Gaia Rhythms

09/11/2023

let’s gather in community and support ✨🤍 the next feeding circle is tuesday sep 19 from 11-12 at westbrook park in west milford NJ. the address is 1073 westbrook road. we welcome all folks who are feeding their babies, breastfeeding, chestfeeding, combo, donor, etc….you are doing important work and are valued. be in community with others in a safe space. you are loved!

08/13/2023

hey y’all! feeding circle is coming up in two days! we will be meeting this tuesday august 15. the new time is from 11-12 pm. we are also going to be meeting every third tuesday through october. please message me with any questions! 💕🤍✨

06/16/2023

I'm starting a feeding circle here in town! please share with those who you think would be interested!

10/27/2022

10/26/2022

"That's right friends: breastmilk is a living fluid!

It contains cells with probiotic bacteria, lactocytes, myoepithelial cells, progenitor cells, stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells and immunological cells like monocytes, T cells, B cells, NK cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, and immature granulocytes.

Human milk is amazing!!"
Photo credit 📷 MMilkWorksReference
Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2017; 22: 11.
Published online 2017 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s11658-017-0042-4
PMCID: PMC5508878
PMID: 28717367
Cells of human breast milk
Malgorzata Witkowska-Zimnycorresponding author and Ewa Kaminska-El-Hassan
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508878/

10/20/2022

If we aren’t suppose to feed our babies at night then why is prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, highest at night? If we aren’t suppose to feed our babies at night then why does our milk have a higher fat content at night? If we aren’t suppose to feed our babies at night then why does our milk contain hormones and other properties that are specific or increased at nighttime that are necessary for a baby's function and development? If we aren’t suppose to feed our babies at night then why does breastmilk at night contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps babies make melatonin which helps babies develop their circadian rhythm which gives babies the ability to distinguish day from night (which babies are born without)?

Think about that. Your nighttime milk helps your baby recognize the difference between day and night which could help your baby sleep better and more “scheduled.” Isn’t that the reason they tell mothers to stop feeding their babies at night, so they can sleep better and more “scheduled?”

I think the question we should be asking is… if our milk is so obviously designed this way, then why are mothers constantly being told to stop feeding their babies at night?

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07/28/2022

Counting down to World Breastfeeding Week 2022.
This morning at Assateague National Seashore, the youngest foal (ten days new), mama, and their tribe walked to us as I was doing a family session. We stayed still and completed our session while horses nursed, took naps, and invited us into their world.

04/06/2022

FREE virtual workshop! The 4th Trimester: Being with Babies ✨May 4, 4-5:30pm ✨register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fourth-trimester-being-with-babies-online-workshop-tickets-304804537577 🌏

04/03/2022

Logan* and her wife Nina explored co-breastfeeding when they found out she might not be able to get pregnant. Here, they share their co-nursing experience, including what they learned along the way.

04/03/2022

Did you struggle to tell if your baby was eating at the breast?
If your newborn is listless and difficult to wake, consulting with your healthcare provider to rule out extenuating circumstances is recommended.
Need help? Find your local LLL Leader at lllusa.org/locator


[Image: Close up photo of a newborn baby latched. Text: Is Baby Eating? How to tell if baby is eating at the breast
A common question new parents have is, "How can I tell if my baby is even eating at the breast?" Unlike a bottle, you can't visually see how much milk is leaving the breast, but that doesn't mean that you can't tell if your baby is eating. Here are some things to check:
Diapers tell you a lot. There cannot be output without input. Once mature milk comes in, expect at least 6+ wet diapers and 3-4 stools that are the size of a US quarter or larger per 24 hours.
By three days or when mature milk comes in, you'll probably start to notice swallowing. Good swallowing with ample milk sounds like a small "keh...keh...keh" sound with about one "keh" per second. You may even hear gulping.
If you don't hear swallowing in the first few days, don't be alarmed. Colostrum is very nutrient-dense and very small amounts are enough for the first few days.
While at the breast, you may notice that your baby's lower jaw drops a little lower and there is a pause when it drops. That drop-pause-close motion is also a swallow.]