1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 345 [Interest Areas] Concerned Citizen Health Care Provider Lactation Professional [Comment] The WIC Program needs to be reevaluated, especially considering that it provides free formula to over 50% of American families. I have worked within WIC, at different sites, and it is painfully obvious that formula is given greater value than breastfeeding. Does the government realize that new mothers are given formula packages, even before a lactation consultation takes place; even before the mother is referred to a peer counselor, (if this even happens)? When the American public is so intensely aware that they can get free formula, without even considering BF, and WIC staff supports and encourages this notion, the message is clearly sent that BF is not important. There should be a medical reason for giving formula, right from the start, or mothers should be willing to pay out of their own pocket for formula, if they make the choice to forgoe BF for a convenience reason. Why is the government funding the formula feeding habits which lead to increasing health problems affecting American babies? At the very least, there should be allocations for IBCLCs on staff at every WIC office, in proportion to the amount of clients. Peer counselors must have experts to refer to and this is not the case at the majority of WIC offices across the nation. Peer counselors have a different set of skills than IBCLCs and can not take the place of lactation professionals. At the same time, the government must insist on IBCLCs as the recognized lactation professional; not CLCs or nutritionists, or other WIC staff who can be briefly cross trained but must perform other duties. If the government is serious about increasing BF rates, especially in the WIC population, then they must provide early access to IBCLCs and they must stop giving free formula to such a vast percentage of infants, based primarily on the mother's choice to receive free formula. WIC does not go far enough to point out the fact that BF is normal and formula is inferior. As long as the public 'hears' that formula is the norm, they will continue to formula feed, and babies will continue to pay the price in terms of their health. [Topic] 
Access to Lactation Care and Support
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic