New Baby Café Provides Breastfeeding Support in Battle Creek
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. − The first of a series of planned Baby Cafés in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties is now open in Battle Creek. A collaboration of organizations, led by Bronson Healthcare, will host the cafes, giving people who are breastfeeding an opportunity to gather and receive support and education in a welcoming and accessible space.
The first Baby Café is located at Milk Like Mine, a birth and breastfeeding coalition providing birth and lactation support to families of color, located at 223 E. Roosevelt in Battle Creek. Breastfeeding visitors during café hours will have the opportunity to interact with lactation consultants and connect with others who are breastfeeding to share their experiences. Baby Cafés, which are designed to have a coffee shop like atmosphere, are based on a national model.
“We launched this café at this site because we know it’s important to provide a space that is easily accessible,” says Dr. Karen Garcia, physician liaison for the Battle Creek café, internationally certified lactation consultant, and newborn hospitalist at Bronson. “While breastfeeding is so valuable, it can present challenges. We want to ensure that everyone feels supported and has the resources they need to be successful in providing this nutrient-rich nourishment for their babies.”
While Milk Like Mine is the first and primary partner in Battle Creek, Baby Cafés will also be hosted at scheduled times at various satellite locations throughout Calhoun County to offer convenient options to serve a range of communities. The sites will be supported by Milk Like Mine staff as well as lactation consultants from partner organizations. Breastfeeding individuals can find the current Milk Like Mine café schedule by visiting the “Baby Café Milk Like Mine” Facebook group. As new sites are added, the schedule will be updated. Another primary site and satellite cafes will also be established in Kalamazoo County.
Rickeshia Williams, executive director and co-founder of Milk Like Mine, says extending its programs to include the café was a perfect fit. "We are excited to be able to offer this Baby Café to our community as not just another free service in lactation aid, but an opportunity for parents to get together with other families where breastfeeding is the common denominator.”
The Baby Cafes are free to breastfeeding individuals and funded thanks to a generous grant provided to Bronson Health Foundation from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF). Terry Morrow, president of Bronson Health Foundation, says the cafes are one of several Bronson initiatives WKKF helps to support. “We are grateful to WKKF’s commitment to our communities in the area of maternal infant health,” says Morrow. “WKKF has helped our hospitals on their journeys to achieve Baby-Friendly designations and has shown an ongoing interest in helping us improve birth outcomes and breastfeeding rates, especially in vulnerable communities.”
Photo Captions
Photo 1: Pictured from L to R: Mark Williams, community breastfeeding specialist for father/partner education, Milk Like Mine; Angelene Love, community partner specialist; Rickeshia Williams, executive director and co-founder, Milk Like Mine; Carol Fuller, system director of nursing, Bronson Women and Children’s Services; Dr. Karen Garcia, Baby Café physician liaison and newborn hospitalist, Bronson Healthcare
Photo 2: Exterior of Milk Like Mine Baby Cafe
Photo 3: Rickeshia Williams gives a tour of Milk Like Mine
