WIC Confusion

[Lauren31]

Please tell me I am not crazy but to me this sounds nuts! OK, my friend is a WIC worker overseas with the military and she swears that WIC is breastfeeding friendly. They encourage nursing etc. But then she tells me that at age one women on WIC who are breastfeeding are no longer supplemented for their additional calorie needs. They are only given whole milk because that is what the baby needs after one. I ask her what if the mom wants to continue breastfeeding? She still doesn't get money for food? She says, the baby needs the whole milk so that is what we cover. If she wants to continue breastfeeding that is her perogative. We will still give the baby 6 dollars a month for fresh fruit/veg/juice. WTF? Am I crazy? I feel like I should say something. These poor women who are going to WIC are basically being TOLD that they need to supplement with cows milk bc their milk is not good enough. BONKERS.

[Katie T]

I personally have been given bad/wrong breastfeeding info as well. One being at 6 months you are to start a sippy of water (because they need it) and anther was to night wean at 1yo because of cavities (which neither of my kids have).

I tried to inform then correctly but they didn't care so now I just ignore their advise, but I too wish they would give correct info.

[crunchy_mommy]

I don't have experience with WIC but there was a thread about this over on Lactivisim recently, if you're interested: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...7#post15021587

[Peony]

The thing with WIC is that by 1y, they see very few women that are still bfing. It isn't that the clinics think breastmilk isn't optimal still but that the majority of the babies at that age will be on formula and the guidelines say after 1y, whole milk replaces formula so that is what everyone gets regardless of if they actually still are bfing by then. And yes they don't always have the best info depending on the education of the staff at various clinics. An issue that I run into is that the guidelines are taken from the FDA which can be different then what some MDC moms would do. I do work for WIC but I admit to not knowing everything about the nutrition angle of it, I handle breastfeeding management for my local clinic.

[angelpie545]

It's always touch and go with each WIC office, depending on the education level of the workers, the social climate of the area, and interpretations of current FDA and AAP recommendations. Some WIC offices are terrific and very pro-breastfeeding while others seen like they couldn't care less though they are supposed to be supportive. The truth is, like another poster was saying, that most women who get WIC don't breastfeed for long, if at all. It's rare for them to see a totally breastfed baby at one year old much less a six or even four month old who hasn't received formula. My son was only two months old the last time I was seen and they seemed surprised to hear I didn't need formula, though they congratulated me for breastfeeding and encouraged me to continue, which was good.

[Amatullah0]

ds turned one a little while ago, we are on wic. (sorry, nak )

wic covers all their moms through pregnancy until 6mo postpartum. if mom is breastfeeding, even a little bit, they cover mum until baby is 12mo, unless mom stops breastfeeding before that. so they are already extending coverage for bf mamas to 1yr. so now that only ds is getting wic, I get a few gal milk, 12 eggs, a couple lbs cheese, juice, cereal

my wic office is cool as in, the talk about bf like its normal, as if everyone does it, though i do think a lot of mommies in my area do bf. (on a side note, when they asked for his vax record they didnt say anything besides ask to clarify when his last shot was(around 5mo old, no more) and i told them we dont vax, and she said... nothing! (yay!))

[leahd]

My WIC office gives lip service to breastfeeding, but seem amazed that I am nursing my 2 yr old. even though we live in a fairly progressive area. What really annoys me most is how much juice they push. At one point we were allowed six cans or frozen juices a month.

[Amatullah0]

Originally Posted by leahd

My WIC office gives lip service to breastfeeding, but seem amazed that I am nursing my 2 yr old. even though we live in a fairly progressive area. What really annoys me most is how much juice they push. At one point we were allowed six cans or frozen juices a month.

I agree with the juice thing. i'd rather have fresh fruit than that junk, but hey, whatever, its not like they are forcing it on us. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to ignoring people who talk to me as if I am still in elementary school.

[peaceful_mama]

Our office is fairly pro-bf. They always ask me, but it's because they *have to* pretty much.

Last appt. with DS since I'm PG they asked if I was planning on bf and how long I'd nursed the other kids....I said "yeah of course..." and informed them DD nursed till 21-22 months (we tried a couple tandem sessions, it really wasn't what she was wanting, if this makes sense...she wanted a place to fit, but not as 'a baby' anymore.)

DS2 nursed till just the last couple months.

The lady said she wished she saw more kids like mine (we get that a lot there) and said "I doubt you'll need this, but here it is anyway" and gave me a card for their new lactation worker. (She's not an official LC, I think she might be a LLL peer counselor? something like that)

Ditto here on the juice. THe one I will never forget is the woman who very seriously cautioned me, and wrote it down---not to give DD more than ELEVEN OUNCES of juice a day! She was less than 2 years old. *INSIDE the pamphlet she wrote this on* (toddler nutrition pamphlet) it said 4-6 ounces juice daily!