Flower Moon Families

04/24/2026

Every day, I'm honored to work with families and students and colleagues in a system of stewardship and pollination instead of systemic harm. We usually just motor along doing what needs to be done without a lot of fanfare, so it was a special treat last night to come together in celebration of each other and uplift all the triumphs of the last year, especially while facing increasing horrors and attacks against reproductive freedom, body sovereignty, and just existing as Indigenous, Black, and brown people on this stolen land.

Sometimes it feels like the darkness is too heavy to bear.

But when we do this work together, we are filled with sunlight.

This is our garden.
This is our Three Sisters planting.
This is our Land Back.

One life-bringer at a time.

Thank you for planting with me. Niimiigwechendam, I am so grateful.

04/17/2026

See you soon, Seattle!

03/27/2026

😍😍😍

Por primera vez, Open Arms Perinatal Services tiene el privilegio de facilitar un Grupo de formación en Español de consultoras de lactancia comunitarias 🎉

Este curso ofrece una formación integral en lactancia humana desde un enfoque basado en evidencia, culturalmente respetuoso y centrado en las comunidades Hispanas.

Las y los participantes aprenderán sobre: anatomía, producción de leche,
posiciones de nutrición al pecho, identificación y resolución de problemas comunes, suplementación segura basica, comunicación efectiva y límites profesionales.

Al finalizar, estarán preparados para brindar educación y apoyo básico en lactancia dentro de su comunidad o práctica profesional.

🌟 Los invitamos a ser parte de esta oportunidad única para aprender, crecer y apoyar a nuestras familias. Regístrese en: bit.ly/CLSenEspanol2026.

For the first time, Open Arms Perinatal Services has the privilege of hosting a lactation education cohort in Spanish! The first session will be in April and the second in May 🎉

03/13/2026

This is our big annual event! Help us raise money to continue community based birth/postpartum/lactation support and have a great time while we do it!! 💗💗💗 See you there and spread the word!

Let's gather for an evening of community care and connection ⭐💕

April 23rd is Labor of Love, our annual community celebration & fundraiser.

Haven't registered yet? Let us sweeten the deal. Register by March 20th and you'll be entered in a raffle for a $100 Mioposto gift card.

Join us in this celebration of community and invest in reproductive justice on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at S**o Park in Seattle from 5PM - 9 PM. Childcare and valet parking will be available.

Here’s what to expect:

🍹5:00PM - 6:45PM – Social time with food, drinks, and a chance to connect with Open Arms' work at activation stations
🎤6:45PM - 7:30PM – Keynote speaker -Elizabeth Montez, IBCLC
🪩7:30PM - 9:00PM - Celebration and dance party!

We hope you’ll join us for this night of joy and connection! 🔗 Register at link in bio 💖

02/19/2026

Apologies for the *very late* notice - but we have a few spots open for a very rad workshop at Open Arms Perinatal Services with an incredible educator, Bryna Hayden IBCLC, for BIPOC lactation professionals - IBCLCs or advanced level lactation providers who are managing clinical care and mammary health. Reach out to me ASAP for confirmation and details! No cost, breakfast and lunch included.

02/14/2026

So excited to be on this panel! And great news, you can attend this conference in person or virtually 🎉🎉🎉 Talking about community milk sharing is one of my favorite soap boxes 🧼🫧 🎁🤣

02/06/2026

Hey Seattle Fam, Influenza A has hit my house and I am unable to lead the Holding the Sacred in the Clinical workshop or the Community Lactation Specialist 201 cohort next week. I've rescheduled my trip for the week of February 23rd. The upside of this is that there is still time to register for one or both of these offerings! I'll make a seperate post...but I have been in a season of grief since the holidays, and having a hard time doing the things I need to do, but I am getting back on top of my life and my work. . Lots of beautiful things coming. For now - Seattle, come on through!

Holding the Sacred in the Clinical is open to all IBCLCs and lactation providers - OBs, pediatricians, midwives, particularly non-BIPOC folks who want to be accomplices in creating a world that welcomes future generations into this life in a good way. We will be exploring specific clinical strategies from a decolonial lens and focusing on ways to integrate these approaches into practice. This workshop is sliding scale and approved for L-Cerps!

Tuesday - Friday we will have a Community Lactation Specialist 201 Cohort! This is a no cost opportunity for BIPOC folks with foundational lactation education. We'll be building on the basics to build skills for folks getting ready to step into a clinical lactation role. Also....there will be a special guest!! More details soon!

Holding the Sacred in the Clinical: originally scheduled for Monday, 02/09
⭐Rescheduled for Monday, the 23rd of February⭐

Thank you all for your understanding, flexibility, and grace.💗

01/27/2026

I'm really looking forward to this and am hoping to get more folks join us 💗 in a time where families and babies are being attacked and harmed by state violence, we MUST look at how systemic forces continue to perpetuate harm, as well as what are factors of resilience and connection that create protection and change the trajectory of future generations.

It is no coincidence that we live in a country founded on removing people from their Mother land, removing children from their Mothering/Birthing body, stripping them off culture and then using that land and those bodies in exploitative ways, and then developed a health system that does the same. It creates a pipeline of violence as a norm. We will be exploring lactation as a radical act of rematriation and reparation. While I pour most my time and energy into teaching clinical skills in Indigenous framework to BIPOC folks, this workshop welcome and invites non-BIPOC accomplices specifically who are looking for ways to be more effective in using their lactation practice intentionally as a tool against oppression. Plus, we're approved for L-CERPs and you can support the awesome work we're doing at Open Arms!

Please spread the word, registration closes soon!

01/23/2026

Hey Seattle fam! Open Arms Perinatal Services is hosting a sliding scale lecture and workshop with L-CERPs!! And I'm (obviously) super biased, but I think it's gonna be super rad.

We'll get 3 juicy hours together in Seattle in a blend of lecture and workshop! We'll explore hot topics in lactation and how Indigenous practices support best clinical practices, ways to support lactation in a decolonizing way in direct service as well as within systems, and overall take our practice to a richer place, in which we are all in good relation with each other, and raising next generations that way too

And if you're intrigued but not ready to commit just yet, hop on zoom with me tomorrow to chat 💗

12/10/2025

This is CRITICAL!!! These machines market convenience, but they're notoriously unreliable and safe preparation of formula is crucial for baby's acute and long term health. I've seen mold growing in these things, incorrect volumes dispensed, and even when everything goes right... They don't heat the formula powder to a temperature that mitigates bacterial contamination. They are not worth the risk! If you're using formula powder, mixing up to 24 hours worth (using 160°F water) in a pitcher, storing in the fridge, and pouring each bottle as needed is a much better and safe option. Incorrect ratio of water to formula powder can lead to poor weight gain, water intoxication, kidney damage, and more. Please don't risk it.