The concept that WIC is #1 purchaser of formula may be true, but its only 
because the clientiel has been marketed that that's what is all about.  Our 
official LC made the journey to the central WIC office here in Dade County and got 
all kinds of goodies promoting breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding but 
once again its our population that is largely Hispanic and African American 
feels its all about the formula.
We know that its the marketing and if family members have received WIC they 
think the formula stockpiling is the living end.  So we now including our 
Social Workers go into the WIC application with the enthusiasm of WIC can support 
your ability to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months by giving you all these 
services....and then if you need to use formula after 6 months they will help 
.....its a different twist. But always we now approach it from exclusively 
breastfeeding "gets a lot of personal support".  
The idea of more coupons to expand their budgets helps...but the idea of 
someone who can help and a Hotline is a good "hook".  We give them LLL chapters 
and LCs in community as well.  We are currently doing a PI project to assess if 
patients perceive they were given information to allow them to continue 
breastfeeding after discharge.  We inquire at  3 months but we may start and earlier 
time but this was what the original group decided was the time line.  If the 
information we are gathering shows we need to touch base sooner then it may 
help us to contact them earlier.  Then at 6 months and at 12months.  The group 
who designed the questionnaire didn't originally request input from the 
Breastfeeding Taskforce.  But we are following it so we can correlate data.  Its all 
about marketing and how much can I get.  
Just venting.
Leanne Jewell, RNC, LCCE, FACCE

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