Been mulling over this for 2 days, so I guess if I don't offend anyone, I'm
not doing my job. Shake up that status quo!!!
1. I'm lost. Why are social programs more responsible for causing or
curing ills in society than say - leaving kids home alone?
2. History: WIC was started in 1974. U.S., breastfeeding was low!
a. A big mistake was made. When WIC started, a visionary could have
chosen for the program to teach women how to breastfeed as a main goal.
(Who was that visionary going to be? How many probreastfeeding anybodys
were in the US House and Senate at that time? Didn't Barbara Jordan - an
African American congresswoman from Texas spearhead getting WIC started?
How many black women in the US were being encouraged to breastfeed or
helped? -- here in St. Louis, blacks had a separate hospital to go to or
they were put in the basement of the "other" hospital - but that is a story
for another day)
b. Since 1989, WIC has been mandated to spend money on breastfeeding.
We are required by FEDERAL law to have nothing in our clinics that promotes
formula. In this way, sounds like we're ahead of some private institutions.
(believe me, I know we still have a long way to go!!!)
4. If I were to play devil's advocate and look at World History, I would
recall many violent episodes; all with the majority of the people involved
being breastfed. (I do use the info. that bonding/breastfeeding helps to
reduce violence - definitely a multifactorial issue)
5. On the religious discussion, I am very happy to hear from any and all
religions. Food, breastfeeding, religious practices often go hand in hand.
Glad to hear from agnostics or atheists as well, pagans anyone? We all have
a right to be breastfed no matter what our background.
6. Which ecosystem is stronger? The one with a wide variety of species
living in it? Or the one with a few varieties of species? The more we can
share across cultures, religions, professions --- the better.
7. And if one more person from a hospital that doesn't follow the 10 steps
points the finger at WIC alone....well..... I'm thinking I'm going to carry
a mirror around with me. [how to do a mirror over e-mail? so much to
learn -- so little time! :-) ]
Jill Lund, RD, MS, WIC Coordinator
St. Louis, Missouri USA
"Born to be Breastfed" (from Texas WIC)
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