Cyndi, I'd be happy to share our pump policy, for whatever it's worth.  This
policy has been in place since we began with WIC over 3 years ago, and we
feel that it both makes the best use of our limited budget, and uses the
pumps to promote breastfeeding AND increase duration.

Here at WIC in Miami, we do give out breast pumps under certain
circumstances.  What they get (manual, mini elec or the loan of a
double-pumping electric) depends upon their particular situation and whether
they are receiving abm from the program.

Sick or otherwise hospitalized newborns (such as premies) are loaned a
double-pumping electric pump for the duration of the baby's hospital stay,
plus some brief time afterwards as needed until she either (with our help of
course) has breastfeeding established or it becomes clear that she won't be
breastfeeding.  Mom gets to keep the double-pumping kit.

Working moms or moms returning to school or college are given a
mini-electric or loaned one of our bigger pumps, (depending upon
availability and the baby's age, her work schedule, etc), provided that they
are NOT receiving ANY formula from our program.  Many women decide to stop
receiving WIC abm (or not accept it in the first place, if they are aware of
our policy), for the express purpose of qualifying for one of our pumps.
Obviously, we obtain the name, address, and phone number of the workplace or
school.  If they choose to use WIC abm, but still want to breastfeed, then
we counsel them on how to manage working with breast & abm feeding.

Manual pumps are distributed more liberally, but even these need to be
requested by the client. We do not hand them out wholesale.  Also sometimes,
in the course of consultation with our breastfeeding department, her IBCLC
(such as myself) or breastfeeding educator will give her one, for any number
of reasons.

Only rarely will we use an electric breastpump to "solve" a breastfeeding
problem (i.e., sore nipples, and usually even latch-on/breast refusal, if
it's early).  We just don't have the budget for that.  I like to say that we
solve breastfeeding problems the old-fashioned way <g>:  with a baby, a mom,
and a breast.  In general, lactation is well established before we will loan
or give away an electric breastpump.  The exception to this, as I said
earlier, is the sick or otherwise hospitalized newborn.  Any woman
requesting a breastpump is immediately referred to our warmline, where we
screen her, and decide what if anything to give or loan her.  We advise
clients who plan to return to work or school to call the warmline 3 weeks
prior to returning to work/school.

No client with a healthy baby at home that is receiving ANY WIC abm will be
given one of our electric pumps.  She has to choose one or the other:  a
breastpump, or the formula.  You would be surprised how often they will
return their unused formula checks, and switch to the
exclusive-breastfeeding package :-)

Our larger pumps (the double pumping ones) are followed up at least once a
month for the duration of the loan.

It's not a perfect policy; there are flaws in any program that has more
clients wanting pumps than money to buy pumps with....but we feel quite
satisfied with how we use our breastpump money in Miami.  I personally think
that it's done a LOT to increase the DURATION of breastfeeding amongst the
WIC clients of Miami, Florida.....

Hope that helps!
Regina Roig Lane, BS IBCLC for Miami-Dade County WIC/Nutrition

-----Original Message-----

Does anyone out there distribute free breast pumps to their WIC clients? We
offer free Medela mini electric pumps as part of our breastfeeding
promotion, and have found it challenging to decide what criteria needs to be
in place for the giveaway. In other words, we give away a lot of pumps that
get used once, and are discarded, or moms who want pumps *and* a full
formula package, etc and etc. Does anyone have a protocol in place that
they'd like to share, or any suggestions that we could use to limit the
number of pumps we send out that we know won't be used? We were thinking
about a checklist, and possibly only giving a max of a half formula package
for the month the pump was given (not sure if this is "allowed" by the state
yet).
Thanks!
Cyndi Koehler, RN BSN CBE

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