CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey's first baby café to support breastfeeding mothers is now open for business at the Ferry Avenue Library in Camden.
The Cooper-Camden Baby Café is a brightly lit, warm, and welcoming space exclusively for breastfeeding mothers. There are no private areas and everything is out in the open, as part of the goal is to break the stigma of breastfeeding in public.
The hope is to eventually expand the hours of operation. Currently, new mothers at Cooper University Hospital are being told about the café.
According to Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, professor of pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, 80 percent of mothers start out breastfeeding, but less than a quarter meet their six-month goal.
She says it can be frustrating, and moms need support with issues like milk supply and having the baby latch on.
"The biggest issue is being able to have mothers get the support that they need to overcome those very common problems," she said.
Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen says this is a helpful and much-needed hub for new moms in Camden.
"What's happening here is impacting the quality of life in a positive way for our breastfeeding mothers by providing resources,” he said. “We are confident that this collaborative effort to improve maternal and infant health will become a model throughout New Jersey.”
The café will be open on Thursdays from 12-2 p.m. It's made possible in part by the nonprofit, Baby Cafe USA, which has 150 licensed baby cafes across 26 states.