Wic

[lovermont]

I recently found a more breastfeeding friendly WIC office (see this thread) and this new-to-me office said they provide incentives if you make it to a certain age still exclusively nursing your baby. My first thought was: that's silly- why would you need that?
But it could work- especially for moms who are on the fence about nursing.
Dh and I talked about it later and he said he thought it would make sense for WIC to give moms who make it to 6mos $50. It would probably motivate moms to nurse longer and would be a whole lot cheaper for WIC.
While we were at the hospital when dd was born dh overheard a woman standing outside the nursery say that she had told WIC that she was partially breastfeeding but she was going to tell them that she had stopped breastfeeding so she could get more formula. When I told the nutritionist at WIC what we'd overheard she said that they are federally mandating that if you are partially breastfeeding you will only be given one can of formula at each visit (which isn't enough, evidently). She predicts that more moms will say they are formula feeding so they get more formula even though they may be partially breastfeeding. This will lower their breastfeeding rates and thus their funding.
I think the $50 (or something similar) is a good idea. Is their someone official to present this idea to?

[waiting2bemommy]

WEll, but they're going to say they can't give away plain cash. I had a similar thought, though....It's almost insulting that FF moms get like $200 worth of free formula a month, and I get a bag of carrots.
So, my thought was, say they spend $200/month of the FF mom...why not give each EBF mom half of that in special food stamps? Like, there would be a much larger selection of foods, including organic, fresh, etc that you could choose from, but paper goods, junk food, etc would NOT be included. Aside from that, the mom could spend the money on whatever foods her family could actually use.

This would guarantee that the bf'ing mom was NOT using it to buy formula, and it would also ensure more healthy foods for her that would actually be used (since I don't use half the stuff on my WIC check....if only I could have organic milk instead of that nasty cereal....) And it would still be cheaper for wic than paying for formula.

[onlygirls]

I was on WIC for a very brief time with my oldest. I think we were at the 3 or 6 month mark and my "incentive" was a bib. It said "I'm a WIC baby!" or something similar. DH said there was no way in hell we were putting that on our kid. There was no need for a bib since she was not eating solids.

I stopped using WIC soon after because we were in a better place financially and were not eating the food that they offered anyway.

I agree that some kind of incentive might make it more apealing for mothers, but my "incentive" did not convince me to nurse longer. DD nursed until she was 3.

[lovermont]

Originally Posted by waiting2bemommy

WEll, but they're going to say they can't give away plain cash.

I thought this too. I worked with pregnant and parenting teens while pregnant with ds and if they brought their kids to the on site daycare and went to their GED program 1 day each week for the whole month they were given a $10 gift card to Walmart. I wouldn't want a Walmart gift card but maybe a gift card would work because the places you could buy things would be limited (i.e. hopefully not buying illegal substances etc.). But that's a good point about the potential to then use it to buy formula...

Originally Posted by onlygirls

I think we were at the 3 or 6 month mark and my "incentive" was a bib. It said "I'm a WIC baby!" or something similar.

Oh- now that's motivating When I first read your post I thought- a bib?!?! That's it! The breastfeeding mom is saving WIC a bajillion $$$ and you give her a bib!?!? Then I kept reading... Oh my! Who would want to put that on their child. Being on WIC is not a point of pride... or maybe that's just me

[onlygirls]

Being on WIC is not a point of pride... or maybe that's just me

That was another reason why I stopped going. I was embarrassed that I "needed" this assistance. Plus they wanted my DD's immunization record. (No vaxes for us) At the time, my DH was in the Marine Corps. When I was waiting at my appts, I always saw people get vouchers for formula. I felt like I was the only person breastfeeding.

I know some people have better experiences on WIC and get a lot of breastfeeding support. It all depends on who is working in your area.

[mamabutterfly]

I agree with what others have said. So frustrating how the program is run. But with my first, years ago, I accidentally found out (from another mom, not someone working for WIC), that if you were exclusively breastfeeding, not receiving WIC formula, you were eligible for a breast pump - nice double electric Ameda. Anyone else ever heard of this?

[kriket]

Originally Posted by mamabutterfly

if you were exclusively breastfeeding, not receiving WIC formula, you were eligible for a breast pump - nice double electric Ameda. Anyone else ever heard of this?

I think cognito got one with DS#1 through medicare (medicaid i don't know the difference) They deemed it a medical need and wrote her a script. She said it was super nice.

[onlygirls]

I have heard that breastpumps were available for those who were working. I was a SAHM, so I never pumped.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by mamabutterfly

I agree with what others have said. So frustrating how the program is run. But with my first, years ago, I accidentally found out (from another mom, not someone working for WIC), that if you were exclusively breastfeeding, not receiving WIC formula, you were eligible for a breast pump - nice double electric Ameda. Anyone else ever heard of this?

It's differant for every WIC program.

[LotusBirthMama]

No one is forcing you to get this free food. If its so frustrating then don't go. I mean, milk is over 4 bucks a gallon! I'm gonna take that, along with my free carrots, and be grateful and happy I get such a nice service. I certainly don't think I need to sit around and cry "Unfair!" that FF moms get formula.

[LotusBirthMama]

Originally Posted by lovermont

Being on WIC is not a point of pride... or maybe that's just me

I have never been ashamed of needing assistance.

And BFing moms could save WIC even MORE money by not.using.the.free.service.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by LotusBirthMama

No one is forcing you to get this free food. If its so frustrating then don't go. I mean, milk is over 4 bucks a gallon! I'm gonna take that, along with my free carrots, and be grateful and happy I get such a nice service. I certainly don't think I need to sit around and cry "Unfair!" that FF moms get formula.

I think their is a feeling of inequity that some are trying their damnedest making every cent stretch and still needing help. While others aren't even trying, or worse looking for ways to circumvent the system and are more taxing on the system.
and the OP was looking for ways to make the system more efficient and rewarding for those who do put in the effort and do try their hardest.
WIC also offers milk and cheese and cereal to help combat malnutrition. Those are things that I can't afford to buy for myself and DH and I don't have children, and both work 40H a week. There are hardworking people out there who need a little bit of help and some people feel they are being pushed out of the system by lazy mamas who are looking for a free ride

[7kiddosmom]

I wanted to add a little bit. Formula feeding moms only get WIC for 6 months pp while bf moms get WIC for a full year. BF moms also recieve an extra gallon of milk and lb of cheese monthly.

I have recieved 2 pumps from the WIC office, 6 yrs apart. The first time I was working and needed to pump the second time I was going in for surgery and needed to pump for the time I was to be away. They offered me a loaner hospital grade or a double Ameda to keep. I decided that I wanted the keeper one. I still have it and intend to use if I need it this time around.

I do think that the WIC office in my area could be more supportive of BF, offer more assistance beyond a breastfeeding peer person, a LC would be ideal. They did give me a breastfeeding gift bag with my last baby that had a bib, reusuable breast pads and a cheapy cloth diaper. OH and a tote bag that it all came in.

It would be nice to have some type of incentive to continue bfing. I know with my first few children it might have possibly been motive to continue longer than I did. I am not sure what that could have been. We were so broke at the time just about anything would have been nice.

[Ruthla]

I remember friends in a different county (I hadn't qualified for WIC when I lived there) got some free gifts for BF to a certian point: a breastpump at birth or 6 weeks or something like that, a nice T shirt for 6 months, maybe a sweatshirt for a year? Or maybe there was a diaper bag in there somewhere? I forget the details, since I didn't personally receive any of them. I'm also not certain if they gave to all moms who were BFing or only those who weren't also taking formula.

I didn't get any "free gifts" for nursing DS his first year, because the WIC office where we lived at the time didn't have any such promotion going on. The WIC ladies were always impressed with me for BFing him so long, and genuinley positive about it, even though most other moms used formula.

I did find out that they have 3 programs for infants: 1 for exclusive formula feeding, 1 for partial feeding, where they get half the monthly formula as the FF babies, and the full BF where the baby gets no formula and the mom gets extra benefits. I know they have a program for up to 6m PP for non nursing moms, and for up to 12m PP for nursing moms, but I'm not sure exactly what's in the food package for combo feeding moms- I hope it's more food than the FF moms get, otherwise why would they bother with the BF package at all and get less formula?

IMO, the biggest obtacle to BF was the nutritionists' expectation of formula feeding. When I was there with my newborn (3rd baby, having BF my other two) they wouldn't give me too many checks at once "in case I need to change to formula next month." When he was older, I was able to go to the WIC office less often and pick up more checks at a time. I mean, I was HOSTING an online support chat for working and pumping moms, and they didn't trust me to not need formula in a month?

[ccohenou]

I think attractive incentives for breastfeeding mothers equal in value to formula could be very helpful. The extra six months of eligibility for mom is nice. OTOH, I would not begrudge babies their food. It's not the baby's decision to be breastfed or not, and if they're not, they need formula. If you're looking to get public assistance (I do too when needed) it seems awfully glass-houses to be worrying about "lazy mamas looking for a free ride." Come on now.

[Mandynee22]

IDK if cash would be the way to go but other "incentives" might be a good idea.
When we go, they sometimes give us stuff (sippys, toothbrushes, one of those little snack bowls with a cover) but it isn't for BFing, it's because Andrew looks in the drawer LOL
I did get a WBW t-shirt when I first signed up and Andrew was 6 monthsish.
At the county fair every year WIC has a table in the community tent and they have tons of stuff. Last year I picked up a couple of nursing coloring books :-) And a frisbie... which my kids love :-)

[AutumnNoelle]

The Wic office that I used to go to gave nursing mom's free babyslings, diapers at each visit and a nursing stool. =) I got the sling, some diapers.. stopped getting them when I got cloth diapers.

[SeekingSerenity]

Originally Posted by onlygirls

That was another reason why I stopped going. I was embarrassed that I "needed" this assistance. Plus they wanted my DD's immunization record. (No vaxes for us)

The WIC offices I've used have always asked if my kids were up-to-date on vaxes, but never demanded proof. I would just say YES to avoid confrontation.

As for being embarrassed, I have been off and on WIC for many years. I've never felt embarrassed for having to get assistance. If there was any time that we made enough that I would no longer qualify, I was proud to be able to leave those funds for other mamas who needed them more, but as of right now, I'm as bad off as I have ever been. I could not be more grateful for the help I get now.

Originally Posted by LotusBirthMama

No one is forcing you to get this free food. If its so frustrating then don't go. I mean, milk is over 4 bucks a gallon! I'm gonna take that, along with my free carrots, and be grateful and happy I get such a nice service. I certainly don't think I need to sit around and cry "Unfair!" that FF moms get formula.

I agree. I am very grateful for what I get. My kids use it. As for the "crappy" cereal, well I try to get the unsweetened stuff. Sure it may not be the organic, all-natural cereal I'd prefer to give them, but when you're broke, you can't afford to be picky.

Originally Posted by LotusBirthMama

And BFing moms could save WIC even MORE money by not.using.the.free.service.

I still use it while BFing because I still desperately need the milk, eggs, cheese, etc...

Originally Posted by 7kiddosmom

I wanted to add a little bit. Formula feeding moms only get WIC for 6 months pp while bf moms get WIC for a full year. BF moms also recieve an extra gallon of milk and lb of cheese monthly.

It's been a really long time since I got formula on WIC but I recall when I got it, it was for a whole year. The BFing mamas were the ones who got shorter benefits. Maybe they have turned it around now, but back then I remember getting to the point where the allotted 8 cans of formula per month was not enough for a hungry 10-month old.

Originally Posted by 7kiddosmom

I have recieved 2 pumps from the WIC office, 6 yrs apart... They did give me a breastfeeding gift bag with my last baby that had a bib, reusuable breast pads and a cheapy cloth diaper. OH and a tote bag that it all came in.

It would be nice to have some type of incentive to continue bfing...

The only pump I ever got from them was a cheap hand-pump that I could not use. That was a long time ago, however, and I need to look into something this time.

And I might add, I have never... EVER... in all my years of using this service gotten any kind of incentive or gift. I have received WIC in two different states. Never got more than the free mass-printed calendars off the table in the lobby. Oh, and I think once, I got a small screen-printed T-shirt for one of the kids. That's it.

I know they'd never give food stamps, because that's run by a different department altogether. They also can't give cash or material benefits. However I think the WIC clinic that I will be switching to has started offering more fresh produce and has switched from separate WIC checks to an EBT card much like the one used by the food stamp people. That's what I have heard anyway...

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by LotusBirthMama

I certainly don't think I need to sit around and cry "Unfair!" that FF moms get formula.

It's not just that it's "unfair", it's that the program is set up in a way that encourages/rewards low income women for NOT breastfeeding. And that, I'd like to think we could all agree, is a bad thing.

[Elijahs Momma]

When I was on wic the only thing I got was more food for myself for breastfeeding, but I did get a free breast pump, although they didn't just hand them out.