What Mom's Say...

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​"Good place to meet other moms with similar problems, with scales and professionals to help trouble-shoot." 

"The IBCLC found my son's tongue-tie, referred us for release, and all my breastfeeding issues were fixed!"

"Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Everyone is helpful, very, very reassuring, and totally non-judgmental."

"Can talk to people and still breastfeed baby without feeling embarrassed. Friendly, non-intimidating advice"
"I didn’t have any particular difficulties with breastfeeding but, like most new moms, I had a lot of uncertainty and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. At my first Baby Cafe session, I was going to write on the sign in sheet that my goal was to nurse for 6 months. When I saw that most others were aiming for 12 months, I increased my goal (and worried that I was setting myself up for failure). I am proud to say that I breastfed my daughter until 2 weeks before her third birthday. Baby Cafe got me started off on the right foot and normalized breastfeeding beyond the infant stage. I appreciated all of the tips and encouragement from you, the other professionals, and the other moms who really inspired me to keep going. Thank you so very much for creating this wonderful space." 
J. (Massachusetts)

"Thank you so much for your  help when I was struggling to feed my third child. The Baby Café is a quite extraordinary oasis of calm, patience and superb advice - not to mention refreshments, and help with positioning. I really didn't think I was going to be able to breastfeed successfully this time and it is now going fine."
​T. (North Carolina)

FAQs for Parents

Who can attend a Baby Café? 
​ Anyone who is: 
  • Breastfeeding or chestfeeding 
  • Pregnant and interested in breastfeeding 
  • Working and pumping 
  • Exclusively pumping and bottle-feeding 
  • Wanting to wean 
  • Students needing lactation counseling education 
  • Male partners are welcome at some Baby Cafés, or at specific meetings
​ Do I need to sign up? 
​ No, all Baby Cafés are drop-in, and open to the public. No appointment is necessary.
​ Is there a membership fee? 
​ No. Baby Cafés are all free to the public and do not market or sell anything.
​ Do I bring my baby? 
​ Yes! And you are welcome to breastfeed while you are there.
​ What does a Baby Café provide? 
  • Assessments and evidence-based group support from professionally-trained staff 
  • Digital scales for assessing weights and milk transfer 
  • Suggestions for solutions to lactation issues 
  • Opportunities to ask questions, share experiences and make friends 
  • Refreshments, comfortable seating, and open-forum discussions 
  • Some offer play areas for accompanying toddlers 
​ Where are Baby Cafés? 
In welcoming community-based donated spaces such as Hospital, Churches, Libraries, Milk Banks, YMCAs, Parent/child meeting areas, WIC Offices, Pediatrician/OB offices, and Chiropractor offices.
Do Baby Cafes promote or dictate certain beliefs? ​
No. Baby Cafés never promote a certain religious, political, or parenting belief. They are structured as an open-forum discussion, guided by evidence-based practice. Their purpose is to help parents reach their own breastfeeding and/or chestfeeding goals.
Who pays for the Baby Café? ​
They are funded by local sponsoring organizations such as Hospitals or WIC programs, and often use grant money for community health initiatives.
Are Baby Cafés associated with any other organization? ​
Individual Cafés may be sponsored by non-profit organizations. Baby Café USA is a free-standing organization and receives no funding or backing from any other organization, business, or political party.
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PARENTS' CHARTER: WHAT CAN EXPECT WHEN VISITING A BABY CAFÉ? ​​

  •  A relaxed, informal, safe, child-friendly, non-medical environment where your breastfeeding or chestfeeding relationship, at whatever stage, is valued, respected and protected. 
  • To meet other breastfeeding or chestfeeding parents. 
  • To receive up-to-date information about breastfeeding or chestfeeding from staff knowledgeable and skilled in helping women breastfeed. 
  • To be helped in a way that equips you to continue your breastfeeding or chestfeeding journey when you leave the Baby Café. 
  • That qualified staff may directly assist you with positioning and latch or may work with a ‘hands off’ approach as needed. Feel free to specify if you prefer a “hands-off” approach. 
  • That all information, suggestions, books, leaflets, posters, videos, and demonstration aids, will be balanced and informative and help you make informed decisions. 
  • That Baby Café staff will protect breastfeeding/chestfeeding and the relationship with your child(ren). 
  • To be supported in the decisions you make. 
  • That staff will maintain records and communicate, with your permission, in a confidential manner with other local health professionals and Baby Café USA if appropriate. 
  • To be responsible for your children at all times. 
  • That your feedback about the program will be welcomed and taken seriously. 
  • To see a License Certificate displayed, showing that the Baby Café is registered with the BCUSA non-profit organization. ​

Breastfeeding Help

If you can't get to a local Baby Café, or you need immediate breastfeeding information or alternative sources of support, check out the links below.

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  • ​Find an IBCLC: IBCLCs are Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultants with professional qualifications. Many work in Hospitals or in private practice with home offices, or may travel to your home; they will charge a fee but most insurance covers visits. Hospitals may also offer one-on-one consultations billed through insurance or self-pay. 
  • General Breastfeeding Help:  Breastfeeding Articles about almost every subject
  • Kellymom.com: A very helpful website backed by IBCLCs and MDs with lots of answers and links to other good resources.
  • Pumping and Working Rights: A comprehensive document published by the USBC (United States Breastfeeding Committee) explaining the recently passed PUMP Act. Includes where/how to report non-compliance.
  • Custody of a Breastfeeding Child - Legal Guidance: A general guide for those facing custody issues of a Breastfeeding Child from BreastfeedLA.
  • Office on Women's Health: U.S. Government Helpline; staffed with breastfeeding peer counselors fluent in English or Spanish, will support you through breastfeeding challenges and connect you with other resources to help if needed.
  • La Leche League USA: Part of LLL International made up of a network of volunteer breastfeeding counselors offering support by telephone, e-mail, and informal support meetings.  Find a counselor or group, call the helpline or submit an online help form. LLL also publishes books/leaflets for mothers and health professionals. Helpline number: 1-877-452-5324 (1-877-4 LA LECHE)
  • Black Mothers' Breastfeeding Association: Provides education, free doula support, resources and ongoing breastfeeding support to black families in the Detroit area. 
  • R.O.S.E. : (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere)  provides resources and networking opportunities for individuals and communities of color. Offers Baby Cafés, Breastfeeding Clubs, and Community Transformer training.
  • Breastfeeding USA: Volunteer Breastfeeding Counselors  accredited after completing a breastfeeding education program. Support for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers (one-on-one and group situations).
​Infant Sleep resources (BCUSA does not encourage cry-it-out sleep training):

​Additional Resources

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Donating Milk

​Questions For Parents
How do I find a milk bank?
​Many Baby Cafés either have their own Milk Depot or are connected to a Milk Bank. Check the list of milk banks on HMBANA.org, the website of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, which accredits nonprofit milk banks. Find the nearest one here. Or ask the Baby Café leader and she can help you.
How do I get approved as a donor?
The process is similar to screening for blood donation, and involves the following steps:
  • Brief phone screening
  • Consents and medical history form (including approval by mother’s and baby’s healthcare providers)
  • Free blood draw (does not go through mom’s insurance)
 
There is no cost to you at any point. Some milk banks have a minimum donation of milk required throughout the donation period (check with milk bank they plan to donate with). Bereaved mothers may also donate, and in these cases the minimum donation amount is waived, or there is a research option if you don’t meet eligibility criteria (most often due to medications). To start the process,  call the milk bank of your choice.
What if English is not my native language
​Some milk banks are able to screen moms who speak other languages. Check with each milk bank for details. You can call a different milk bank if the first one does not offer the language you speak.
Can I donate milk that’s already in my freezer?
Yes. Milk banks have different guidelines about how long milk can be stored in the freezer before it is sent to the milk bank. All milk must be in containers specifically for milk storage (milk storage bags, bottles from NICU, etc.) and must be dated with the month/day/year.
Does it matter how old my baby is?
Check with the specific milk bank you plan to donate to, as the baby’s age varies depending on the individual milk bank.  
How does the milk get to the milk bank?
Milk banks have drop off sites in different communities, some are Baby Cafés. Banks can also send boxes for donors to[SS1]  pack up their milk and ship it via overnight shipping, at no charge to the donor; in some regions this involves dry ice, but not in others. Some milk banks even have milk drives. Check with each milk bank for details on how to get milk to the milk bank. There is never a cost for the donor to ship the milk, the milk banks pay for all costs involved in shipping milk. 
Can I take medications or herbal preparations when I am donating?
Some common medications are fine, and most herbs are not (because of lack of regulation and quality control, as well as potential side effects in premature babies). A donor should discuss her individual situation with the trained milk bank staff member who screens her. Many medications and herbs that are fine for donor mom’s own healthy, full-term baby are problematic for premature babies, who may be taking their own medications. ​
Do milk banks pay for milk?
​HMBANA’s ethical guidelines prohibit payment to milk donors. Donors donate milk altruistically and are never pressured to donate. This helps ensure that the health of the donor mother and baby take top priority, and that the donor mother has no incentive to tamper with her milk. 
Who receives the milk?
​Pasteurized donor human milk can save the lives of fragile and premature babies whose mothers do not have enough milk for them. These babies are the top priority for HMBANA milk banks, which is why donor screening is rigorous.
 
Many hospitals in the United States provide donor milk in their neonatal intensive care units for fragile babies. An increasing number of hospitals with special care nurseries and mother-baby units also provide donor milk as a short-term bridge to babies who need supplementation in the early days. Some milk banks also provide milk to outpatients by prescription.
Is the milk free?
​Nonprofits, like hospitals and colleges, charge fees for their services. The same is true for milk banks, which incur high costs screening donors and operating laboratories. When a baby falls under a hospital’s guidelines, the hospital covers the cost of the milk. In many states, advocates are working to secure Medicaid coverage. Occasionally an insurance company will cover the cost of milk.
How can I learn more?
Contact the staff at your closest HMBANA milk bank! Find the nearest one here.
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Informal Milk Sharing

Guidance on Milk Sharing for Healthy Term Babies

Informal milk sharing has both risks and benefits. When considering milk sharing, it is important that parents take safety precautions seriously, use milk obtained from a known and screened donor, and avoid milk sharing or purchasing over the internet.
What Is Milk Sharing?
The practice of chest/breastfeeding another person's baby or providing expressed human milk to another person for their baby.
Hospitalized or Home?
Hospitalized babies may be receiving pasteurized donor milk from a milk bank. Parents whose babies are at home are sometimes considering obtaining or buying milk from others on their own.
Where Can you find Reliable Information?
There is a lot of information on the internet about milk sharing, and not all of it is accurate. To keep your baby safe, it is really important to use trusted sources like bfmed.org/statements.
Can I donate milk that’s already in my freezer?
Yes. Milk banks have different guidelines about how long milk can be stored in the freezer before it is sent to the milk bank. All milk must be in containers specifically for milk storage (milk storage bags, bottles from NICU, etc.) and must be dated with the month/day/year.
Is Milk Sharing Safe?
Many forms of milk sharing are NOT considered safe, including purchasing or arranging milk donation over the internet. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends that families only accept donated milk from a known source who has been evaluated by a physician or other medical provider and who uses safe milk expression, storage, and handling practices.
How Can My Potential Donor Get Screened?
Potential milk donors can contact their own physician to be screened using the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's screening process, available for download at bfmed.org/statements.
What Will They Screen For?
Potential donors will be screened for general health & medical conditions, medications and herbs they are taking, infectious diseases, and social practices like smoking, alcohol, & recreational drug use.​
What are Safe Milk Handling Practices?
 It's critical that donors use recommended safety protocols while expressing, storing, transporting, and handling human milk to protects babies who receiving the milk from illness.
​SAFE PROTOCOLS Guide: ​ https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm