How WIC Promotes Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding provides many health and emotional benefits to mother and baby, and the research supports that there is no better food than breast milk for a baby’s first year of life. This is why WIC has historically promoted breastfeeding to all pregnant women as the optimal infant feeding choice.

WIC promotes breastfeeding by:

• WIC staff receive special training in breastfeeding support, so they are able to answer questions a mother may have about breastfeeding and offer needed support.
• Fully breastfeeding mothers and infants receive the most WIC foods.

• WIC may be able to provide quality breast pumps to mothers who wish to provide expressed milk for their infant. The type of pump depends upon a woman's particular need.

It is natural for your patients to have questions about breastfeeding. For answers to their questions download the Breastfeeding Resource Guide.

Did you know that a newborn baby's stomach is only about the size of a walnut?

Because their stomach is so small, it is normal for a newborn to feed often (every 1.5 to 3 hours). Many new moms just need reassurance that their infants feeding schedule is no different than other breastfed infants.

Breastfeeding hotline for WIC participants:

1-855-4-ASK-MOM