrounded by the right support I got through a very dark season of life. After the birth of my second born I struggled with postpartum anxiety, but having people surrounding me throughout pregnancy, birth, & postpartum helped me understand that I wasn't alone throughout the journey. No one can predict or control what labor or postpartum will look like, but having a supportive team by my side made a world of difference in decision making & navigating the physical, emotional, and hormonal discomforts childbirth brings.
As a birth professional, I strive to be assertive but gentle, hardworking yet gracious, especially when communicating within a hospital setting. My goal is to help foster a calm, respectful environment while advocating for and elevating the voices of both mothers and fathers.
You shouldn't have to navigate pregnancy and birth feeling uninformed or alone. My hope is that you feel equipped with trustworthy information, supported in your choices, and confident in your voice throughout the journey.
I would love to chat with you and learn more about your growing family to see if Little Harbor would be a good fit for you. Guided by faith and evidence, I support families in Greensboro and surrounding areas. Every birth is a unique story, and I am honored to witness the strength of mothers as they navigate the transformative journey of bringing new life into the harbor of their homes.
Psalm 107:29-30
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired harbor.
DONA International Doula Training
VBAC Link Doula Training
MAMASTEFIT pre/postpartum fitness training certification
What Mothers Say About Us...
From my very first conversation with Rachel, I felt genuinely heard. She didn’t just listen politely — she truly took in what I was hoping for and made me feel supported from the start. From that point forward, Rachel became a beautiful and steady part of my pregnancy and birth journey.
Kelli J.
Rachel is your steady, calm cheerleader—lowkey, to the point, and incredibly reassuring. These ladies put my mind at ease through my ENTIRE pregnancy journey. They never skipped a beat with my questions, or simply just to have a good laugh with me. Rachel attended my birth, and let me tell you… I wouldn’t have made it without her. Rachel guided me through every contraction, she stayed by my side, she helped my husband, and her calm, reassuring tone was incredibly comforting. Thank you all for such an amazing experience. Please, please do a consultation with these ladies if you are considering a doula
Selena S.
Rachel was incredible! Rachel was my doula for birth, the support throughout my pregnancy & birth from her was truly amazing. I cannot thank Rachel enough for her calm presence, deep knowledge, & intuitive care during labor & delivery. It was definitely a reason I had such a positive birth experience. She knew exactly what I needed at every moment & helped me feel strong, safe, & empowered. I truly couldn’t have done it without her.
Jordan J
Rachel was such an amazing doula! Although we ended up having to be induced, Rachel was prepared with many strategies and techniques to help me through the laboring process. I can't say enough good things about this company and all the ladies involved. I highly recommend them to anyone wanting to have a natural childbirth experience.
Meghan H.
Rachel was an incredible doula! I felt instantly relieved when she arrived at the hospital during my labor. Rachel brought a calm and encouraging spirit into my birth space and was able to physically help me manage my contractions in so many different ways. Rachel helped me to achieve the non-epidural birth that I wanted and I am so grateful to have had her there for this birth!
Hannah S.
Rachel joined me for my birth and her presence and confidence really gave me strength. She brought me my rose essential oils, she gave counter pressure, she covered monitors so that it could be dark in the room, vouched for my comfort with nurses and encouraged me that I could do it when I didn’t think I could, etc. I still laugh as I remember how collected and cool she was as she mopped up the flooded bathroom because I was sitting on the yoga ball in the shower covering the drain. Lol she said nothing, just used to towel after towel to sop up the mess - I am truly grateful for all y’all have done for me! ❤️
Leah T.