Ohio wic - just through the first year??

[mamadelbosque]

So, at our last wic appointment a week or so ago, I was told that this would be my last time - as bfing mothers only get food through the first year... is this true?? If so... why?? Doesn't the AAP, WHO, etc encourage bfing through at least 2 years??

And... does anybody know when we'll start getting fruits/veggies?? I just read online that they'll be included!!

[theboysmama]

yup, that's true. didn't you know that your breastmilk expires the day your child turns 1.

i think here in NM we will be getting the new food plan by august of 2009 but it will probably be a little sooner.

[peaceful_mama]

I'm in SD and just about to stop getting mine too, at the end of January. Then DD will be getting milk that I will use to cook with as she won't be drinking it. We get way more cereal than we know what to do with.

How can we get our WIC to include farmer's market coupons in the summer?! that would be BEYOND AWESOME.
I'd take less Cheerios for that LOL

[JamesMama]

Same thing in Iowa. I told them I planned to bf beyond the first year and they said that was fantastic, but I would only be getting benefits for myself for the 1st year...the kids will get stuff after that. But, really, we get more milk and eggs and cheese than we know what to do with! LOL

[KurumiSophia]

I think its everywhere that the breastfeeding mom benefits expire @ baby's 1st birthday. Its silly IMHO but what can ya do?

(nak)

[Cativari]

Same here in MN. Bfing benefits only last until 1 year. Though they have been supportive of me Bfing my toddler. I am a little curious about what happens at 6 months as this is my first time on WIC and don't intend on introducing solids until babe is ready and I don't do baby cereals or food for my little ones.

[pawprint]

I work in the BF department of WIC and that is the case everywhere.

Moms who feed ABM only get it for one year- so we only get it for one year. Plus people already lie and saying they bf one time a day to get benefits. WIC can't give it out for a whole other year to every woman who *says* her baby nurses one time a day.

[natural_mama89]

Originally Posted by pawprint

I work in the BF department of WIC and that is the case everywhere.

Moms who feed ABM only get it for one year- so we only get it for one year. Plus people already lie and saying they bf one time a day to get benefits. WIC can't give it out for a whole other year to every woman who *says* her baby nurses one time a day.

The problem with this though, is that a mom can get a note from her baby's doctor saying that it is healthier for them to have formula for 2 years and get it from WIC for the second year also.:

[bodhicitta3]

yep so unfortunately true...however i have to give kuddos to WIC b/c my 14 mo dd was diagnosed with egg dairy soy wheat fish and nut allergys and needs a $8 serving nutritional supplement and wic buys 96 cans a month....
we still breastfeed but as I am a vegetarian it is so difficult to cut all those things out of my diet so if we just night/nap nurse it doesnt bother her too bad.

[Mama Poot]

Ha, good luck with your fruits and veggies. They've been steadily reducing the 'farmers market' checks because people don't use them! And yeah I think its bogus they only support breastfeeding through the first year. We're not on WIC anymore because honestly it became too much of a hassle. That and they don't offer any organic products, and I really don't want to drink hormone and antibiotic-laden milk. However, they did give me an electric pump which i thought was great!

[theboysmama]

The veggies that the op is referring to is a new wic package. i am not sure where it has been approved but in NM the deadline is to have the program started by august 2009. The will be reducin juice and adding fresh fruit, reducing cereal and adding bread, allowing rice and soy milk instead of cows milk, etc. We also get the farmers market checks in the summer but this is separate

[CalebsMama05]

Originally Posted by pawprint

I work in the BF department of WIC and that is the case everywhere.

Moms who feed ABM only get it for one year- so we only get it for one year. Plus people already lie and saying they bf one time a day to get benefits. WIC can't give it out for a whole other year to every woman who *says* her baby nurses one time a day.

that is interesting...here the only way you get the breastfeeding package is if you aren't getting ANY formula...even one can and you are considered a ff mom.

[ruhbehka]

Originally Posted by pawprint

I work in the BF department of WIC and that is the case everywhere.

Moms who feed ABM only get it for one year- so we only get it for one year. Plus people already lie and saying they bf one time a day to get benefits. WIC can't give it out for a whole other year to every woman who *says* her baby nurses one time a day.

How do you know they are lying?

I am truthful that my son gets a minimal amount of breastmilk from me, is mostly formula fed, and that he still nurses for a few minutes each day, anywhere from 1 to 10 times.

[ruhbehka]

Originally Posted by natural_mama89

The problem with this though, is that a mom can get a note from her baby's doctor saying that it is healthier for them to have formula for 2 years and get it from WIC for the second year also.:

Again, how do you know they are not in need of it?!

First, it *is* healthier for babies to be on formula for 2 years if they're not breastfed. Especially during the first half of the second year, when many babies aren't eating well yet.

Second, most doctors WONT give out a note like this unless they believe it's warranted. My son has such a note, because he has a milk allergy and struggles to get enough protein in. He is on Neocate and we're grateful that WIC covers some of the (enormous) cost.

Come on, mamas. Let's give others the benefit of the doubt here. :

[Sharlla]

As far as I know WIC in all states give cows milk at 1 year and nothing for the BFing mother.

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by natural_mama89

The problem with this though, is that a mom can get a note from her baby's doctor saying that it is healthier for them to have formula for 2 years and get it from WIC for the second year also.:

Nobody at WIC should be saying that you have to wean at 12 months. They stop giving the breastfeeding mom the food package, but turn around and give almost the same package to the child. Ok, so if you're exclusively breastfeeding (not getting any formula), you loose a little tuna, beans, and carrots, but seriously... That only adds up to maybe $10 a month difference. So, if your DC isn't ready for the foods in the food package, nobody says you can't eat it and continue to breastfeed.

The issue with the special formula requests you cite above has to do with children with special needs. We did have one child get around the no soy milk issue by having a scrip for soy formula until he was 18 months. Dairy did bad things to this child. Most of our over 12 months old special formula kids either have feeding tubes or have had multiple hospitalizations, or have sensory or motor issues to where they are not able to eat enough regular foods to thrive. Here WIC only pays for a certain amount and Medicaid picks up for the rest if the doc writes for more than we normally distribute. Also, when babies over 12 months get formula, they don't get the regular food package.

I know most WIC offices discontinue breastfeeding support services when the child turns 12 months old. While I can't count those moms in my computer records, I can and do in my paper records. I can't count the pregnant women in the computer that I counsel either, so don't feel too slighted. I've had women come to me about issues with their nursing 3 year olds... Ok, so it was help with weaning because of TTC, but I happily did what I could for her.

Anna

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by CalebsMama05

that is interesting...here the only way you get the breastfeeding package is if you aren't getting ANY formula...even one can and you are considered a ff mom.

You can get a food package and be considered breastfeeding for the entire 12 months if you breastfeed at least once a day and still get formula. You don't get the carrots, tuna, extra juice, cheese and beans, but you don't get as much formula either.

Anna

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

Originally Posted by Da WIC Lady

You can get a food package and be considered breastfeeding for the entire 12 months if you breastfeed at least once a day and still get formula. You don't get the carrots, tuna, extra juice, cheese and beans, but you don't get as much formula either.

Anna

With ds they gave him 9 cans of 12.9 oz powdered formula a month, and he normally only used 5 or 6, so I just didn't use some of the checks. How much does a full ff baby get anyway? I thought 9 was an awful lot for only being partially ff, they give fully ff babies even more??

[Da WIC Lady]

Originally Posted by ILoveMyBabyBird

With ds they gave him 9 cans of 12.9 oz powdered formula a month, and he normally only used 5 or 6, so I just didn't use some of the checks. How much does a full ff baby get anyway? I thought 9 was an awful lot for only being partially ff, they give fully ff babies even more??

I have no idea. I'll ask. I think here the nutritionist can give as few as 3 cans. It might be either a lazy nutritionist or they might not be able to change how many are distributed. Besides, we tell moms that what WIC provides may be more than enough in the beginning, but as the child gets older it may not be enough to meet all of the baby's needs and the parent will be responsible for buying the rest out of pocket. We tell the formula feeders to buy all the formula even if they aren't using it at the beginning as they will not have enough later.

Anna

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by ruhbehka

Again, how do you know they are not in need of it?!

First, it *is* healthier for babies to be on formula for 2 years if they're not breastfed. Especially during the first half of the second year, when many babies aren't eating well yet.

It's not the need that's the issue, it's the unfairness of continuing to provide formula while not continuing to provide food to help mom's produce breastmilk. It's the same problem as a mom being asked to nurse in the restaurant bathroom with a baby getting a bottle at the next table over.

Okay, read further, as a way to get around milk allergies when they won't cover things like soymilk that is reasonable.