Breastfeeding and WIC

Promoting, supporting and protecting breastfeeding is a crucial part of the Missouri WIC program. As a WIC participant, you have access to one-on-one counseling from educators who are motivated to help you meet your breastfeeding goals. Every local agency has staff trained to provide basic breastfeeding education and support, help with common breastfeeding issues and provide manual and electric breast pumps. In addition, some agencies choose to participate in the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program to provide an extra measure of support and can be designated as Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics once they meet specific criteria. Over 85 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding WIC participants in Missouri are served by Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics!

Breastfeeding support stories

Breastfeeding is special. It prevents certain diseases, helps babies grow and develop and makes them feel safe and secure. It’s also a journey, with ups and downs and feelings of accomplishment and frustration. To make it work, breastfeeding moms need accurate information and timely support, and they can find both at their WIC local agencies. Select a video below for an inspiring story of breastfeeding support from WIC families and staff.

• Briana’s story.
• Fartun’s story.
• Kelli’s story.
• Lacie’s story.
• Liz’s story.
• Marielle’s story.
• Sarah’s story.
• Playlist of all the breastfeeding stories presented by Missouri WIC.

Learn about the stages of breastfeeding and hear from more WIC moms by visiting WIC Breastfeeding Support!

Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program

The Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program is a wonderful addition to WIC’s breastfeeding support. Peer counselors are moms just like you, who have breastfed their babies and can help you meet your breastfeeding goals!

What does a peer counselor do?

• Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers.
• Helps mothers achieve their own breastfeeding goals.
• Regularly contacts mothers during their pregnancy, during the early days of breastfeeding and until the mother chooses to wean her baby.
• Refers mothers with concerns outside the peer counselor’s scope of practice to appropriate lactation experts or health care professionals.
• Refers non-WIC mothers to other community breastfeeding resources if they are not eligible for WIC.
• Is a role model for other WIC mothers.
• Available to respond to mother’s breastfeeding concerns outside of normal clinic hours.

Which WIC local agencies have a breastfeeding peer counseling program?

The Missouri Breastfeeding Peer Counseling and Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics map provides the locations of all Breastfeeding Peer Counseling programs in Missouri. To find the address and contact information of these local agencies, look for the blue pins on the Missouri WIC locations map.

Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics

The Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic is a Missouri designation that recognizes WIC local agencies that provide exemplary breastfeeding support. This statewide effort encourages and recognizes local agencies that offer all of the best practices for breastfeeding support to moms like you!

What can you expect at a Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic?

• Group classes to answer all of your breastfeeding questions.
• One-on-one meetings, texts and calls from your breastfeeding peer counselor, even after clinic hours.
• A friendly, supportive environment that welcomes breastfeeding throughout the clinic.
• A trained breastfeeding expert to assist you if you have more complex breastfeeding issues.
• Help with breast pumps, flange sizing, pumping schedules and more.
• A breastfeeding moms group to help you find other mothers on the journey.
• An engaged staff working to improve breastfeeding support in the workplace, at hospitals, in businesses, at child care providers and throughout your community!

Which WIC clinics are designated as a Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic?

The Missouri Breastfeeding Peer Counseling and Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics map provides the locations of all Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinics in Missouri. To find the address and contact information of these clinics, look for the blue pins on the Missouri WIC locations map.

Breast pumps

All WIC local agencies offer a variety of breast pumps, which are provided to postpartum mothers after the WIC staff assesses which pump is best for the mother.

• Manual breast pumps are great early on or for occasional separations.
• Multi-user pumps are loaned to mothers who exclusively pump, have supply problems, pump for medical reasons or don’t have access to a personal electric pump. A deposit may be charged, which will be returned once the participant brings the pump back to the local agency.
• Many WIC local agencies also give personal electric breast pumps to mothers who qualify for them, if the mother has not received a pump from her insurance company.

For assistance with receiving a breast pump or more questions about the WIC program, contact your WIC local agency, the blue pins on the Missouri WIC locations map.