A spinoff of "WIC lactivism"

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Do you think that the ability to get "free" formula from WIC actually encourages women who might not otherwise formula feed to do so? Of course, it is good for the women who physically cannot breastfeed (due either to a physical issue with her body or the baby or due to lack of support--nonsupportive job/family/whatever) or the ones who are adamant about not breastfeeding because they are skeeved by it or for whatever reason. At least the baby can get something adequate to grow and thrive. I'm talking about the women "on the fence", but can physically breastfeed, the ones that maybe money is tight so breastfeeding would be the way to go.

(More later--gotta go to PT)

[Evergreen]

Yes. I do. That doesn't mean I don't think WIC should provide formula but I have seen many instances of the scenario you described happening.

[Frootloop]

Yes, unfortunately I do.

I've run across this WAY more in the southern states than I have in the north, though. As sad as it sounds, I don't know of one single friend, relative, or even acquaintance of mine that lives in my hometown or immediate surrounding towns in Western TN that even attempted to breastfeed.. and out of all of them, at least 98% said something along the lines of, "what's the point? Formula is just as good and that's what WIC is for.. free formula".

[mysticmomma]

It can... our WIC office makes a point of telling moms that WIC only gives enough formula for a 10 pound baby. Beyond that, you are paying. They also talk about how expensive special formulas get.

[tanyam926]

As a former WIC Nutritionist, and someone who has been doing BF counseling in and out of WIC for about 10 yrs I have to say yes and no.

The easy availability of formula from WIC can contribute to women not BF or lessen the duration of BF, however I truly believe this is a symptom of a much larger problem.

WIC is not the cause of women not BF. The introduction of formula and the prevalence of the belief that formula is better/just as good as breastmilk is the cause of women not BF. Once the product and the idea was introduced in society it caused a train wreck. Less women BF leads to a formula feeding society, formula feeding society leads to lack of knowledge about normal BF, lack of knowledge leads to BF problems and no/little support for BF in hospitals/society, etc, etc. It's a vicious cycle.

If WIC were to stop giving formula would the problem be solved? Not a chance. It would cause more problems bc the underlying issues have not been addressed and resolved. It's like putting a bandaid on a festering infected wound. You gotta treat the cause.

WIC was started to address nutrition deficiencies in children in lower socioeconomic populations. A major issue was moms watering down the formula/stretching out feedings/etc. bc of the high cost of formula. Women were not BF long before WIC came along, hence the need for WIC.

When we become a BF society and formula is no longer widely used, WIC will not need to provide formula (except in special circumstances of course, they do happen as we all know). Until then we can reach moms through WIC to support, encourage, help them initiate and continue to BF.

WIC employees get a lot of very good training on BF, however the agency (just like any other) is made up of human beings w/their own beliefs and personal experiences on the subject. Those things are going to affect the way they support BF. Don't get me wrong, WIC can def be improved, and they drive me crazy sometimes too, but in my state I think they are doing pretty darn well for the limited resources they have.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of the BF mamas who were able would go over to their WIC offices and offer their services to help BF women? WIC wouldn't know what to do w/all of us. There are BF peer counselor programs that are usually lacking counselors. The studies on the effect of peer counselors on the success of BF are amazing.

It's such a complex issue, but I do not believe anyone can establish a direct cause and effect when it comes to WIC formula and BF rates.

[Krystal323]

Well, I have to say when I was 18 and kinda clueless, I probably would have tried harder to BF had i not been hearing from every conceivable angle to "just go get free formula and quit this nonsense"

Pretty much a : to the PP

[guitarmama]

Do you all know about the new WIC packages. Here is a link to the new packages. Notice the differece between package VI (fully ffing) and package VII (fully bfing). Also notice on the infant chart how much more baby food a mom gets if she's still on a fully bfing package at 6 months. Sure, the free formula does contribute to some moms' choices (btw, I agree w/ everything tanyam said), but the folks at the state and federal levels get it. They know that breast is best, and I think these new changes are a good start.

[earthmommy2]

I (L) (L) (L) (L) (L) the new packages, there are breastfeeding benefits that I hope will strengthen moms!! I use to hear all the time that people just wanted the free formula and it would be so discouraging!! I think that the new plans will help BF sooooo much!!

[Belle]

With the new changes in our state they don't give formula to babies younger than a month old. Moms can still get their PP checks but no formula for such young babies.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

To be honest, I only went to see if I qualify for WIC the other day because I may have to leave my baby for a couple months (but not for several more months). We do qualify--and I'll be getting the breastfeeding package up until I leave, then switch to the formula package. However, had I realized a few months ago that I had still qualified, I might have decided that pumping at work wasn't worth the effort--it seemed that I was getting less and less and not keeping up with her--and gone and gotten some formula if the cost was not a factor. (Baby is still exclusively mommy-milk-fed at 6 months-1 week...I'll intro solids after her 1/2 birthday next week)

[sarahr]

I've had this conversation with my best friend, who's a pediatrician. Her take on it is that maybe, it discourages some people from breastfeeding. But that, more importantly, it means that people feed full strength formula to their babies, rather than cutting the formula powder with too much water, to make it last longer. And we agreed that it's more important to have full-strength formula versus watered-down formula, even at the cost of a few breast feeders.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

My mixed feelings about WIC have mostly been addressed here already but I'll keep an eye on this thread as it is a topic I think about quite frequently.


ETA: I was looking at that website and was wondering if anyone knows why they are giving liquid concentrate as opposed to powdered formula now?

[Frootloop]

Originally Posted by tinyactsofcharity

My mixed feelings about WIC have mostly been addressed here already but I'll keep an eye on this thread as it is a topic I think about quite frequently.


ETA: I was looking at that website and was wondering if anyone knows why they are giving liquid concentrate as opposed to powdered formula now?

Bolding mine-

Hmmm, I wonder if this varies by city/state/whatever? I never received powdered formula, it was always the liquid.. actually, no one in my city used the powdered. It's been about 12 years ago since I last received WIC, though, so I have no idea if they had changed to powdered for a while.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by earthmommy2

I (L) (L) (L) (L) (L) the new packages, there are breastfeeding benefits that I hope will strengthen moms!! I think that the new plans will help BF sooooo much!!

I do too! Someone made a comment to me the other day that it "wasn't fair" that BFing mamas got more food then the FF moms. They also think the point of WIC is to distribute formula.

Originally Posted by tinyactsofcharity

ETA: I was looking at that website and was wondering if anyone knows why they are giving liquid concentrate as opposed to powdered formula now?

I think ours is still doing powder. I think. I have no idea. Maybe it's a water safety thing? wait, you mix water with the concentrate right?

I am very glad this is staying civil! I have seen this topic get really ugly.

[2lilsweetfoxes]

Originally Posted by earthmommy2

I (L) (L) (L) (L) (L) the new packages, there are breastfeeding benefits that I hope will strengthen moms!! I use to hear all the time that people just wanted the free formula and it would be so discouraging!! I think that the new plans will help BF sooooo much!!

The only thing I don't like about the new package is that they are going to give my breastfed vegetarian baby meat . I wonder if I can get a prescription for more veggies in its place or if I just need to stick them into the food bank/not get them.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by 2lilsweetfoxes

The only thing I don't like about the new package is that they are going to give my breastfed vegetarian baby meat . I wonder if I can get a prescription for more veggies in its place or if I just need to stick them into the food bank/not get them.

from what I've heard, yes, yes, and yes. I don't know for sure if you can get veg in place of the meat, but I have heard you can. and you can always not get them or donate them!

DS's 6mo appt is next week and I will ask, though I'm sure it varies by area.

[CrunchyGina]

I love the new packages too! The only thing that disappointed me was that I couldn't exchange all the jars of baby food for more fresh produce. We don't do jarred food so it'd be a waste for us. Oh well, I'll just donate it all. Also they're only giving cheese to breastfeeding moms, so once they cut me off no more. We eat tons of cheese so that's disappointing.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by CrunchyGina

The only thing that disappointed me was that I couldn't exchange all the jars of baby food for more fresh produce.

PMed you.

[bbrandonsmom]

Kriket-you could always tell some one who complains that bf moms get more food, that they need it, because they are burning more calories while nursing, which is true.

At the local office today-there was bf stuff everywhere! A big poster board, pamphlets, the nutritionist asked about it etc.
While I was waiting though, every family who stopped in was ff, even the 2 nb babies
I didn't read over my checks yet. I know on mine, for bf, there is double pb, bread, veggies, 1% milk, cheese and juice. I don't have baby food on any of my checks, though my youngest is 2. I wonder if they have more meat down because the meat has more protien than the jar veggie?
I'm just glad they finally changed it to some healthier things.

Oh, they would not give out free formula to one couple who stopped in. Not sure why. I wondered why they didn't ask her if she was bf at all, even partially, since that's free at least.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

I dislike the fact that my BFing mother benefits were cut off when DS hit 12 months. He is still 98% BF'd so the extra food would really be nice and besides aren't they trying to encourage extended nursing?