Breastfeeding

WIC is committed to assisting mothers in establishing and continuing to breastfeed in the critical weeks after birth and beyond.  WIC food packages provide incentives for initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.

WIC Benefits for Breastfeeding Moms and Babies

• WIC foods for the first year of breastfeeding
  • Fully breastfeeding mothers receive more variety and larger quantities of foods, including a $10 cash-value voucher for fruits and vegetables.
  • Fully breastfed infants receive more infant foods than non-breastfed infants beginning at six months of age
  • See a Sample Food Package

• Targeted support services, which will continue for as long as they are needed beyond the first year
  • Access to staff with training in lactation 
  • Peer Counseling Services (available in some local WIC agencies)
  • Breast pumps for mothers returning to work or for mothers with other special needs
  • Education materials and support

Changes with the new food packages to increase breastfeeding support include:

• No routine issuance of infant formula in birth month to breastfeeding infants. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first month is crucial for establishing an adequate milk supply. Supplementation with formula during that period could undermine breastfeeding's success. 
• Compared to the previous food packages, partially breastfed infants receive less formula to allow mothers to feed more breast milk to their infants.
• New food packages distinguish between the fully breastfed, partially breastfed, and the fully formula fed infant. All infants will receive infant foods beginning at 6 months of age.

Breastfeeding Promotion and Support and the New Food Packages

Watch this short video “Partnering with WIC for Breastfeeding Success” to see how you can support breastfeeding moms.

Additional Resources
More information on breastfeeding is on the Missouri Department of Health website.