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Breastfeeding Support for WIC families

If you've just had a baby or will have one soon, we'd like to say congratulations! WIC is a great place to go for support and information about breastfeeding. We offer many services to help all of our nursing moms and babies have a great experience with breastfeeding. Here's a sample of what we offer at WIC:

• Classes: During your pregnancy, we invite you to come to class to learn more about breastfeeding. Dads are very welcome here! We also have groups where nursing moms and babies can get together and share their experiences.
• Breastfeeding Warmline: After baby is here, you can call WIC at any time to get the answer to your breastfeeding questions. Call 1-800-663-8685.
• Breast Pump loans: Including pump loans for work or school, and creating a back -to-work plan.
• Lactation Consultants: If breastfeeding challenges occur, these breastfeeding specialist can help moms and babies find a solution.
• Peer Counselor Program: Our Peer Counselor program is specially designed for those of you expecting your first baby. These fun, group gatherings are all about getting you ready to welcome your new baby and helping you to be a more confident parent.

Pumping

Thinking about pumping?

If you are thinking about pumping because you are worried about your milk supply or because breastfeeding is not going well, you may not need a pump - your baby may just need a little help. Call our WIC Breastfeeding Warmline at 1-800-663-8685. All request for breast pumps must be assessed by a qualified WIC staff person to determine a mom's eligibility and need. All breastfeeding women who receive a pump must be present in order to receive education on the use of the pump, on the safe handling of expressed breast milk and to sign a pump issue contract and liability waiver. In addition, breastfeeding moms are taught how to remove milk by hand, also know as hand expression.

There are three different types of pumps available to meet the needs of WIC breastfeeding moms and babies:

• Manual breast pump: intended for occasional use, this is a pump that the mother keeps for her herself.
• Single user breast pump:
  intended for exclusively breastfeeding moms and babies this is an electric breast pump that the mother keeps for herself. To be eligible for a personal breast pump, a mother must:
  • have been exclusively breastfeeding for at least 4 weeks, and
  • wants to continue exclusively breastfeeding, and
  • will be separated from her baby more than four (4) hours at a time, or has multiple infants, or has an infant with a qualifying medical condition.
• Multi-user loan breast pump: intended for frequent use to establish and protect a mother's milk supply this is a hospital grade electric pump loaned to eligible WIC participants for a specified time interval and must be returned to the WIC program within the time frame described in the loan contract. Typically these pumps are loaned when babies are not breastfeeding well because of prematurity or illness, or when mother have breast engorgement or other medical condition.

Peer Counselor Support Services

Who Is A WIC Peer Counselor?

WIC breastfeeding peer counselors are moms who have breastfed their babies. They live and work in your community. Peer counselors have been trained in breastfeeding support, so they can provide information and suggestions that have been proven to work for many mothers and babies.

What Does A WIC Peer Counselor Do?

• Gives basic breastfeeding information
• Contacts moms during pregnancy and the early days of breastfeeding by telephone, with home visits, or at our WIC clinics.
• Follow up with moms until they wean their babies.
• Refers moms to healthcare providers as needed.

How Can a WIC Peer Counselor Help?

They can help you:

• Get a good start breastfeeding your baby
• Know how to make plenty of milk for your baby
• Learn how to breastfeed when you are in public
• Keep breastfeeding when you go back to work or school
• Get support from your family and friends
• Deal with your breastfeeding concerns
• Find answers to your breastfeeding questions.

How Can You Get Peer Counselor Support?

Call the WIC Breastfeeding Warmline 1-800-663-8685 and leave a message requesting information or support. A breastfeeding peer counselor will return your call within one business day.

The peer counselor can :

• Answer questions and provide information over the phone (for any mother, whether or not she receives WIC).
• Help arrange a home visit or clinic visit for WIC mothers and babies.

Meet the Breastfeeding Peer Counselors of Yolo County WIC:

Jeny
“One mom told me she hadn’t considered breastfeeding because she didn’t know it was her choice how to feed her baby. She then decided to try it. When I saw her at six months and asked how breastfeeding was going she said her baby and her were still in love. I love being able to help others experience the wonders of breastfeeding.”

Araceli
“It is wonderful to have someone who understands breastfeeding and can support you in your efforts. Talk to me, I can help you.”