I have to say this is really frustrating to me.  This is at the crux of my
job frustration on a daily basis.  I am an IBCLC and a WIC Breastfeeding
Peer Counselor.  If we could be providing better lactation services, beyond
what a peer counselor can provide, we would be saving millions of dollars
on formula.  Why is this not so completely obvious?  I work in a system
that is so backwards.  We have a huge caseload and can't even see all the
people we are supposed to be seeing.  The peer counselor role is a vital
one, and one that needs to be fiercely protected, but at the same time, we
need to be doing more.  If we gave every WIC client access to home visits
from a lactation consultant, in addition to the ongoing follow-up and
support of a peer counselor, it seems so clear to me that we would save so
much money on formula.  Of course this is clear to me, because I see this
up close.  But is there data to support this?  Is there something that
says, if women have access to IBCLC services, they have an X increased
percentage of breastfeeding or Y increase in duration?  I really want to be
able to give some justification in my argument for increasing access to
breastfeeding services.  If that's not the answer than what is?  I am
really asking.  I want to know because I want to be able to go to my
government representatives and present them with this case of why it is so
important to protect breastfeeding support for WIC clients.

Sonya Shaver, BS, CHES, IBCLC




On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 4:30 PM, Sandra Jean Taylor <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> House Appropriations Subcommittee fails to fund WIC Breastfeeding Peer
> Counselors
>
> http://nwica.org/?q=advocacy%2Fd14%2Fd53
>
> Not only did I have to deal with a "training" from Nestle this week
> because they won the bid for WIC in North Carolina, Arkansas, and New
> Mexico (I walked out and refused to listen), now this!  Ugh!
>
> There is already a change.org petition if any of you are interested in
> signing.
> http://www.change.org/petitions/chairman-house-appropriations-committee-fund-breastfeeding-peer-counselors-at-wic#share
>
> Sandra Jean Taylor
> WIC Nutritionist/Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Team Leader
> Albuquerque, NM
>
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