>
From Cathy Bargars note:
>And YES, there are lots of people on WIC who really just don't know that,
>for a real-life example, a 2-wk. old baby is not supposed to "sit up at the
>table" and eat chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy. The 14-yr. old girl
>who was boasting that her baby was doing this had been told by HER mother
>that this was a great thing, that it somehow meant her child was extra-smart
>and precocious. Ever seen this among well-educated, well-off women? I
>haven't, although I've seen them give their babies strange things to
>eat/drink (including formula!); the difference is that they *choose* to do
>it despite having information that would recommend otherwise, as opposed to
>those who don't know or who *perceive* that they have no choice.

Hmm what does this say about who is REALLY the smarter of the two?!!!!!

     I have to admit I'm getting a bit defensive with all the WIC
trashing/stereotyping that seems to be going on here.
     I have been working in my position as WIC Bfing Coordinator for 2
1/2yrs.  I am also the listmom/founder of WICBFNET.  We have 100
subscribers nationwide as of 2 additions today (every bfing conference
seems to elicit more subscribers!).There are times I question what I am
doing there, if I believe in having this system in place at all etc.  But
I do have to say that in Massachusetts at least there is a strong
commitment to bfing education and promotion.
     The fact of the matter is that for now WIC exists and I feel much
better knowing that I am there providing accurate up-to-date bfing
information and support.  That moms that wish to nurse and need to work
can get electric breastpump loans as can moms with a baby in the NICU.
That I have trained 12 women in providing basic breastfeeding management
and that the information therefore ripples into the community.
     As for the well educated, wealthy moms that *choose* to do otherwise
I quite frankly don't have the time to deal with them ( I know that is
hard nosed), I much rather spend my time enhancing the lives of those
that are willing to change when they learn what is right.
     Also please don't make assumptions about your local WIC program.  It
is akin to the medical profession making assumptions about LLL Leaders
(don't ALL LLLL homeschool, use homeopathy and wear Birkenstocks?).  Get
to know what YOUR WIC program does offer (we have prenatal infant
nutrition classes, bfing peer counselor program and bfing aids, plus
staff inservices that keep them "a breast" no pun intended, of recent
research in the area of bfing) and then form an alliance with the person
there that is sympathetic to the breastfeeding cause.  The most
successful promotion happens when groups join together NOT when they are
quick to criticize each other.

Ilene Fabisch, IBCLC, LLLL, WICBFNET listmom
Brockton, MA

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