June writes:
"It might not be that women who participate in WIC are
more likely to formula feed, as it is that women who
decide to formula feed are more likely to participate
in WIC.  They self select themselves."

There is a lot of truth to this.  I don't work at WIC
but I have noticed that many nursing mothers who are
eligible for WIC have not registered and do not know
there is support for breastfeeding there.  When a
breastfeeding challenge comes up that may be helped
with some aid, I will mention this or that offered
"free" in the local WIC office & will invariably hear
"I haven't been over yet."  Occasionally I've helped
mothers who tell me "I need to be able to breastfeed
until my papers go through for formula."  In different
ways I hear there is great incentive to register at
WIC to pay for formula.  Help with household food
seems less of an issue since many mothers do not use
dairy or other foods promoted by WIC.

Breastfeeding support is increasing at all our WIC
offices but it's hard to get the word out, and maybe
it will be as long as as formula flows like water.  At
the same time, real support for breastfeeding is on
the rise.  

Just the other day I spoke with a woman in one of our
local WIC offices who said, "I want people to think
breastfeeding when they think WIC."  Pretty cool!  I'm
doing what I can over here to support that idea
whether I'm speaking to a roomful of nurses at a local
college, or a mother in her bedroom.  And now I have a
great new quote to quip.

We're all in this together.

Susan Johnson MFA, IBCLC
Salt Lake City, Utah USA

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