I work as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, and I feel there is a lot
more we could be doing as an organization to promote and support
breastfeeding.  Of course WIC clients face the same cultural, societal,
economic, and medical obstacles that everyone else in the US does.
 However, if we could increase breastfeeding rates by providing more
support, we would be saving so much money in formula.

Sometimes I do wonder if because the formula is free if that influences
mom's decision or her resolve if things are challenging in the early days.
 But honestly, I feel like what I see in my experience is that most women
don't get the right support in the right window of time to be able to
breastfeed.  There are still people who just choose not to breastfeed for a
myriad of reasons, but I actually am finding that to be the minority.  Most
of my clients think breastfeeding is better and say they "want to try".
 But when they wind up having difficulties in the first week of life
because of lack of the right kind of breastfeeding support, they feel they
tried but it didn't work.  We are failing them.  They are not getting their
needs met.  They are underserved.  They don't have a home visit with a
lactation consultant, or follow-up, or the right care at the right time.
 It isn't their fault.  We have created this system and we have to change
it on so many levels.

Sonya Shaver, BS, CHES, IBCLC



On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 4:38 PM, Nikki Lee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Dear Lactnet Friends:
>
> WIC programs vary in effectiveness for breastfeeding support from locale to
> locale across the US; some are wonderful, and some are awful.  One program
> I've heard about in my travels across the US, has a director who refuses to
> use peer counselors, saying that they don't work. The potential is there in
> WIC to do good work.  However, as long as WIC purchases and distributes
> half the formula sold in the US, and is identified in studies as a barrier
> to breastfeeding, WIC will not be living up to its potential.
>
> warmly,
>
> Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
> craniosacral therapy practitioner
> www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
>
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