[Marlet]

We are going to recertify DD for WIC this coming Monday. It's been a little while since I went to one. After a horrendous appointment I stopped going. I'm not sure who was more upset...DD or me.

That said I want to be armed and ready.

The main problem I had last time was the iron test. I am not comfy with it. I don't know why, I just have a hard time with it. My anxiety kicks in hard core and I get VERy nervous. When I went last they scared DD so she was bawling hysterically and while I tried latching her on to calm her they go ahead and do the test. Ok fine, but they did it in her big toe. It wouldn't stop bleeding and we wouldn't stop crying. I really want to avoid this. I know they cannot deny me based off refusal of it but it's "authority" and I have a hard tim saying no. Help me stick to my guns! What can I say to get the point across that she won't be being tested and how can I do it so I don't back down. I don't want to be bullied into this!

Also, DD is sill nursing. She's almost 15 months. I don't want to hear lectures about solids or anything like that. Arm me with facts about extended nursing...short and sweet but to the point so that it, as well, is not a topic of negotiation.

Mainly, someone bulk up my guts so I don't feel the need to cry or back down or feel bullied.

:

 

[LEAW]

Tons of fact sheets and smart comebacks for older nurslings at www.kellymom.com - great stuff!

FWIW, the iron test after kids are standing/walking is done in the finger, which is just as bad as that darn toe... practice saying no in the mirror!

 

[Marlet]

The only reason it was done in her toe was cause they couldn't get to her fingers...she was clutching my shirt and scratching herself when they tried.

She was only 7 months old at the time. They shouldn't have done it in her toe. They knew that. <shudder> Must.breathe.in.and.out.and.not.skip.appointment.

 

[Eman'smom]

I have NO WIC experience but as far as nutrition where is the harm in just nodding and smiling, you aren't going to educate them on nutrition so just don't fit it. Smile nod and um, then leave.

Is there a religious exemption to iron, or what about saying the peds office did it and it was fine?

 

[Marlet]

I would but we don't have a ped. yet.....bad I know.

I don't know if there is an exemption for iron or not. Is there a way to find out?

 

[laohaire]

Would you feel better handing them a (nice) letter with your position, so you don't have to say it verbally? If yes, we could help you write it. You could even bring 2 - 1 to address the iron test and 1 to address breastfeeding, and you could just only use 1 if only 1 comes up, etc.

If it were a letter we could say stuff like "I appreciate that your office is proactive and concerned about my daughter's health, and understand that iron levels are one item that you would like to check. However, I will be declining because... etc." - does that feel like something you would be more confident about giving them? (Then you don't have to memorize anything or worry about backing down)

 

[angelpie545]

Quote:

Originally Posted by laohaire Would you feel better handing them a (nice) letter with your position, so you don't have to say it verbally? If yes, we could help you write it. You could even bring 2 - 1 to address the iron test and 1 to address breastfeeding, and you could just only use 1 if only 1 comes up, etc. If it were a letter we could say stuff like "I appreciate that your office is proactive and concerned about my daughter's health, and understand that iron levels are one item that you would like to check. However, I will be declining because... etc." - does that feel like something you would be more confident about giving them? (Then you don't have to memorize anything or worry about backing down)

Yes, you could do that. It's funny, WIC in my state only asked for an iron check once for my kids, and I told them that it was against my religious beliefs(it's not;I just didn't want to put my kids through that). They haven't given me a problem even for the re-cert.

 

[laohaire]

Yeah, I guess that's your other option, is just to quietly decline - "No thanks" - no argument, nothing like that. And if they pressure, you just say "I'd really rather not."

How does that sound to you?

 

[Marlet]

A letter might not be a bad idea. Then that way they could put it in her "file" and it wouldn't come up ever again...hmmm....ok so what would I say?

 

[katybeth]

I know it's awful for your daughter to have her blood drawn. My son does the whole squirming and crying thing as well, and they always seem so insensitive to his feelings. But I wanted to note that it's important that your daughter is getting enough iron. For example, Dr. Sears notes on his site:

Quote:

...research has shown that children who go for several years with anemia can have intellectual and learning problems later in childhood. It is therefore important to check for anemia in all children during infancy.

If you're not seeing a ped, you might want to have the test done just to make sure. My son ended up with low iron on three consecutive tests and is now on an iron supplement, which really took the pressure off me to stuff him full of iron-rich foods (i.e., meats) and nothing else, when he's never been a big eater anyway.

As for the breastfeeding issue, I know all WIC offices are probably different, but my WIC nurses were incredibly encouraging, much more so than my ped, on the issue of extended breastfeeding. I hope that yours will be too.

 

[StephandOwen]

I would decline those iron pricks too. If you are at all concerned then (first get a dr

) and have a blood drawn done. When my DS was getting WIC (I think it was right around 10 or so months old) they kept doing the iron prick and every single time it said it was low. So every single time they wanted to do it again and every single time it went lower. Talk about freaking mama out! He had a blood draw done at 12 months. Iron was perfectly fine. 3 weeks before that the prick test said it was low. Less than one WEEK after the blood test was done the prick test came back low (don't ask why I let them do another prick test. I didn't know I could refuse

). I hadn't gotten the results from the blood test at that time and they were insisting they needed to put a number in his file so they pricked him. The prick test is not reliable. If I had known then what I know now I would have never let them start that whole d*mn prick test with ds. We ended up stopping WIC shortly after that for a few reasons. One was because I was tired of their obsession with taking his blood. They were playing with my worries because ds doesn't eat meat (or beans) so they knew they would get me to agree to having him tested again and again

:

 

[illinoismommy]

Really you can refuse the iron test? I had the same experience as you. My son was crying when we went into the WIC office because he thought he was going to get shots. So I told him he didn't have to worry, no shots, and he calmed down. He trusted me. They watched me tell him this. Then they wanted me to allow them to prick his finger and push blood out, which to an 18 month old is the same as a shot. I said no, he goes to regular well baby visits and if they don't find it necessary there then its not necessary. They said they wouldn't help me, so I left and we haven't had any help since.

So if there is a way to make these decisions for your children and still get help, let me know what it is... I'm pregnant now and it'd be nice to get the help but I am not torturing myself or my son to do it. They were also freaking out because were "behind" on vaccination shots and wouldn't help me until I went to the doctor and they heard from the doctor.... wait until they hear we aren't doing any more vaccinations.

 

[laohaire]

To: Women Infants and Children

I understand that screening for iron deficiency is a standard procedure for the WIC Program, and I sincerely appreciate your efforts to ensure my daughter, ----NAME HERE----, is healthy. From my research I see that this screening, though strongly encouraged, is optional for participation in WIC.

I decline the screening test on my daughter's behalf.

Since my daughter is regularly seen for well-baby visits by ---NAME OF PEDIATRICIAN---, she is being monitored for signs of iron deficiency. Should there be any concern, our pediatrician will perform the screening.

Thank you for your assistance.

---YOUR NAME---

My idea is for you to name your pediatrician to give the letter some weight and to show that you are taking care of the iron question.

Anyone have anything they would change about the above letter? Does anyone have any reference that states the screening is optional? I tried to find it on the WIC site but couldn't.

 

[laohaire]

Next, for the breastfeeding question, print out a copy of this page:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

Highlight any facts that seem particularly relevant to you, and either reference them if any objection comes up, or simply hand the sheet over to them. I particularly like these references for this purpose:

Quote:

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond (WHO 1992, WHO 2002).

Quote:

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2001)

Hope that helps!!!

 

[faithnj]

Why bend over backwards? Say "no" to the iron test, listen to the nutrtion lecture, get your benefits and walk out of the door.

Faith

 

[illinoismommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithnj Why bend over backwards? Say "no" to the iron test, listen to the nutrtion lecture, get your benefits and walk out of the door. Faith

If it were only that simple. They said I MUST give him an iron test or they wouldn't help us. So we left. It wasn't a matter of saying no and getting benefits, THEY WOULD NOT GIVE THEM TO ME. Comprendo?

 

[laohaire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithnj Why bend over backwards? Say "no" to the iron test, listen to the nutrtion lecture, get your benefits and walk out of the door. Faith

The OP came here because she needed support in saying no. It apparently is difficult for her. Rather than pooh-pooh her difficulties, some of us are happy to bend over backwards and help. Anyone who isn't happy to help, is not required to.

 

[katybeth]

Just wanted to add that we were able to refuse the prick test at the WIC office by providing them with our son's iron levels from our ped. I know the OP doesn't have a ped, but I wanted to mention the option.

 

[Flor]

Are you opposed to it because it hurts? I know you had a bad experience with it, but we've had it done, I was freaked out, and ds didn't even flinch. Do you know your child's iron levels are ok? Drawing blood sounds worse to me! Ds seemed 100% fine to me, but his iron levels were low.