Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding Friendliness...It Matters

Breastfeeding Friendly Places in Ontario County


The Finger Lakes Breast Feeding Partnership

Ontario County Public Health is an active member of the Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership. This coalition includes representatives from eight local health departments, Finger Lakes Health, UR Thompson Health,  Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, Medical Arts of the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua Medical SPCC WIC, VA Hospital, the La Leche League and community members. We invite you to join us on the second Tuesday of every month at 3pm, here at Ontario County Public Health.

Together we are providing breastfeeding education to physicians, medical office staff, student nurses, child care centers and our community on how to help women breastfeed successfully. Successful breastfeeding is looks different to every mom and the Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership respects that difference.  Additionally, the Partnership assists childcare centers, work places, medical offices and community spaces in gaining "Breastfeeding Friendly" status. Most importantly, members educate mothers and their communities about the benefits of breastfeeding.

Learn more about breastfeeding promotion in New York State: Click here

(Updated 4/24/2019)

WBW 2020

Breastfeeding Resources Near You!!

Breastfeeding Resource List 

Need a little breastfeeding assistance? We have done the leg work for you! Please take a moment to check out our breastfeeding resource lists in English and Spanish. We check them for accuracy at least twice a year.

(Updated 10/28/2019)

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Breastfeeding Resources in Spanish!

(updated 6/11/2019)


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Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership is on Facebook!

Stay current on breastfeeding information and trends. Like and follow the Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Facebook page today!
Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership Facebook Page
Baby Cafe alle

Expecting a baby?
Do you have parenting questions?
Need a few breastfeeding tips?

Whether you are looking for parenting support and understanding or you need help from one of our free Clinical Lactation Counselors, we are here to help!
 
Have a seat,  a cup of tea and relax. This is your time to meet moms your age, living in your area.  All Baby Cafes are free and open to all families. Older children are always welcome and toys are available. Significant others and family supports are always encouraged as well. No parent is turned away. Translation services available with prior request. Bus tokens are available if needed.

New parents often have lots of questions. We are fellow mothers that are here to help.Come join us at the next Baby Cafe!

(Updated 4/23/2019)

Canandaigua Baby Cafe

Baby Cafe 2

Participation bracelets are available in most locations.

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Baby Cafe

The Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership is proud to connect you to one of our five Baby Cafe locations!!


Each Baby Cafe is guaranteed to have a minimum of two free Clinical Lactation Counselors (with the availability of an International Lactation Consultant if needed). Baby Cafes are your space to ask questions, connect to local resources and meet other parents. 

Come have a cup of tea, meet moms your age and relax!
Free bracelets are available in most locations just for coming. Bus tokens are available in Ontario County. Translators are available.

(Updated 6/7/2019)

You Spoke, And We Listened!

A New Baby Cafe To Open in Geneva in August, 2019

The hospital rate of exclusively breastfed infants living in the Geneva (14456) zip code is currently only 47.3%  (New York State Prevention Agenda Dashboard - County Level: Ontario County , 2013-2016). This rate is much lower than the rest of the county (average 63% some areas as high as 80%) (New York State Prevention Agenda Dashboard - County Level: Ontario County , 2013-2016). Currently, Geneva does not have a birthing center. Residents must travel to Newark Hospital or U.R. Thompson Health for assistance with lactation. The Baby Café model which includes free assistance from Clinical Lactation Counselors (CLC’s) could potentially increase the breastfeeding rates within the Geneva zip code.

Upon assessing the lactation rates, the Finger Lakes Breastfeeding Partnership created a sub-committee which consisted of representatives from Child & Family Resources, Healthy Families, Le Leche League and Ontario County Public Health. The subcommittee agreed that Geneva (14456) and surrounding areas would be the participant targets for a Baby Café if supported by a community acceptability survey. Ontario County Public Health created both a written and electronic surveys to assess if the target population would accept and benefit from a Baby Café in the Geneva area. The survey was tested prior to dissemination by current Canandaigua Baby Café attendees.

Both the written and electronic surveys (Survey Monkey) were disseminated to the general public in English and Spanish on February 20, 2019. Electronic surveys were disseminated via social media (Facebook), the Ontario County Public Health website as well as emailed to key stakeholders in the Geneva area (Food Justice Coalition). English and Spanish surveys were completed with assistance from the participants of the SPCC WIC program in Geneva, the case managed clients participating in the Child and Family and Healthy Families programs and the Finger Lakes Medical Associates Geneva office.  The survey results were collected and reviewed by the sub-committee on May 20, 2019 as evidenced by the meeting minute notes. General impressions to note from the survey include that 32% of the respondents are expecting a baby but only 26 % are planning to breastfeed. Of the 60% of respondents that are parents of babies and toddlers, only 21% are exclusively breastfeeding. A total of 53 individuals completed the survey so the subcommittee decided a focus group or additional interviews were not necessary given the sample size of the survey.

The final data was collected, analyzed and disseminated via email by the subcommittee on May 24, 2019. 56.6% of the survey respondents are expecting a baby in 2019 but only 50% of them are planning to breastfeed. 42% of respondents stated that they would like to talk with a free CLC about breastfeeding. 57.6% of the respondents are currently parents of babies or toddlers and only 15.7% are currently breastfeeding. 39% of the respondents stated that they would travel to Geneva to see a free CLC. 68% of respondents reported that they would attend a free place for parents to hangout, receive accurate health information and free breastfeeding help from CLC’s in the Geneva area. Upon assessing the lactation data, Child and Family Resources (who currently houses the Baby Café in Canandaigua) volunteered to operate a second Baby Café in Ontario County, possibly targeting the Geneva community.

The sub-committee is currently working to include the Geneva Baby Café to the existing contract between Child & Family Resources and Baby Café USA. The opening of the Baby Café is being planned for August (World Breastfeeding Month) of 2019. 

A very special "Thank You" to the staff from Child & Family Resources for their unwavering support to breastfeeding women within Ontario County.

Geneva Baby Cafe Survey Data 2019

(Updated 6/7/2019)

Almost 68% of respondents reported that if Geneva had a free place to hang out, receive accurate health information and free breastfeeding help from CLC’s that they would attend!

CLC in Geneva