Well, here goes....After lurking for about a month I finally got enough
nerve to write in response to a posting.
  I work in a hospital based WIC clinic outside of Seattle, Washington.  I
work mainly with the pregnant moms and we begin our lactation education on
their first visit to the clinic.  My personal goal is that every pregnant
woman will make an informed decision on breastfeeding and not one based
entirely on myths.
  In response to the comments concerning the WIC system not rewarding
breastfeeding moms, that is not true.  If you are exclusively BF you
continue receiving your supplemental foods at the pregnancy level which are
  22 qts of milk                          1# dried beans, peas or lentils or
  2 doz eggs                               1# of peanut butter
  2 lbs of cheese
  36 oz iron fortified cereal
  6 large cans of Vit C juice

and if she receives:
  1# cheese
  1 can Juice
  2# of carrots
  4 cans of tuna
  1# of beans, peas or lentil
She receives this for 12 months after delivery as long as she BF.  If we
give ABM to the infant she loses all of the additional foods and about 1/3
of the pregnancy foods and she only is on the program for six months postpartum.

  Preg & BF moms and BF infants are the top priority on the system and will
continue to be served regardless of what cuts are made.  PP/non BF are the
least served and are at the whim of the federal budget.

  Well, I hope that lets you see that WIC is not this great nameless enity
out there who hands over ABM without a fight.  I do everything in my power
to encourage and support all the moms breastfeeding including starting a
mother-baby support group that meets weekly in our clinic waiting room when
it is closed.  I encourage those discouraged moms to try one more day, one
more solution, one more false myth to give them time to fall in love with
their babies and for BF to be that much easier.
  Thanks to all who have been patient with this letter....

        Faith DeWald-Hammel, RNC
        Valley Medical Center
        WIC
        Renton, WA