Peg wrote:

"Date:    Sun, 23 Jul 2000 18:20:49 -0400
From:    Peg Merrill <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:
Also, that "enchanced" food package amounts to 1
more gallon of milk, and extra lb. of cheese, 2 lbs of carrots and 3
cans of
tuna.  Not exactly a graet incentive to breastfeed!!"

... in addition to better immunities, better bonding, better health,
better adjustment, etc. etc. that all we non-wic mothers get.
We don't have wic here, but I've worked with at risk and welfare
clients. It's a hard, complicated business and I think we have to assume
that everyone is doing the best they can. The resistance of some mothers
is amazing and based on all kinds of things that extra food can't
address, however much extra food they get. (Being poor and not receiving
any assistance, three cans of tuna seems to me like several extra meals
for mother, in addition to whatever food she is already getting.) I
spoke to some BF mothers on a reserve and they were very clear about the
reasons others in the community didn't BF -- they wanted to be able to
leave their babies with other people and go back to their pre-pregnancy
life of drinking and dancing. I can't think of any incentive that would
have been effective here, either, although we tried to make our
presentation as enjoyable as possible. Support groups with good treats
only go so far, but it's worth a try.
Jo-Anne

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