Good beginnings make a positive difference in the world, so it is worth our while to provide the best possible care for mothers and babies throughout this extraordinarily influential part of life.
We believe that all parents should have access to quality breastfeeding support, postpartum social support, and the evidence-based information they need to make informed-decisions for their families. Our implicit goal is to help reduce postpartum depression and mood disorders in our community (the #1 ‘complication’ to childbirth) and to support the long-term health of local birthing parents and and babies by providing them time-sensitive clinical breastfeeding care (lactation consultations).
The Then Comes Baby New Family Fund aims to cover the gap between what Alameda County mid-income families can afford to pay, and what it actually costs Then Comes Baby to provide clinical lactation consultation services and other perinatal support services, like support groups and childbirth education. Access to this program is available for pregnant and postpartum women who fit the income eligibility guidelines of California’s MCAP program (California’s insurance program for mid-income families) and funding is specifically for childbirth and breastfeeding education, lactation consultations, and new mom groups.
Are you a expectant or new parent who would like to learn more about accessing subsidized services?
Please fill out this form, let us know what services you need support with, and we will be in touch with you.
We won’t be able to do this without continued community support! Every penny helps — donations small (and big) add up! If you would like to support the cause, you can do so here.
If you are interested in learning more about monetary donations, service-based donations via volunteering, or donations for auctions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we’d be happy to get in touch.
FAQ
We offer reduced out-of-pocket costs to mid-income families, as defined by the State of California, to have timely access to clinical lactation consultations, new moms groups, and childbirth education.
You are eligible to access eligible services in our program to cover the gap between what you can comfortably afford and the cost of those services if you:
- Are pregnant or have a child under the age of 6 months;
- You meet the criteria (defined by the State of California) of being mid-income; and
- Are an Alameda County resident
1) Childbirth Preparation Series
2) Lactation Consultation(s) — In-Home or In-Office
3) First Connections, New Beginnings, and This is Harder Than I Thought Moms Groups
Because it’s the right thing to do.
Because Alameda County has a strong network of safety-net programs for low-income parents (and parents-to-be), but no such support for mid-income individuals. So, mid-income families often get stuck in the middle and often don’t access important mental or physical health resources at all, or wait much longer than is ideal to get the help they need. We hope to eliminate or reduce that financial barrier to care for local moms.
Thanks for asking. Well, there are a few ways:
1) The founder and Executive Director of Then Comes Baby, Sabrina, donates a portion of her time and earnings to help cover administrative needs and ‘chip in’ a routine donation to the Family Fund. Every bit counts and she sees if she can help even a few parents a month in need of some extra assistance with these important services, the ripple effect will potentially be impactful for years.
2) Then, we aim for 30 – 40% of the cost of service is covered via donations, fundraisers, and certain classes/ groups (like our movie screenings, professional education events, breastfeeding support group, for example)
3) The family receiving the service contributes the remaining amount, effectively receiving saving 30% – 50% on out-of-pocket investments for Lactation Consultations, our First and Second-Time Moms Groups, the This is Harder Than I Thought therapy group, and Childbirth Preparation Classes.
* If there are insufficient funds from the donations, fundraisers, and classes we will try our best to see how we can help you still.
BUT, WE DON” WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE! PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY OF NEW PARENTS!
