I would like to share "the other side of the story." We are working very hard
to encourage, educate and support moms in breastfeeding at our HEALTH
Department. I work in case management, not in WIC, but 3 WIC nutritionists and
I have started a Breastfeeding Answer Line that is available to anyone in our
community 24 hours a day. We do conusltations for anyone who is in need of
assistance. If you were to walk into our WIC department, you would see
breastfeeding posters, pictures, and positive slogans adorning the walls and
bulletin boards. Our WIC staff is very proud of their increasing breastfeeding
percentages.

Several months ago we started a community Breastfeeding Advocacy Group and
invited anyone who is interested in working for breastfeeding. We now have
members from both of our local hospitals and from the prenatal clinic, as well
as interested breastfeeding moms. Through this group, which meets at the HEALTH
Department and is lead by the HEALTH Department, we are seeing very positive
changes in our community.

We are also active members of a regional Breastfeeding Task Force. We meet
regularly with other HEALTH Departments to share ideas in breastfeeding
promotion and support. These other HEALTH Departments are as excited as we are
about breastfeeding issues!

Our HEALTH Department has become the community resource for positive
breastfeeding information and support. I receive questions from staffs at both
hospitals, as well as doctor's offices. I do hospital breastfeeding inservices.
I recently had a phone call from a mother who was having problems nursing her
child - That mom, who repeatedly expressed her gratefulness for the HEALTH
Department services, is the wife of a physician!!

Exciting, positive things are happening at our HEALTH Department! Maybe it is
not wise to judge all by some?....

Pam Allyn, BSN, IBCLC