I want to take a moment and introduce myself.  My name is Connie Chiavario.
I have been an LLL Leader for over 12 years  and live in Sandwich, Illinois.
I have four children, Sara 20, Rachel 17, Joey 10, and Jacob 7.

As for WIC, I have been going in once a month and doing a breastfeeding
class for their pregnant WIC clients.  The dietician there makes it a
requirement to attend the breastfeeding class in order to receive their food
package.  The only bad part is that some clients clearly don't want to be
there.  However, there has been a significant increase in their
breastfeeding mothers since I have been coming to do the class.  I have been
going in for about a year now.

When I was contacted about doing the class, they had me come in for an
interview.  They wanted my approach to be one that I wouldn't offend their
non-breastfeeding clients.  I think they were reassured that I could present
breastfeeding very positively once they did meet with me.

When I talked to the dietician, I asked her about what the breastfeeding
mothers received in their package. She told me that they get more food in
addition to free formula coupons.  I asked her why and she said that the
state (Illinois) decided that it was discrimination to not offer the free
formula to a mother just because she was breastfeeding.  So, it seems that
it is an uphill battle to help a mother realize that she doesn't need
formula if she is breastfeeding.  She can have that packet handy "just in
case".  Unfortunately, that is also broadcasted to the mothers at the end of
the class by the WIC personnel.  UGH!  I try to really be positive about
breastfeeding when I am there.  Sometimes I think things went well, other
times I'm not so sure.  I do get a lot of calls from mothers that got my
information from the WIC clinic, so that part is encouraging.

It is a small community and I am the only person close that has any type of
breastfeeding resources.  I will often get four or five calls a day for
breastfeeding help.  I am extremely busy with La Leche League work.  I also
go into our local community hospital to help mothers there.  I have
established a very positive image there with the OB staff as being a good
resource.  There aren't that many births a month, (20-30) but I am called in
there quite often too.

````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
````````````````
Connie Chiavario
Area Coordinator of Leaders
La Leche League of Illinois

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html