WIC - Friend or Foe?
First, I’d like to point out that I loved, LOVED my hospital. I had a great experience there, the room was comfy, it had all sorts of amenities (stereo, whirlpool, etc) and the bed was a queen sized REGULAR bed. I just didn’t care for the food so much. I discovered just mere hours before checking out that there was a “pantry” stocked full of yogurts, cookies, and all sorts of goodies. I had sent my husband back there for milk, but he neglected to tell me about all the goodies. Lesson learned and I will definitely be venturing there this next time around.
Second, I realize I am covering a lot of news and articles around here. When I signed up to do this, I was a bit worried that I haven’t actually started breastfeeding again yet - what the heck would I talk about?? So far, I’ve had plenty to talk about, but I hope folks don’t think that I will just be posting news and articles all the time. After Anjali is born, my goal is to do a 2-3 week Daily BoobLog to document those first few weeks and then from there, my breasts can take center stage (sorta). I’ve noticed even with my son, that I already have the tendency to say “oh, the first few weeks were a hard, but then it was a piece of cake!” I’d like to document exactly just how hard it can be - my hope is that if a new mom comes across this site, she can see some realistic breastfeeding experiences and not feel so alone if she doesn’t have a support group, close friend or family member that she can turn to. I did have a support group, close friend and family member to turn to, so this is my small way to try and pay it forward.
Okay, moving on to today’s article. I am a little shocked by audacity of this one where the author states that WIC funding for formula should be ended. I sorta see their premise on a high level. But. BUT. It could be argued that breastfeeding for working mothers is a privilege (my understanding is that a lot of WIC mothers ARE working, but are financially strapped). First, you need to have a job that is conducive to pumping - many lower paying jobs (I’m thinking retail and production line) would not be conducive to pumping. Every gal I’ve known who has pumped at work has had a difficult time fitting it into their schedule - professionals and non-professionals alike. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be for a lower level worker to push the pumping issue, particularly if they feel their job is insecure anyway. Second, the equipment needed for pumping is often expensive. I bought a cheap electric pump myself and it did not go well with the expressing because the pump was crap. Yes, I realize that overall, formula would be more expensive than pumping, but when a gal is already strapped for cash, she may be hesitant to fork over the big bucks for a pump when she’s not sure how long she will even get to breastfeed. I am not financially struggling, but was hesitant myself to pay even the $50 for an electric pump at a time when I wasn’t even sure how it was going to go yet. I did buy the pump, but I had the luxury to take that gamble. So, I can’t say that I would support a measure that would take formula out of the WIC program. However, I would totally support something within the WIC program that allowed coupons/stipends towards breastfeeding paraphernalia - say, towards a pump, nursing pads, etc..
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May 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 am
Just as a note: There are W.I.C programs available that offer breast pumps at reduced rates and a lot of organizations that provide them free of cost.
With that being said…
My viewpoints on this lie somewhere in the middle. While I don’t think it should be ended, I do think it really needs to be revamped. My Nurse Practitioner and I, while pregnant with Alex, developed a close relationship and actually talked about this topic a great deal. Apparently in her neck of the woods it is quite common for mothers to utilize W.I.C for formula, many of whom don’t have employment that work into the equation.
Even as a person that had problem breastfeeding, I have a huge issue with someone who is perfectly capable of breastfeeding using the system and taxpayers paying for a service that they don’t technically need.
While I agree that in some cases this type of service is definitely needed, I think it is sorely abused. And, whose paying for it? On one hand I don’t think innocent children should suffer, but on the other, where does it stop?
My sister had a child out of wedlock when she was barely 20 years old and I couldn’t believe the free services available. Four years prior I was busting my hump to make it, only having enough money to spend $50/month on food, walking to work because I didn’t have a car and generally living the good life she is granted Free doctor appointments, free/subsidized rent, free food, free utilities, a check in the mail to cover incidentals and a free education. All for being irresponsible. Luckily, she utilized the system to better herself and is no longer using the system (she’s a great example of someone using it as it is intended, IMO).
The town where I lived has an extremely high number of welfare recipients and I am aghast at the number of people who take having children as a check in the mail and free services. I think you’d be astounded at the number of folks I know who have 3+ children (one in particular has 7!) and haven’t worked a day in their lives. Sure, I think there life is pretty shoddy, but we are all paying for it monetarily and socially.
I think there needs to be a lot more counseling that takes place, use the money spent on formula (and other services) on educating people and really helping them, not just giving them a bandage that has to be reapplied the next time they have a child. There are a LOT of people (that I know personally) that think having a child is a piece of cake because they will just get more free stuff and they end up with children from 3 or 4 fathers, unable to educate them, unable to care for them beyond physical requirements and children that have to fight to gain their place in life and alot who never make it.
As a sidenote,when I was young and REALLY stupid, I dated a man who had 8 brothers and sisters whose mother was never married due to it working against her ability to gain funding and who never worked. While the man I dated was somewhat decent he had a brother who tried to kill his sister when he was high on crack and was later imprisoned for selling and using drugs, two of his siblings were alcoholics, and another brother is currently serving time in federal prison for his continued drug and weapons selling. He was the father of two children whose mother I mentioned above…has 7 children and never worked a day in her life. These types of stories have really colored my viewpoints and as much as I know the services are needed, it is really offensive to me, as a hard-working citizen, to have to pay for such individuals.
I only bring all of this up because I think it is a complete package that intertwines with W.I.C and the services available as whole.
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On another note, I am interested to hear your experiences with feeding Anjali, which might seem odd since my boy is 19 months old but if I do have another I plan on trying harder to breastfeed and will be taking notes and utilizing your experiences as part of my preemptive research.
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
Here’s my issue with it. Everything in life involves choices. People generally make the choices that are easiest for them. If formula is free, they will often choose that. Breastfeeding is worth doing for your baby even if it is harder unless there is an issue that cannot be surmounted (like the 5% of women who medically cannot breastfeed mentioned in the International Journal of Breastfeeding article) (speaking of which, it was a really interesting article, though very long - I recommend reading it). So WIC right now is making formula the easy choice. Why not make breastfeeding and formula at least COMPARABLE. Say, don’t give out free formula without a note from a doctor, and give out free breast pumps. Or rent them for free (that would HAVE to be cheaper than giving away formula). I know that people who work have it more difficult than those of us who stay home, but I know plenty of people who made it work. Including some who pumped in bathroom stalls and one who was a police officer and ended up just reverse cycling with her baby so she didn’t pump during her shifts and he ate during the night while cosleeping. Having babies is a big responsibility. I see no reason to make formula feeding easier than breastfeeding. That just seems like another instance of the government being in bed with the formula companies. Get people hooked, make sure their breasts stop producing free milk that is of better quality than formula, and then make sure that WIC only pays for a certain number of months of it.
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I agree with Leah 100%. Why not make breastfeeding and formula equal? You have the right idea on making a doctor give a “prescription” for WIC.
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I worked for WIC as a breastfeeding counciler. In some ares they are working to promote breastfeeding because they are realizing the long term costs of formula use. My local WIC does rent free pumps, gives free Boppy pillows, and has a staff of moms, like myself, willing to help in any way possible for little to no pay. I wish a lot more would work so hard to promote breastfeeding. I also wish more employers would promote breastfeeding of their employees. I have to agree with Leah up there.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 am
I am still breastfeeding my 14-month old, so I feel like it is fair to call me a breastfeeding supporter. However, I really believe that breastfeeding ought to be a choice. Do I wish more people would make that choice? Of course. But I think that demanding that low-income mothers breastfeed is tantamount to any other removal of choice when it comes to women’s bodies.
Additionally, I spent hundreds of dollars on lactation consultants because the ones at the hospital in which I delivered were horrible. Until WIC is spending an equal amount of money helping women successfully breastfeed, I believe that removing formula from the program only puts children at risk.
Social programs are there to help people who cannot support their families without them. I recognize that I am a bit of a bleeding heart, but it never surprises me anymore when I hear that people who are against these types of social programs are also ardently anti-abortion. People make mistakes and difficult choices must follow. It is a tragedy for children to die of malnutrition in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 am
[...] Deported May 23rd, 2007 by Kelli First, I’d like to encourage you to read the comments from yesterday’s post WIC-Friend or Foe? The comments highlighted some very important points about the problems with folks abusing the WIC system. Another commenter pointed out that many of the areas within the WIC program DO provide breastpumps and do encourage breastfeeding. I grew up in two very small Kansas towns and yes, I’ve seen abuses of the program as well. Overall, I have very conflicted, yet cynical feelings about most such programs because often there is little incentive for someone to enable themselves once they start getting benefits. In particular it is difficult when living on government assistance becomes a multi-generational situation and the result is that the 2nd generation doesn’t really know any different kind of life. I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring that up in my original post, but yes, I’ve seen clear cases myself where the program has been abused and where clearly some women are just along for the free ride and the government cheese. [...]
June 4th, 2007 at 8:51 am
[...] Fairness June 4th, 2007 by Kelli I came across this “letter to the editor” about the WIC program. It’s written by a WIC coordinator in response to an editorial piece she felt was unfair to the program. She does mention the program’s efforts to support women while pregnant and while breastfeeding. I felt it only fair to include the link since I had discussed the program previously. [...]