SVMC Celebrates ‘Baby Café’ Grand Opening at Bennington Community Market

BENNINGTON, VT—April 15, 2024— Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) held a special grand opening celebration of its Baby Café last week, a program offered for new parents through SVMC’s Women’s and Children’s Services (WCS). The Baby Café is a free, drop-in, informal breastfeeding support group offering ongoing professional lactation care and intervention.

“Many of our moms have been coming since January, but we wanted to come together and really celebrate the Baby Café, which we’ve been doing in partnership with Natasha here at Bennington Community Market,” said Mindy Dame, MS, RN who is the Director for Intensive Care, WCS.

SVMC’s Baby Café is licensed through Baby Café USA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that works to reduce health disparities nationwide and help mothers realize their breastfeeding goals. SVMC’s Baby Café started in January, meeting weekly at the Bennington Community Market, located at 239 Main Street. It’s now open every Wednesday, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. SVMC’s lactation specialists provide support to moms and baby weigh-ins each week. It’s also a chance to connect and socialize.

Mothers and babies, along with SVMC staff and leadership, joined the grand opening celebration on Wednesday, April 10.

“I actually had the opportunity to work with the very first Baby Café USA at MelroseWakefield Hospital,” said Pamela Duchene, PhD, APRN, SVMC’s Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “This program is all about supporting what’s best for mom and what’s best for baby and we’re thrilled to have it right here in Bennington.”

SVMC’s President & CEO Thomas A. Dee, FACHE added his thanks to Bennington Community Market for hosting the program weekly.

“We have a motto at the hospital, it’s ‘partnership is powerful medicine’ and this is an example of the relationships we try to foster here in the community,” said Dee. “We’re so grateful to be here and be able to provide this support in the community.”

Caption: Mothers, babies and SVMC staff and leaders celebrate the grand opening of Baby Café at Bennington Community Market.