Breastfeeding WIC question

[MamaZ]

I don't see my case worker until next month but she briefly had told me that WIC offers quite a bit to breastfeeding mothers, like a bf counselor, breastpump rental and stuff. Is that true? I couldn't find anything searching the websites and I know how busy they are down there so I don't want to call and bother them, especially since my appointment is in 2 or 3 weeks. I just thought I'd ask if any mamas knew here :)

[worldwarcaitlin]

yep. you also will get food for yourself to keep you healthy. theyll give you a pump as long as they have one. sometimes WIC will be all out of pumps because other moms will have already taken them all. If I recall correctly they will only help you out with breastfeeding up til your child is one, so if you plan on extended breastfeeding they wont help. that could just be MY area though, yours may be different.

[redheadedangels]

My WIC office does. They have elec pumps and manual pumps. Elec pumps were for working mamas. There were only 15 elec ones though so it was first come first serve i guess. There was a $15 dep that i got back when i returned mine and there was a $15 fee for the supplies that comes with it. Also a BFing mama gets a food pkg as well.

[MamaZ]

Very cool :) Thanks mamas! :)

[ShayneLeMaster]

If I were you though I would call first.. my WIC Office was very surprised to learn that I was BF my son without supplementing .. and not pumping and mixing(? I guess with formula ) When I heard about pumps.. the only answer I got was.. we dont have any right now... I was like now like as in anymore? or just not right now I should check back? they were very un-informed when it came to the whole BF subject... and were constantly trying to convince me that I need to keep some formula at my home " just incase" ( i didnt.. cause im lazy and was scared that I would have wanted to use it ) but we are going 8.5m strong with no help from WIC.. they do offer , milk, juice, carrots, tuna fish, and someother things like eggs and cheese.. which I didnt not take them up on becuase I was hoping to get some real life ( not that I dont appreciate the help from all the online mama's ) breastfeeding support.. since NO ONE in my family has ever BF cept my DH grandmother.. and she'll help but she's like 85.. and some of her veiws ideas are a little outdated lol..

but sorry this got so long.. but I would just call.. incase you are hoping to get some great support/advice and your WIC office doesnt have the means/information to help you like you think you might need to be helped..

[momma2three]

In my area they give you a manual breastpump if you need one and if you are having difficulty breastfeeding becuase of whatever issues (non-work related issues...just pure breastfeeding difficulty) you can get a note from your doctor about your issues and WIC will rent a hospital grade one for you.

[moonphishers]

well I know nothing about wic these days but I got horrible bf'ing advice from them when my other kids were young - I hope they're better now... any how - if you can't find the help you need from them.. there's always the LLL message boards (http://forums.llli.org/index.php)!!!! ;)
good luck!

[MamaZ]

Well I just emailed my insurance company because I'm not sure whether or not they cover a hospital one or not, I believe they do. I won't be needing it until August, but it's always nice to have one extra thing out of the way :)

I was really looking forward to the help, because our (now former) pedi could careless about breastfeeding :banghead: and of course the consultants at the hospital were just so nasty they never helped me out when I was having problems with my DD. It'll be nice to actually have more than what's available online :)

[DayDreaminMama]

Have you contacted LLL they should have a local group of BF moms that meet and chat ,and possibly can have someone come to your home to help you if need be!they would know where you can get local supplies and stuff!

[Tootsiemomma]

My WIC was great! I was given a manual pump (free) and I was rented (free) a double electric when dd had a bit of difficulty gaining weight. The counselor was really sweet and very helpful (she was also pregnant with twins at the time) and showed me everything and also gave me tons of books and pamplets with FAQ'S and tips.

[jessicap]

my wic office supplied an electric pump, a Purely Yours, Ameda pump free of charge for me to keep!!! If I wanted a hospital grade they would have rented that for me. They have been super helpful and supportive. And in fact while they do not allow things like Rice Milk and such in the coupons, I asked that they cancel off the milk from our coupons because we do not drink cows milk they were totally supportive and thought it was awesome we were seeking an alternative. They are pushing and writing to their main office all the time to try and allow more and more alternative foods for women so we have the choice to make healthier choices, my WIC office during during the summer gives 30 dollars for the farmers market and so forth...they said that wic will be offering soy milk soon instead of cows milk.

[MamaZ]

my wic office supplied an electric pump, a Purely Yours, Ameda pump free of charge for me to keep!!! If I wanted a hospital grade they would have rented that for me. They have been super helpful and supportive. And in fact while they do not allow things like Rice Milk and such in the coupons, I asked that they cancel off the milk from our coupons because we do not drink cows milk they were totally supportive and thought it was awesome we were seeking an alternative. They are pushing and writing to their main office all the time to try and allow more and more alternative foods for women so we have the choice to make healthier choices, my WIC office during during the summer gives 30 dollars for the farmers market and so forth...they said that wic will be offering soy milk soon instead of cows milk.

We get the farmer's market checks too! I love them! I thought it was sad that my case worker told me that I was one of the very few mamas she had seen this past summer who was actually happy about the farmer's market checks. I said why not? My kids LOVE veggies and fruits, especially fresh ones like that! I hope they offer soy milk soon.

[reiterin]

My wic office gives out free manual pumps. They also give little 'gifts' each visit for bf'ers, like a water bottle, snack cup, nursing pads, etc.

[babygirlsmom1005]

Texas WIC provides a Ameda Purley Yours Breastpump for free (no renting) after I think 4-6 weeks of exclusivly nursing and going back to work or school.....and if you have a baby/newborn in the NICU and you are seperated from them, they will provide you with a loaner Hospital Grade Breastpump (free) from the get go.

Also they provide in addition to the "regular WIC stuff" carrots, farmer's market vouchers and tuna for mama.

Since my DD is allergic to Diary, Soy, Wheat/Gluten and Egg White, we are now off WIC due to there is really noting that they can assist us with (other than juice and we don't give our DD juice). They did however replace my APY a couple of weeks ago when it up and died without any problems at all!!!!

[Luv2bemommy]

Well, that is true to a degree.. Our WIC dept has lactina pumps they will loan you IF you solely breastfeed but it's first come first serve and moms to preemie's get the first pick over all. That's about all you get here, and vouchers. They have nutritionists to help you but we have no one that's a trained or certified breastfeeding edu.. Actually when I was struggling to BF my dd and got a pump from them the nutritionist I seen has NEVER breastfed and had no idea how to even begin to put the pump together. :banghead: There is no free gifts, NOTHING like that here. :(

You would think as $$$$ formula is they would make breastfeeding a TOP priority!! They don't at all though.

[momx2]

just to note, you don't hvae to get tuna...you can also get salmon instead. I get the salmon....and make a great salmon noodle casserole. lol

[lilmama2dsndd]

I am in TX and when DS was born & in the NICU for 5 weeks I got a Ameda Elite (hospital grade) on loan for free and since no one needed until he was about 5 months old I got to use it until then.

With DD when I went back to work (6 weeks) I was having a supply problem so again got to use the Ameda Elite for 2 months (no charge), after that they gave me an Ameda Purely Yours double electric to keep for free, I even dropped it and broke it and they replaced it with a new one for free.

I also got additional milk, tuna, carrots and a couple other items that is escaping me at this moment until DD turned 1.

[happyvegan]

I was on wic when bf my first baby, and it had its benefits. Just take the nutrition and bf advice with a grain of salt. I remember being told that my 10 month old was breastfeeding "too often" and that avocados were "too high in fat" for a baby to eat. Dumb.:banghead: