I got a free pump today for ebf'ing

our WIC office gives you a pump to keep if you are going back to work or if you have a dr's note that you have to pump exclusively.

all nursing moms get a medela hand pump though

When I worked at WIC, we lent electric pumps to moms who had to work full-time (and frequently ran out or had a waiting list) and gave manual pumps to moms who had to be away from their baby part-time.

Our WIC office does not do this, it definitely depends on the area. 4 years ago when I was pregnant with DS#2 they told me that they offer a $50 coupon for our BX (store on base) toward a breast pump. They also said the coupons were in limited supply so I never asked for one.

DS#2 is still nursing at 1 1/2. When I went in when he was 1 year they told me I need to cut back on nursings and offer food or milk before breastmilk. I told them he was nursing 6 - 7 times a day and they said that was way too often. I refused to give him cows milk so they threatened to take away WIC for him. They are suppose to be breastfeeding friendly, they said if we had any breastfeeding issues they could assist me, but they are definitely not. Thankfully my peds office is BFing friend and they have a couple LCs.

In my county, medicaid covers breast pumps so WIC does not (most mothers that qualify for WIC qualify for medicaid).

The WIC office does have a LC on staff that women can call with questions.

They do it here in Montana. Also all the workers in my local WIC office are CLC's!

I didn't get one...but have only been to 1 WIC appt. I was impressed to find out that the LC's look for BFing moms who are interested in being peer counslors for other WIC moms...so I threw my hat in that ring.

Our WIC office looked at me like I had 2 heads a couple of years ago when I asked if they had any pumps to loan out/give away.

Same here, I had to fork over the $300 bucks for my own PIS. I had asked WIC but they said they didn't help with that.

The WIC office in my county in FL also has hand pumps they give out if a mom asks for them. They do have a limited budget though so they don't give them out unless a mom asks for them. They also have a couple hospital grade pumps they rent out to mothers who need them. I am not sure if they have any other electric pumps or not. I know they have at least 2 IBCLCs between the offices in this county.

That is great! The WIC program in Oklahoma does that as well. I got an Ameda Purely Yours. It works great but I cringe everytime I use it because I believe the same coy makes circumstraints as well.uke

WIC here in Washington gives out pumps, but only if you have to work full time or if you have a special circumstance (like an NICU baby). I can respect that.

When I started on WIC 2 1/2 years ago with my first child, I was looked at like I had 2 heads for breastfeeding. They were also upset that he didn't gain enough weight, and he was so small. When I had my daughter 9 months ago, they were kind of neutral on the breastfeeding issue. Now, they're hiring peer breastfeeding counselors! I was shocked and thrilled to hear that.