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 or go to the Department of Health Handouts for Parents page to download handouts in English or Spanish.

Here are a few examples of the handouts for parents available in English:

• Can Nursing Moms Take Medication?
• Is My Baby Getting Enough to Eat?
• Fussy Baby
• Engorgement
• Little Baby Bellies

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