H.E.R. Institute Announces the Opening of NOLA Baby Café at Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner

KENNER, La. - H.E.R. Institute is expanding its breastfeeding resources to assist Spanish-speaking families by opening a new NOLA Baby Café at Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner.

The NOLA Baby Café, a unique initiative, aims to bridge the gap in breastfeeding support. It provides a safe, free space for families, particularly those in communities that have traditionally lacked breastfeeding role models and peer support. The café is licensed by Café USA and strictly adheres to their guidelines.

The NOLA Baby Café, conveniently located at the Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner, opens its doors every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Creole Room. This strategic collaboration aims to provide free resources on perinatal health, breastfeeding, child development, and positive parenting practices to expecting parents, parents with children, families, and caregivers.

“Breastmilk feeding is one of the most important ways we can improve the health of our babies and mothers. At Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner, we are excited to partner with the H.E.R. Institute and NOLA Baby Café to meet our patients and community where they are to remove barriers to breastfeeding and provide an additional place to turn to for support, guidance, and advice,” said Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, head of women’s services, Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner.

The Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner, in a significant move, is providing free space and access to enhance breastfeeding support, education, and awareness for the new joint project. The NOLA Baby Café, operated by the reputable H.E.R. Institute, is a safe, non-judgmental space for breastfeeding families. It is staffed by trained professionals, including an international board-certified lactation consultant.

“This is an important step to providing Spanish-speaking families free access to culturally relevant lactation care where they can find community-based support. Currently, minority families breastfeed less than 4-5 times the rate of their White counterparts. Although Spanish-speaking families breastfeed beyond 18 months on average, they tend to supplement with formula for non-medical reasons,” stated Portia Williams, co-founder of NOLA Baby Café.

“This collaboration aims to improve breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity and raise awareness of human milk donations. This partnership allows for parents and caregivers from the moment they learn of their pregnancy to have a supportive nurturing environment where they can build parenting competencies and feel supported in their decision to breastfeed, all while fostering the development of their children’s cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language skills,” said Williams.

Since 2016, NOLA Baby Café has served as a resource for mothers, with the goal of removing barriers to breastfeeding in the community. For more information about the NOLA Baby Café and the H.E.R. Institute, visit forherinstitute.org.

About Nola Baby Cafe’ and Baby Café USA

http://www.babycafeusa.org/what-is-a-baby-cafe.html

H.E.R. Institute was founded with a Vision to make Healthy, Happy, and Peaceful Communities. Our Mission is to inspire, educate, and support women and their families along their journey to a healthier life through Health, Education, and Research. Our motto is Changing the community through H.E.R. H.E.R. has chosen improving breastfeeding rates, decreasing maternal and infant mortality, and improving reproductive health outcomes for women as the primary focus areas for the next decade. NOLA Baby Cafe’, H.E.R Institute’s flagship program, was founded on June 1, 2016, by Portia Williams and Meshawn Tarver in partnership with National Birth Equity Collaborative and funded by Community and Hospitals Advances Maternal Practices (CHAMPS). Nola Baby Cafe’ is a licensed Baby Cafe USA, which is a nonprofit 501(C). Nola Baby Cafe’s additional location at Oscher Kenner will align with its first licensed baby cafe’ in Louisiana. For more information about Nola Baby Cafe, please get in touch with Portia L. Williams, Facilitator/ State Coordinator, at: nolababycafe@gmail.com or http://www.babycafeusa.org/