Baby Café

What Is Baby Café?

Baby Cafés are FREE resources for pregnant and breastfeeding families, offering;
• Support from specifically-trained staff
• Opportunities to share experiences and make friends
• Refreshments, comfortable seating, and open-forum discussions

Funded through a Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Lactation Friendly New York (BFFNY) grant from the New York State Department of Health, St. Peter’s Health Partners Community Health Programs currently facilitates three Baby Cafes in the Capital Region and partners with Schenectady County Public Health Services run two in Schenectady County.

Join Us at a baby cafe

Baby Cafés are open in-person with virtual option for those who prefer. All pregnant and lactating parents and their support people are welcome to attend! Pop in for support, encouragement, education and community.

Email us at BabyCafe@sphp.com for the link to join a Baby Cafe virtually.

Sessions are held in-person during the following days and times:

1st and 3rd Monday of each month 11 AM – 1 PM – Mont Pleasant Branch Library, 1036 Crane Street, Schenectady (*closed on county holidays)

2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month 11 AM – 1 PM – Phyllis Bornt Branch Library and Literacy Center, 948 State Street, Schenectady (*closed on county holidays)

2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month 11 AM – 1 PM – Mechanicville Public Library, 190 N. Main St,

Wednesdays 12 PM – 2 PM – St. Mary’s Campus, 1300 Massachusetts Ave, Troy

1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 6 PM – 7:30 PM – Virtual (contact us at the email address above or on social for the link)

Thursday 11 AM – 1 PM- The Collaboratory (inside the Albany Housing Authority building), 200 South Pearl, Albany

Find us on Facebook: @capitalregionbabycafes

Find us at Instagram: @capitalregionbabycafes

Who are We?

Stephanie all smiles with her youngest nursling!

Stephanie Avienu, BS, IBCLC

Stephanie is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with a degree in Maternal and Child Health: Human Lactation. She received her undergraduate degree at Union Institute and University and became certified as an IBCLC in 2016. Her journey to lactation support work began nearly fifteen years ago with the birth of her oldest child. The support she received inspired her to “pay it forward” and help other families. As a mother of four, she understands the ups and downs of parenting and is passionate about empowering breastfeeding families through information, education and support.

Hia posing with her four children!

Hia Weitzman, BA, BS, CBS

Hia is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist who has four wonderful children. She has experienced the difficulties, challenges and intense joy and pride that come with breastfeeding. Hia has worked with children and families for over twenty years and with breastfeeding families for more than ten years. She is passionate about breastfeeding, baby-wearing and helping and supporting families in their parenting journey.

Schenectady County Baby Café Information

Testimonials

Marcie: My daughter was serendipitously born during World Breastfeeding Week.  I attended Baby Café weekly from the first week my daughter was born until the end of maternity leave when she was 5.5 months old.  For me, Baby Café began as a resource to get me started with breastfeeding.  I had no idea it would be so difficult and felt very unsure of myself.  Thankfully, because of the support I received, breastfeeding became one of the easiest things about caring for and bonding with my newborn.

Heather: I am so grateful for the Baby Cafes! I have been to two locally at very different and difficult stages with breastfeeding and both experiences saved my breastfeeding journey. Without their support I would have believed at first that breastfeeding wasn’t for me and never really have caught on and the second time when I thought, after six months, my supply had run out, they helped me increase supply and provided he support I needed to get me and my baby to my one year goal. Not only breastfeeding support but peer support and friendships that I needed during a very isolating time. Thank you for your services!

Julie: I started going to Baby Café when my son, Brayden was just 6 weeks old. Our breast feeding journey was very challenging from the start. When I arrived at Baby Café, I was triple feeding, supplementing with formula and had just weaned from a nipple shield. Within 24 hours after leaving that first Baby Café, I was exclusively breastfeeding my son and no longer pumping or supplementing. I got so much time back into my day and was able to enjoy feeding and spending time with my son again! I continued going to Baby Cafe where I made a lot of great mom friends and connected with other people who could relate to what I was going through. I recommend Baby Cafe to all new or soon to be moms, breastfeeding or not!

Melinda: Baby café saved my breastfeeding journey AND my sanity. My baby was a preemie.  I needed to exclusively pump, I wanted desperately to nurse her.   When I found baby café I was frustrated and broken. I was missing out on so much of my baby because I was suffering alone, with no one to listen, understand and advise. They supported me with validation that pumping WAS breastfeeding, and they helped get my baby to the breast more, and eventually she fed solely from the breast. This is what was best for me, my baby, and my family. I would have not gotten there without Baby Café. As an added bonus I still have a close relationship with several other moms and babies I met in the baby café, 10 months later. They have been an INVALUABLE resource to me. I have great balance in my life, thank you Baby Café.

In The News

News coverage of the grand opening of our Albany Baby Café last year:

Troy Baby Café was featured in this CBS 6 local investigative report on breastfeeding and weight loss:

Our IBCLC Stephanie was interviewed about our virtual breastfeeding support services during COVID-19:

Resources

Online Resources:

Kelly Mom

This website offers evidence-based educational breastfeeding information and support
www.kellymom.com

La Lèche League International

This organization offers breastfeeding support and advocacy
www.llli.org

Ask Dr. Sears

This website offers parenting and breastfeeding resources
www.askdrsears.com

Infant Risk Website and Hotline

Hotline offers information on medication safety throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Contact hotline at 806 352-2519 which is open from 8 AM to 5PM Central Standard Time

Local Resources:

Local La Leche League

Information and local leaders for the Greenbush La Leche League Breastfeeding Support
https://capitalregionbreastfeeding.org

Shades of Light | CAPITAL AREA POSTPARTUM SUPPORT

Shades of Light is a Capital Area resource offering postpartum support for new mothers and their families afflicted with perinatal mood disorders and postpartum depression.
http://shadesoflightps.org/

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) | USDA-FNS

This website offers information on WIC eligibility and how to apply
https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic