Gentle Spirit Birth Services

05/31/2026

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sX8nLvrCq3VC2HDfYRt2M199cK29yCJv/view?usp=sharing

05/30/2026

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mAbrKKrKveQ_fvlUsJExBuhyGNdQpoEM/view?usp=sharing

05/27/2026

FREE Event

🚼🩷💙The Prematurity Prevention Initiative is teaming up with The Cooperative's Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Atlantic County for: 'Community Baby Sprinkle & Safe Sleep Event.'

🗓️Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕰️1pm-2pm (English) 2pm-3pm (Spanish)
Rain date: Friday, May 29, 2026
📍New Day Family Success Center, 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ 08232
🆓This FREE event is open to new and expecting parents, caregivers and families in Atlantic County.
🌐Space is limited, so be sure to register early by clicking on this link ➡️ https://bit.ly/4v255uj

Join us for a Community Baby Sprinkle celebrating growing families and new arrivals! Connect with community partners, access helpful resources and learn safe sleep practices to help keep babies safe. Enjoy prizes and giveaways! We hope to see you there!

05/27/2026

Breastfeeding beyond the first year has many benefits for you and for your baby!

Breastfeeding after one year may have its challenges but it also has many benefits…

BENEFITS TO THE CHILD
Research suggests that breastmilk continues to be a valuable source of nutrition after age 1 (Perrin et al., 2016). Breastmilk has higher levels of protein, fat, and calories in the second year of life (Mandel et al., 2005; Perrin et al., 2016) and a toddler can receive ⅓ of their daily calories and protein from breastmilk as well as many essential vitamins and minerals (Dewey, 2001).

Breastfeeding up to 3 years may also reduce risks of childhood illnesses (although this research is from developing countries; Mølbak et al., 1994; van den Bogaard et al., 1991).

There is also some evidence for an association between breastfeeding duration (up to 2 years) and greater maternal sensitivity (although it is unclear whether extended breastfeeding actually causes increased sensitivity; Weaver, Schofield, & Papp, 2018).

BENEFITS TO THE MOTHER
Mothers who breastfeed their child for 13 months or more may be almost two times less likely to have breast cancer than mothers who have never breastfed (Zheng et al., 2001).

Breastfeeding for 18 months or more was also associated with reduced risk of ovarian cancer (Jordan et al., 2012) and women who breastfeed for 24 months or longer had an 18% reduced risk of heart disease and a 17% lower risk for stroke (Peters et al., 2017).

Finally, each additional year of breastfeeding is also associated with a 15% decrease in the risk of Type II Diabetes (Young & Martens, 2002).

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
If breastfeeding is working for you and your child, keep going for as long as you would like to! Don’t let anyone tell you that your child is “too old” or that there are no benefits after age 1. However, there is no evidence for significant differences in child development as a result of extended breastfeeding, so if you are ready to stop on their first birthday (or sooner), that is great too!

All information provided by Parenting Translator Foundation — parentingtranslator.org

We are here to help!

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Posts are for general information only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For privacy, avoid posting personal health details.

05/27/2026

Cheryl is teaching Beginner Yoga tonight at 6:45 and she will personally guarantee that nobody will judge you for falling over. (She might fall over too. It happens — balance is a practice, not a destination. 😂) She's been working on what it really takes to find your balance, and spoiler: it starts with just showing up. Come be a beginner with Cheryl at Balanced Planet Yoga. 🪐🌎

05/26/2026

VBAC mamas need a lot of support, there’s a lot of information to sort through, take a class, hire a doula, find a supportive provider but above all TRUST yourself 🫶🏻
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05/26/2026

You probably know breastmilk can be used to moisturize dry, cracked ni***es, which is especially helpful if you don’t have lansinoh on hand.
You can also use breastmilk to treat dry skin and eczema.
Breastmilk can also help to relieve chapped lips, loosen cradle cap, and treat diaper rash.
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05/25/2026

Packing your labor bag isn’t as complicated as you think (I promise)

💬comment Labor and I’ll send you my faves for Packing your Labor Bag

ps: I do recommend *1* rolling suitcase - this way your support partner has a free hand to offer you sips of water or anything else you might need!

05/18/2026

Do you know the 6 Healthy Birth Practices?

Prepare for birth with a certified Lamaze instructor

Classes available in person or virtual!

Message me for more info!