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Why
is breastfeeding important and why does WIC care?
Breastfeeding is an important public health concern. Mother’s milk
should be the main source of nutrition for infants. Although feeding
formula is viewed as culturally normal, the health risks are
numerous.
Feeding
formula places infants at greater risk for:
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Infections
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Allergies
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Digestive problems
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Obesity
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SIDS
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Lower IQ
Not
breastfeeding places women at greater risk for:
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Osteoporosis
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Breast and uterine cancer
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Anemia
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Obesity
Mother’s
milk and formula are not the same! They are not even close!
Mother’s milk is specially designed to meet an infant’s unique
needs. The ‘mom-made’ nutrients in the milk promote brain growth and
development, provide infection resistance and decrease the risk of
childhood diseases. Human milk helps infants reach their full
potential.
Formula
is just food!
Its ingredients are commercially-processed from a variety of sources
such as cow’s milk protein, vegetable oils and algae. It lacks the
antibodies and other ingredients that are essential to boost the
infant’s immune system and promote optimal brain growth. Although
formula tries to imitate human milk, it fails to do so.
The
longer a woman breastfeeds, the more health benefits both she and
her baby receive.
Breastfeeding exclusively for six months is recommended with the
addition of baby foods after six months. Breastfeeding one year or
longer provides life-time benefits.
But
if formula increases health risks, why does WIC provide it?
Some women choose not to breastfeed but cannot afford to buy all the
formula their babies need. In the past, poor infant health outcomes
have resulted from mothers trying to stretch the formula by
over-diluting it and/or using inappropriate substitutes such as
evaporated milk. To prevent these unsafe practices, WIC provides
formula. However, even when properly diluted, feeding formula still
puts mother and infant at greater risk for a variety of health
problems. Therefore, as a long-term health objective, WIC continues
to encourage women to breastfeed.
How
WIC promotes breastfeeding
WIC has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase the incidence
and duration of breastfeeding among women enrolled in the Program:
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Each
local agency appoints a breastfeeding coordinator who is
responsible for implementing recommended breastfeeding
initiatives.
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WIC
staff receives on-going training on how to encourage prenatal
women to breastfeed (by identifying and addressing cultural
barriers) and how to counsel and support those who choose to
breastfeed.
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All
WIC agencies provide a wide variety of breastfeeding printed
materials and maintain a breastfeeding friendly-clinic
environment.
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WIC
food dollars are used to purchase breastpumps for women enrolled
on the program who choose to continue breastfeeding when they
return to work/school.
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Women who exclusively breastfeed receive an enhanced food
package.
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The
State Agency received special grant funding from USDA to hire
breastfeeding peer counselors in select areas of the state.
These counselors provide new mothers with support and
encouragement during the early post-partum period and also help
them make the transition back to work or school
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The
State Agency has also received special grant funding from the
Department of Health to hire breastfeeding specialists who
conduct community outreach projects as well as support
breastfeeding mothers.
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