Anyone working for WIC?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

I have just started a new position as WIC coordinator. I am interested in any thoughts from others positive and/or negative. Thanks!

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You are doing one of the very best things on earth for our society. Helping mothers and babies to get off to a good start in life sets them up for a lifetime of success.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

You should encourage the mothers to breastfeed instead of giving away all that infant formula......that is the problem I have with WIC.

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Specializes in OB L&D Mother/Baby.

I'm not sure that I fully understand WIC. They do promote breastfeeding right? But at the same time I get tons of patients that say "I'm going to bottle feed because I get free formula from WIC anyway" I've also heard that women lie to WIC and say they are breastfeeding 50% of the time to get the free formula which they turn around and sell on ebay or to friends because they are really breastfeeding.

I think it's definately a good program... I just don't understand all the ins and outs of it.

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Not everyone who uses WIC has the option of breast feeding....please keep that in mind.

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I believe that which ever decision one takes in feeding her child is solely on the person.There are some that choose to breastfeed and supplement while there are some that lie in other to be given formulas for their baby but generally,i am really overwhelmed seeing how they help mothers with their babies.Everyone is entitled to their opinions and decisions.You dont generalize cos there are pple that really need the help.If you talk of pple that lie to get WIC,what of pple that have no job but keep on getting pregnant so that the government will carter for their kids and they'll get all the grants.I know all those grants come thru the taxes we pay but i say again,there are pple that need it.

Less i forget,nurseaboveboard,congrats and goodluck in serving the society thru WIC.

Azor

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Specializes in NICU.

Congrats on the new job!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

You do better if you're on WIC if you are breastfeeding because they give you vouchers for certain foods: milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, lots of things. It's meant to support the woman nutritionally while she is feeding the baby.

The participants also get a lot of nutritional education. I think it's a good program. If the baby needs a special formula (premie formulas, pregestimil, etc) they will provide that, too.

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Grats on the new job, WIC is truly an amazing thing - you are doingthe best job in the world.. WIC does promote breastfeeding not only through incentives but thru tons of good education I had a WIC lactaion consultant that was just amazing (inspired me to be a nurse!)

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Our WIC office does not have anyone currently working the lactation education part of the office, so I do volunteer work for the WIC office offering free lact. ed. I also helped them to form a breastfeeding and infant/toddler nutrition support group. The first Monday of every month is game day at the library as part of the support group - we promote breastfeeding to the community. I also help organize their pumping supplies and teach the moms how to use the pumps.

I'm not crazy about the formula side of it and the politics behind it. I'm also not crazy about the fact that most of the food given away on the program are cheap food products - I can't get organic milk, free range eggs or quality cereal. But that's just my way crunchy granola feel for the program.

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Our WIC office does not have anyone currently working the lactation education part of the office, so I do volunteer work for the WIC office offering free lact. ed. I also helped them to form a breastfeeding and infant/toddler nutrition support group. The first Monday of every month is game day at the library as part of the support group - we promote breastfeeding to the community. I also help organize their pumping supplies and teach the moms how to use the pumps.

I'm not crazy about the formula side of it and the politics behind it. I'm also not crazy about the fact that most of the food given away on the program are cheap food products - I can't get organic milk, free range eggs or quality cereal. But that's just my way crunchy granola feel for the program.

I have a friend at my school that is getting WIC and one day I went to the store with her...it was a store she normally didn't go to.

The "WIC approved" juice that the store carried was some off-brand you've never heard of, and she was checking over the label and it said, "Made from Concentrate from China".

She put the juice back, discovered she didn't have another alternative and bought what was left on her WIC check and left off the juice.

I don't blame her...I wouldn't put anything in my mouth from China right now.

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WIC also provides free breast pumps...here anyway, and REALLY support breastfeeding.

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