< WIC is a mixed bag and until it quits giving out so much formula, we will
struggle to convince WIC women to totally breastfeed. >

WIC needs to be reconfigured to quit giving out so much formula.  Of course,
this is true. Infant formula causes an enormous amount of unnecessary, and
for the most part, avoidable suffering.  We could discontinue distribution
of formula any time that United States citizens get serious about quality of
life for women and children.  For those very few who could not or should not
breastfeed, we could provide donor milk.  At the least, we could "quit
giving out so much" artificial breastmilk substitute, but demand for the
product is linked to more than just availability.

What is lacking is sufficient public education and cultural/corporate buy-in
for anything close to normal infant and maternal health and well-being for
the average citizen, never mind the low income (dare I say "lower class" in
our supposed class-less society?).  This is what causes the support of
exclusive breastfeeding to be a struggle.  This black hole of understanding
and caring at the corporate and cultural level is what so quickly and easily
changes a voluntary choice to breastfeed into a voluntary choice to
artificially feed.  

WIC is not the cause so much as it is evidence of the bigger problem.  WIC
is just the visible sign of what we all accept from society, the state, and
the employer. Artificial feeding is the dominant paradigm.  Our government
rolls over and distributes formula freely to the "low to moderate income" in
continued support of this unenlightened view of the value as well as the
capability of women and children in our society. 


Arly Helm, MS, IBCLC

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