As a dietitian who works for the WIC Program in Illinois, I can
understand why breastfeeding advocates all over the country are
alternately both pleased and appalled by WIC efforts (or the lack
thereof) to promote breastfeeding. The problem is that WIC breastfeeding
services and promotion efforts vary tremendously from state to state and
even from clinic to clinic. Some lucky WIC moms may get a free breast
pump loan, a supportive home visit from a breastfeeding peer counselor,
a phone call from a lactation consultant, a comfy rocking chair for
breastfeeding in the clinic, and/or a special luncheon to honor their
efforts to breastfeed. Other WIC mothers may get only a only a faded
"Breast is Best" bookmark from a tired, burnt-out WIC worker. It depends
entirely on the budget of the WIC agency involved and the energy and
motivation of the WIC program director. That's why I've made it my goal
to push for legislation that would standardize breastfeeding promotion
in WIC nationwide. I think one step in the right direction would be to
give the program a measurable goal to achieve, e.g., increase
breastfeeding rates among WIC moms by 10% in 5 years or face funding
cuts. If WIC program directors felt their funding depended on
breastfeeding and NOT on rebates from ABM companies, we'd see ALL WIC
programs become powerhouse breastfeeding promoters. ---Mary Krisco, RD
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