Let Us Help You Welcome Your Child

Providing prenatal and childbirth classes and breastfeeding support for new and expecting parents.

Expecting a child and having a newborn can mean having a lot of questions. The abcProgram prepares new and expectant parents to welcome a new child with support and education.

abcProgram Services

A Breastfeeding and Childbirth (ABC) Program provides education and support to families who are expecting a child or recently welcomed a new child into their life. During this exciting time, we offer prenatal classes led by certified specialists, covering topics from what to expect during labor and delivery to preparing to be a first-time mom or dad. After a new baby arrives, our Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultants are here to support infant feeding goals and help manage any infant feeding challenges.

Individualized Breastfeeding Support

We offer free and comprehensive breastfeeding support at multiple “Baby Cafe” clinics throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties each week. Mothers can meet with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for a one-on-one consultation to address breastfeeding challenges or simply to reassure that all is going well. While waiting, mothers can get to know other nursing moms who are going through the same challenges and joys.

View upcoming dates. Registration required. Please call 813-673-4646 ext. 1127 to make an appointment or register online.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Baby Cafe Times and Locations – Hillsborough County Residents Only

Tuesdays 10am – 12pm | Children’s Board Family Resource Center | 1271 Kingsway Road, Brandon 33510

Tuesdays 1:30pm – 3:30pm | Children’s Board Family Resource Center | 7520 W Waters Ave #8, Tampa 33615

Thursdays 10am – 12pm | Children’s Board Family Resource Center | 301 N Palmer St, Plant City 33563

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Baby Cafe Times and Locations – Hillsborough County (All Residents)

Wednesdays 10am – 12pm | Tampa Family Health Centers | 1212 E. Bears Ave, Lutz 33549

Thursdays 12:30pm – 4:30pm | USF Pediatrics | 17 Davis Blvd, Tampa 33606

Friday 10am – 12pm | Layla’s House | 1506 E. Eskimo Ave, Tampa 33604

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Baby Cafe Times and Locations – Pinellas County (All Residents)

Wednesday 10am – 12pm | High Point Youth Empowerment Center | 5345 Laurel Place, Clearwater 33760

Wednesdays 1:30pm – 3:30pm | James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center | 2335 22nd Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Friday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Citizen’s Alliance for Progress- Neighborhood Family Center | 401 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive | Tarpon Springs, Florida 34689 C

For additional information on Pinellas County services, visit cfctb.org/pinellas.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

We offer an affordable breast pump rental program featuring Medela Hospital grade pumps.

For more information, call us at all 813-673-4646. ext. 1127.

Classes & Workshops

Attend our unique one-time, three-hour workshop that inspires and equips expecting moms and dads to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their co-parents, and personally navigate their transformation into parents. Our facilitators create an open and welcoming experience while covering topics such as pregnancy, birth, and babies. Workshops are available in mom-only and dad-only formats.

Upcoming Classes: Understanding Fatherhood

June 29th

July 27th

August 31st

September 28th

October 26th

November 23rd

Register (required).

Attend our one-time 2-hour Breastfeeding Basics class to grow your breastfeeding confidence even before your baby arrives. This is also a chance to get to know our staff and some other parents who are going through the same joys as challenges as you, so you’ve got a great support system from day one.

Upcoming Classes: Breastfeeding Basics

August 13th

September 10th

October 8th

November 12th

Register (required).

Register for Baby Cafe, Classes, and Workshops

Frequently Asked Questions

Prenatal classes are available to anyone who is welcoming a new baby into their life: birth parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, foster parents, or anyone else who will be taking care of a new baby.

All abcProgram services are completely free to you.

Our policies regarding the presence of siblings and other children at abcProgram services vary depending on the specific service, location, and staffing level on a given day. If you need to bring other children with you to a service, please call ahead to make sure we are able to accommodate – we are happy to do so when we can!

Our prenatal classes are led by staff who possess certified expertise on the specific topic they are teaching. Our Baby Cafe clinics and other breastfeeding support services are facilitated by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, considered the gold standard level of certification for providing breastfeeding support.
Yes, please! Our IBCLCs are here to provide you with non-judgmental education to help you meet your feeding goals, whatever they may be.

We encourage partner attendance (whoever that may be!) at all of our prenatal classes, Understanding Fatherhood, which is a Dad-only space. Partners are also welcome to attend our Baby Cafe. We find that it’s quite helpful to have another set of ears and eyes to learn the information presented. When multiple families are present at the same time and some include partners, we recognize that each family’s comfort level may vary, and we do our best to keep everyone feeling comfortable while still allowing partners to participate.

Please note that separate registration is requested for each attendee.

No! Baby Cafe is an opportunity to meet one on one with an IBCLC to troubleshoot breastfeeding challenges and receive education. While at the Baby Cafe, moms have the opportunity to meet each other and talk about the joys and struggles of early parenthood. If you are looking for a new parent support group, check out what we offer on our Infants & Newborns page.

In Hillsborough County, we are generously funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, REACH UP, INC., and BayCare. Pinellas County services are generously funded by the Juvenile Welfare Board and the Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County.