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Subject:
From:
Cathy Bargar <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Nov 1999 09:58:38 -0500
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"...the costs of donor milk do not go down very significantly with increased
supply."

True, Elisheva. Am I an absolute irredeemable optimist to think that "cost"
is different from "value"? Well, yes & no; cost is not the same as value,
but given that all babies need to be fed, regardless of the financial
resources available to the family, you're right, Elisheva - processed donor
milk will *never* be as cheap as the real thing, nor will it be as cheap as
artificial formula.

All the more reason to redouble our efforts to promote BFing among all
segments of the population, ESPECIALLY those with the least amount of money!
But here's where my simple-minded optimism and sense of certain conviction
fall right apart: what I see in my community is the very opposite.

I was just at my former WIC office, visiting with my old cronies, who are no
longer able to do even *minimal* BF counseling (and remember, my position as
BF Coordinator was *last year's* budget cut!), or even adequate nutrition
counseling, due to the fact that the state WIC's resources have been
overwhelmingly allocated to a new (and disastrous, by all accounts) system
of "automation" (computerization - designed by those who have no clue what
WIC clinics are actually like...we told them so, years ago when they first
started working on this screwball thing!). The local WIC program has
suffered another staffing cut due to the cost of this system, which doesn't
even work. But here's the kicker: while I was there, I noticed a wall of
chin-high stacks of boxes in the work area. What were they - cases of
FORMULA! Shipped to our county by The State, because as a result of this
costly computerization scheme WIC clients haven't been able to reliably even
get the formula vouchers they take to buy the stuff at the store!! Talk
about your violations of the Code - not to even mention NY State WIC's own
reg's!

Well, I for one am planning to raise a squawk about this to the powers that
be. Too bad I no longer work there - now I can't threaten to resign over
this! But honestly...

I'm all for getting babies fed, and if formula is the food of choice, they
should at least not be deprived of getting it, but how much sense does it
make to take away the BF coordinator (and the Peer Counseling program, and
the pump loan program, and the budget line for BF promo/ed materials - even
my posters are gone!), hamstring the nutrition and clerical staff, and be
handing out cans of formula in the WIC office?!

Sign me "Disillusioned in NY" (and I didn't think I had many illusions
left...)
Cathy Bargar RN IBCLC
credentialled but massively frustrated BF agitator

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