Sacred Waters Collective

04/02/2026

Friends, we just learned that our email account has been compromised. If you received an email from the Sacred Waters outlook email tonight at 6:03 pm, we did NOT send that email. Do not open it or click on links. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused. Chi Miigwech to our friend Sam for bringing it to our attention.

03/03/2026

🤎

🚨 Recent research is challenging the CDC's strict guidelines on breast milk storage—especially for partially used bottles after feeding.

The CDC currently recommends using or discarding leftover breast milk within 1–2 hours after a baby finishes feeding from the bottle, to limit bacterial risks.

A 2026 German study (preprint on medRxiv, with 44 healthy full-term infants) tested this directly by measuring bacterial growth in leftover human milk after actual bottle feeds.

Main findings:

• Bacterial levels rose after feeding due to contact with the baby's mouth, but showed no meaningful further increase at 4 hours or 8 hours—whether kept at room temperature (~20°C) or refrigerated (4°C).

• Significant growth appeared only after 24 hours at room temperature.

• Refrigerated leftover milk stayed low-risk and stable for up to 24 hours.

For healthy, full-term babies, this suggests it's generally safe to:

• Refrigerate a partially used bottle and reuse it within 24 hours, or

• Leave it at room temperature for up to 8 hours when needed.

Unused pumped milk also proved more stable than the CDC's 4-hour room-temperature rule, with very little bacterial growth even up to 24 hours in many cases, consistent with other recent studies.

The current guidelines are understandably cautious, especially for preterm infants, NICU babies, or those with health issues, who should stick to stricter rules and check with a doctor.

For most parents with healthy babies, though, this new evidence provides real relief: less wasted breast milk, fewer stressful discards, and guidelines that better match actual safety data and everyday feeding life.

🔗 Full preprint: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.13.26346179v1.full-text

02/09/2026

🍼 Urgent Maternal Warning Signs 🍼

Keep you and your baby safe by being aware of the signs to look for in pregnancy or postpartum stage(s) of life. If you see any of the 14 signs, it's a signal to be seen by your provider right away.

Help us spread the message about what to look for!

01/20/2026

Breastfeeding is often described as “natural” or “instinctive.” For survivors of sexual assault, it can be anything but.

In our next Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar, “Breastfeeding with Trauma: Navigating the Journey After Sexual Assault,” presenter Tierra Emerson, LMSW, PMH-C, CCM, LCE, CPST invites us to examine how trauma can shape the human milk feeding experience - physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Through a trauma-informed, survivor-centered lens, this session offers practical tools for supporting survivors while honoring autonomy, resilience, and individual needs. Participants will leave better equipped to create safer, more compassionate, family-centered care environments.

🗓 Registration opens January 20
▶️ Watch whenever and wherever
🎓 Free continuing education: 1 L-CERP, 1 nurse’s contact hour, 1 social work CE hour, 1 CHW CEU, 1 CHES CECH, and 1 CME (approved through January 19, 2027)

🔗 Register at mibreastfeeding.org/webinars

01/20/2026

❤️ Our Prenatal and Postpartum Groups have been scheduled through May!

🌿 We offer holistic pregnancy and postpartum care that blends Anishinaabe teachings with Western healthcare in a nurturing, community-centered space.
Planning for pregnancy? Expecting? Navigating postpartum? We’re here for you.

🤞🏽 We are searching for individuals who are interested in joining our prenatal groups this spring! Interested? Fill out our jot form:

form.jotform.com/231285198501052

01/13/2026

MDHHS is sponsoring a doula training this month, with a focus on intimate partner violence. If you would like to learn more about supporting birthing people facing IPV, register here:
https://www.eventsquid.com/mobileapp.cfm?id=30622

12/30/2025

Pssst! Sault Tribe! 👀🤩
Little Agate is looking for youuu! 🧷🚼

Are you Sault Tribe member? Do you have an infant or are expecting a baby? Do you want to cloth diaper? Do you want F R E E cloth diapers?
Then you’re in the right place! Register for our Sault Tribe Cloth Diaper Class today
📍Sault Tribe Community Center in Marquette, MI
🕰️ Sunday January 18th from 1-3pm
At LittleAgate.com
What is included in the free diaper kit?
A copy of Little Agate’s cloth diaper guide
8 size 1 & 2 outers
24 size 1&2 inners
2 wet bags
2 sets of cloth wipes
1 package of our fav eco friendly detergent
1 tube of esembly’s cloth diaper safe rash relief cream.
That’s over a $1000 value. All FREE for Sault Tribe families!
Plus! Eligible members from unit 4&5 will reap gas mileage reimbursement to make it even easier for Sault Tribe families!
DONT WAIT! Register how at littleagate.com

12/19/2025

12/04/2025

Cheering on our second Anishinaabekwe IBCLC in Michigan! She’s also an Indigenous Lactation Counselor and a doula. Please give her page a follow and share her work with those needing an Indigenous birth worker in their lives! 🤎🤎🤎

Boozhoo! Aanii! Hello all!

I’m Jamie, the kwe behind Sacred Soul Doula. Welcome, and chi miigwech for finding your way here. I wanted to share a little introduction for those who are new to my space.

I’m a mother of three with a deep passion and calling for birth work and milk medicine. My journey onto this sacred path began after graduating from the University of Michigan in 2022. With six years of personal breastfeeding experience, I completed the Indigenous Lactation Counselor training and instantly knew: this is where I belong.

Fast forward to 2024, I launched my doula business and soon after became an IBCLC. I continue to learn from teachers in many different spaces, weaving together traditional knowledge and evidence-based care. I am a full spectrum doula and am also trained in oral habilitation for the breastfeeding dyad.

I am deeply grateful for this life … for my health, my wellbeing, and that of my children. As we move into this quieter season, I’m intentionally pulling inward to reflect, learn, and continue growing both my business and myself. A full revamp of my business presence is coming, and I’m excited to bring you along as I share more about milk medicine and birth work. If you need me for either service, I’ll still be checking in periodically so just message me.

I’m reclaiming where I place my attention, which means my presence in the social media world will be lighter for a while.

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season and meaningful time with the people you love most.

I’m honored to have you here and to walk with families in this sacred season of life.
Bamaapii.

🌒🌕🌘

11/28/2025

Upcoming doula training with Aunties on the Road!

🍓🍓Looking to support families and reclaim traditional birth knowledge? Aunties on the Road, in partnership with The honest postpartum and Ninoshenh Counseling Inc., is offering an Intensive Indigenous Doula Training January 5th-27th, 2026.

This virtual training will be every Monday and Tuesday from 9am - 12pm PST (12pm-3pm EST). January 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th

This 8-part program prepares participants to provide full spectrum doula services. Aunties on the Road is an Indigenous Grassroots Organization providing Full Spectrum Doula Care.

Apply Now: https://forms.gle/1c4THSuUmFvucjNY6

Deadline to apply is December 5th, 2025

There is no cost to this training - Spots are limited

11/19/2025

Celebrating Sage today as one of our Sacred Waters Collective co-founders!

This Native American Heritage Month, we’re honored to uplift Sage Hegdal, an Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula and Indigenous Lactation Counselor. 🌿

Working as part of Sacred Waters Collective, Sage nurtures families and strengthens community connections across Michigan - helping reclaim traditional perinatal and bodyfeeding practices that have always sustained Indigenous peoples. 🌸

Sage shares, “Many Indigenous families struggle with bodyfeeding and do not have access to culturally informed care, which leads to severe health disparities within our community. Sacred Waters Collective recognized this gap in care and came together to help build capacity throughout the state, and in partnership with other Indigenous care providers. I know firsthand what it’s like to struggle with breastfeeding and how difficult it can be to persevere through the challenges. I want every person to have the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support they need to reach their bodyfeeding goals.” 💛

Learn more about Sacred Waters Collective:
🔗 sacredwaterscollective.co

Support Sage’s work with Sacred Waters Collective:
💸 PayPal:

Thank you, Sage, for your powerful commitment to community healing, cultural revitalization, and the sacred work of supporting Indigenous families. 🌱

11/17/2025

Congrats to all the new NHBP doulas!

NHBP,NHBP's Doula Training,