Prenatal Baby Café participation and its

impact on the prevention and care of

hypoglycemia in the newborn

Lisa R. Miller, IBCLC

Lactation Consultant, Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center
LRMiller@NovantHealth.org

Making healthcare remarkable

Baby Café USA

Free resource for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Nonprofit program using an evidence-based model of

care to improve breastfeeding outcomes

Offers high-quality lactation care in an informal, café-

style environment where women can support each other

Over 130 Baby Cafes in the US in 26 states

In 2017, almost all Baby Cafes reported that they were

part of a wider strategy to improve breastfeeding
outcomes in their communities
Why visit a Baby Cafe?

Approximately 80% of women in the US initiate breastfeeding,

but of those moms, approximately 60% do not reach their own
breastfeeding goals.

In an effort to increase these rates, Baby Cafes offer support on all aspects of
breastfeeding and its impact on daily life-from prenatal to weaning, as well as
assistance with pumping and maintaining supply if mom returns to work outside the
home.

Baby Cafes are facilitated by trained staff including health care professionals such as
IBCLCs, midwives and nurses, and other qualified and accredited breastfeeding
counselors to provide a consistent, high standard of care.
Novant Community Baby Café, Thomasville

Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center is a 146-bed community hospital

in the Piedmont-Triad area of NC

Delivers about 650 babies per year

Became Baby-Friendly in 2017

Opened the 1st Baby Café in North Carolina in January, 2018 to meet step 10
of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Novant Health currently operates 9 baby cafes in North Carolina and Virginia
Novant Community Baby Café, Thomasville
Exclusive breastfeeding rates
(2019, year to date)

Breastfeeding with
supplementation
16%

Exclusively
Breastfeeding
84%
Novant Community Baby Café, Thomasville
Baby Café visits
(2019, year to date)

62 prenatal
visits
(7%)

826 postpartum
visits
(93%)

888 Baby Café visits

What do pregnant women hear at baby café?

Breastfeeding and birth stories from real moms

Conversations that are guided by a Lactation Consultant

Advice from Lactation Consultants and their peers about what to expect in the first
few days of breastfeeding

The importance of skin to skin and breastfeeding in the 1st hour and continuing
skin to skin in the early days

Normal newborn behaviors such as cluster-feeding at night and weight loss in the
1st 3 days
Success stories and disappointments

It’s ok to ask for help!

Survey of prenatal participants who visited in 2019 and have
delivered (through August, 2019)
Question: How did participation at baby café during your pregnancy impact
your decisions about feeding your baby during your hospital stay?

0% “no impact”

75% “I felt more confident about my decision to only breastfeed during my hospital stay”

100% “I had a better understanding about what to expect during the first days of breastfeeding”

50% “I felt empowered to make decisions about how my baby was fed”

VISIT FREQUENCY OF
RESPONDENTS
25% of respondents delivered preterm
MORE THAN 3 … 25% 25% of infants had hypoglycemia
3 VI SI TS 0 0 supplemented with formula
2 VI SI TS 25%
1 VI SI T 50%
How can prenatal Baby Café participation impact the
prevention and care of hypoglycemia in the newborn?
Moms who attend baby café prenatally feel empowered to breastfeed and to ask for
help if they need it

Moms hear about the importance of skin to skin care and breastfeeding from the
Lactation Consultants and other moms

Moms hear that they are an important part of the team when it comes to caring for
their new baby

Moms hear that they have an amazing body that not only grew a baby but is designed
to feed and nurture the baby

Moms hear that they are supported

Moms with high-risk pregnancies or a history of breastfeeding difficulties hear that

prenatal outpatient lactation consultations are available for individualized assessments
and education
What is your role?

Awareness- lowering the incidence of hypoglycemia in the newborn

actually begins before delivery

Spread the word- to OB providers, the WIC program, and anyone else who
sees pregnant women

Encouragement- Encourage pregnant women to attend Baby Café. If there

isn’t a Baby Café in your area, encourage the decision-makers to open one

Support- volunteer in your local Baby Café. It is a great opportunity to learn

about breastfeeding and build relationships
Questions…..