Regarding WIC clients "stretching" formula to make it last and WIC
allotments of ABM being insufficient at 4-5 months:  It has always been
my understanding that WIC is a *supplemental* nutrition program.  An
infant participant in WIC is not supposed to received an entire month's
supply of ABM  (I believe it is only sufficient to sustain a 9 lb.
infant and does not change throughout the first year.), nor does a
breastfeeding mother or young child receive all the food needed for a
month.  I wish this were screamed from the rooftops, myself.  Perhaps
then I would have something to back up my assertion to some women with
whom I have had contact that they will still have to purchase some
formula out of the family food budget when I hear "Oh, I'll just go on
WIC and get free formula."  They rarely believe my warnings that this
isn't true to the extent that they believe.  I wonder, is this stressed
in the nutrition and client services that are provided through WIC?  I
don't know because I am a breastfeeding mother myself, so they have
never discussed it with me.  I'm sure it must be, but why does this
fable persist? Never mind, probably for the same reason breastfeeding
fables persist...

I do not want to sound like I am WIC-bashing!! The clinics in my city do
a FABULOUS job of promoting and supporting breastfeeding!!

It is horrible to think about this occuring (the formula stretching),
and equally horrible to imagine that stores are substituting other foods
for the ones stated on the vouchers.

Andrea Simmons
LLLL, St. Louis MO