Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Touro / LCMC Health.
Baby Cafe :: The Breastfeeding Support System New Orleans Needs is Here
Breastfeeding, while natural, does not always come naturally. Eighty percent of new moms attempt breastfeeding, but of those moms, 60% do not reach their own goals. One of the biggest boosts to a new mom’s success with nursing is a support system, and Touro is providing local New Orleans families with just that.
Touro has opened two new Baby Cafes, and their mission is to reduce breastfeeding disparities by providing a FREE drop-in space for families to network and share resources. One is located Uptown (open on Mondays, after work, from 6:15pm-8:15pm), and the other is located in the Bywater (open on Tuesdays, after work, from 6:15pm-8:15pm). What makes this community outreach so effective is that it is a free, informal, ongoing, high quality drop in lactation support effort.
Both of the Baby Cafes offer moms in New Orleans a comfortable and inviting space where they can breastfeed in a safe and nurturing environment. Refreshments, open-forum discussions, and a community of other pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will provide a chance to share experiences and make friends. Each of the Baby Cafes has certified lactation counselors on site to answer questions and help guide families in their 
breastfeeding journey.
The Baby Cafes at Touro are an absolutely FREE drop in service provided weekly. No appointment is necessary, and you do not have to be a Touro patient to participate in these breastfeeding support groups right here in New Orleans.
The Touro Foundation, with a grant from the Kellogg foundation, is able to offer this community initiative to help increase the breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates in New Orleans, and we are so glad to spread the word about this initiative. The Touro Baby Cafe program seeks to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all mothers, bringing together women from different socio-economic and racial backgrounds.
It is the first hospital-based Baby Cafe in the Gulf South region, and this program is key to providing New Orleans mothers with access to breastfeeding support and resources.
If you are looking for a relaxed and friendly environment to support you on your 
breastfeeding journey, stop by a Baby Cafe! You don’t have to sign up; just show up (and yes, babies, siblings and dads are welcome!)
