Tell me about WIC in your area, please.

Calypso312 · April 2010

I attended a meeting this evening where I was informed that WIC in TN is headed toward making it mandatory that mothers breastfeed. Only mothers who have substance abuse issues, or have bloodborne diseases such as HIV or AIDS will be provided with formula through WIC. Evidently this is already going on in other states. Do any of you have experience with this?

How do you gals feel about this? Thoughts?

shopgirl78 · April 2010

Texas WIC provides formula (I think 9 cans a month) for FF babies, then cereal and baby food at 6 months then whole milk, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, beans, etc after age 1 through age 5

For BF women they get the milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables, tunas (stuff the one year olds get)

Interesting I haven't heard of TX heading that way...I work in social services and refer a lot of people that way

penguingrrl · April 2010

I live in NY and have looked into WIC (we qualify but have been able to get by without it so far). At this point they have a huge initiative to BF, although it's not mandatory as far as I'm aware. I think strongly encouraging it makes sense. There is a lot of evidence about the health benefits and it's a whole lot cheaper. But I know with my older daughter I tried and tried and she hadn't gotten past her birth weight at 9 weeks, so I finally gave up and pumped and still had to supplement with formula then at 6 months pumping was too stressful and I went fully to formula (which I still feel sad about). I think saying it's mandatory is nice, but I hope they won't refuse women who try and try and try and still don't have success, or penalize women who can't pump at work (laws aside, many people don't have access to adequate time and space for pumping to be an option). I'm a huge BF advocate (and consider myself a lactivist), but sometimes it's just not an option.

summerbrideDC · April 2010

I have really conflicted feelings on this. One one hand I think a woman receiving public assistance should definitely be required to at least attempt breastfeeding--it is best for her, her child AND it saves the state a ton of money.

BUT, mandating that also takes away a serious element of choice for a mom and how do you handle those situations where a mom tries to bf and can't for whatever reason? Is there money for lactation consultants built into the system if money for formula isn't? And if bf'ing is truly impossible for a mom who has given it her best shot, is there money for formula? And is it going to cost the system MORE monitoring who can't and can't bf and who gets formula and who doesn't?

I think in theory it's a tremendously good idea for a lot of reasons; but I can also see some serious problems w/ implementing it.

sunandsand · April 2010

penguingrrl:
I live in NY and have looked into WIC (we qualify but have been able to get by without it so far). At this point they have a huge initiative to BF, although it's not mandatory as far as I'm aware. I think strongly encouraging it makes sense. There is a lot of evidence about the health benefits and it's a whole lot cheaper. But I know with my older daughter I tried and tried and she hadn't gotten past her birth weight at 9 weeks, so I finally gave up and pumped and still had to supplement with formula then at 6 months pumping was too stressful and I went fully to formula (which I still feel sad about). I think saying it's mandatory is nice, but I hope they won't refuse women who try and try and try and still don't have success, or penalize women who can't pump at work (laws aside, many people don't have access to adequate time and space for pumping to be an option). I'm a huge BF advocate (and consider myself a lactivist), but sometimes it's just not an option.

Not always cheaper. I have spent hundreds on 2 pumps, nursing bras and tanks, mothers milk tea, MM caps, blessed thistle, goats rue, and domperidone. Even with all the supplements I only produce 10 oz a day, and I've seen 3 LC's and we finally decide I lack the tissue that makes the milk.

So excuse me if I'm biased but that doesn't seem fair at all...

crazynervous · April 2010

I am pro-bf but I think that is an unfair rule.

MelandJeff · April 2010

I think that they SHOULD be required to at least try. If you dont WANT to breastfeed, that is totally cool and your choice, but if you dont have the means to make that choice, so be it.

I am not saying I think they should have to have bleeding nipples and 4 cases of Mastisis (sp?) before they dont have to keep trying, but they should have to have some sort of responsibility to try to do what they can to not cost the state unnecessary money.

EliseB0323 · April 2010

No one can mandate that a mother BF. Not providing formula does not equal mandatory BFing.

hopefulmom · April 2010

I agree with Elise. If they don't want to BF they can forego the public assistance.

EliseB0323 · April 2010

hopefulmom:
I agree with Elise. If they don't want to BF they can forego the public assistance.

They don't even have to forgo public assistance. You can still get WIC if you don't BF, you just can't get formula. WIC can help offset other costs.

But I do think it is ridiculous for the government to try to control what a woman does with her body.

sunandsand · April 2010

EliseB0323:

hopefulmom:
I agree with Elise. If they don't want to BF they can forego the public assistance.

They don't even have to forgo public assistance. You can still get WIC if you don't BF, you just can't get formula. WIC can help offset other costs.

But I do think it is ridiculous for the government to try to control what a woman does with her body.

The cost of the other things you get from WIC (the cheapest milk, eggs, etc) equal about $20. The cost of a month of WIC approved formula is about $140. I'm not sure that helps a whole lot.

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Tell me about WIC in your area, please.

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