In a message dated 9/22/02 4:51:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Subject: Re: what wic gives

 NJ wic gives concentrate.  and yes, I've had new babies come in vomiting
 because they were getting it STRAIGHT from the can - undiluted!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 Pat in SNJ
  >>

In the WIC Program I'm in we are very careful to determine how the mother is
mixing formula and reviewing formula preperation carefully. I would have to
believe that most WIC Nutritionists are very conscientious of that.  Usually
families are buying formula on their own before they actually make it into
WIC.
I personally have had hundreds of mom's mixing it incorrectly and have set
them straight. (After 17 years in WIC, it adds up!)

 Some moms add water "until it looks the right color".
I've sent no fewer then three babies directly to the hospital.  One baby came
into us on her first visit (several years ago)...the mom reporting that "we
can't find a formula she tolerates", listing off about a dozen different
brands.  After a short conversation with her I discovered she didnt' realize
she had to add water to the concentrated formula she had been purchasing.
The baby ended up hospitilized with severe dehydration that very day (we sent
her to ER after a quick look at the baby.)  The notable fact about that is
that she had been in twice to see her ped over the formula intolerance issue
and had numerous conversations with them over the this via phone and no one
asked her how she was mixing the formula.  Funny how no one makes hospital
emergency room dramas based on mixing up formula wrong!

There is also a misunderstanding on how to properly store formula.  Ready to
Use formula is now available in plastic bottles with twistoff caps, and I
can't tell you how many families this summer I realized were carrying a
bottle of it around without any cooling method employed.

I blame this on the fact that the little ready to use bottles given in the
hospital don't need refridgeration until opened, and somehow some mothers
overgeneralize this thinking formula doesn't need to be refridgerated!.  All
in all I think WIC has corrected far more cases of incorrect formula mixing
then it has created!  Yes there is a problem with formula being mixed up
wrong, but goes back to the a basic inherent problem with formula and isn't
the fault of WIC.

What really surprises me is that more babies don't end up very sick.

Our protocal includes reviewing formula prep and handling on initial issuance
and again anytime an intolerance is reported.  There is often a gap between
hospital discharge and the families appearance at WIC, and people are just
buying it off the shelf in the store, and maybe they understand how to use it
and maybe they don't.

In Massachusetts, we offer a choice between liquid concentrate and powdered
formula. Most families chose powdered.  Ready to feed is only used in the
cases in which there is a serious concern about the mothers ability to mix
formula correctly.  Ready to feed isn't issued routinely because of the cost
factor involved.

I've never had a mom mixing breastmilk incorrectly :)

June Eastman, B.S., M.Ed, IBCLC
Lawrence Massachusetts WIC Program. (Where more than 80% of our WIC Moms
initiate breastfeeding)

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