2011 Report to the Community - Allina Health

Kim Kretschmer, center, leads a BabyCafé session.
Baby Café: Expert Advice on
Breastfeeding
every week, women and their infants gather
at a church social hall in st. paul to talk
about parenthood, babies and breastfeeding.
it’s called Baby Café, a free community
service sponsored by united hospital.
Baby Café offers women an opportunity to
get expert advice on breastfeeding in an
informal atmosphere. the expert is Kim
Kretschmer, a certified lactation consultant
who works in united’s Breastfeeding
Resource Center. Kretschmer works
individually with each mother-baby duo,
answering questions or concerns about
breastfeeding and often observing a feeding.
Baby Café adds another layer to the Birth
Center’s broad services that promote
breastfeeding, Kretschmer said. “We want
Baby Café to be the place in the community
where breastfeeding is normal. Baby
Café is for anyone throughout the entire
of United Hospital
breastfeeding experience, including pregnant
women, regardless of whether the woman
gave birth at united.”
When things don’t go right for mothers and
babies, Kretschmer’s advice at Baby Café
has been crucial in connecting families with
medical resources.
Baby Café meets at st. luke lutheran
Church, 1807 field ave., in st. paul’s
highland park area. hours are Wednesdays,
noon to 2 p.m. occasionally, Baby Café is
closed or starts late due to church events. to
confirm the Baby Café schedule, please call
651-241-5088.
united’s Baby Café is the first one in the
Midwest. Baby Cafés started in the united
Kingdom, and there are more than 100
worldwide.
Jessie Schwartz and her son,
1 week-old Jeffrey, attend
BabyCafé.
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2011 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY |