I needed to make one last comment (ok a couple of comments) to the many
posts about WIC and formula.  Thanks, Barbara Z. for a wonderful post.
Thanks also to Valerie, the comment about babies getting their first ABM
from the hospital is surely the reality..which doesn't lessen the fact
that it is available at WIC but certainly impacts what happens with that
baby.  There was a study done that found WIC is most effective in
increasing duration and not as good at increasing initiation.  I believe
this to be the case mostly due to the fact that low income women and
women of color are NOT being encouraged and supported to breastfeed in
the HOSPITAL.  The most recent NAWD conference in Philly just last week
had a women neonatologist from DC speak on  breastfeeding and the African
American women.  She was a wonderful speaker who verified the fact women
of color are often misjudged and not encouraged to breastfeed in the
hospital.  BTW she has ALL her bottlefeeding population sign an informed
consent inorder to use ABM. The consent form is being delivered by the
resident and the resident has had sufficient breastfeeding education!!!
YES!!!!!  I've been suggesting this at the WIC level for some time..it
seems they are not yet ready to do this and this does bother me (BTW I am
a local WIC bf coordinator and NE Region Rep on the Breastfeeding Promo
Committee).  Also there was a POLICY just past in CA that the WIC
programs there will not offer ABM to "breastfeeding" mothers for at least
one month.  These is huge progress because we are now protecting the
environment for that breastfeeding mother so she can continue to
successfully breastfeed.  Much of the time mom's that say they are
breastfeeding come in for "just a little" ABM because they feel they
don't have enough or who knows what other reasons but this new policy
will help insure breastfeeding mom's will BREASTFEED and establish a good
supply.  If we are constantly taking those tiny baby steps....we WILL get
there.



Warmly, Ilene Fabisch, Brockton, MA
"Each day is a blank canvas waiting for our unique brushstrokes to create
a masterpiece."

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