S/o If Wic didn't give away formula for free, more women would breastfeed.

[paganbaby]

This post is a spinnoff of sorts from a comment in my other post

I think this is an area of waste...if they cut this program women would have to breastfeed or use their food stamps if they are that poor they will already be getting them.

[LuckyIrishMom]

I qualified for WIC, but chose to breastfeed.  My friend didn't qualify for WIC, and chose formula.  WIC isn't a waste, and many who qualify for WIC, would not qualify for food stamps.  And in my case, after getting pregant while still breastfeeding my oldest, I had to switch to formula after I stopped producing properly.  WIC was a life-saver for a struggling, military family (who didn't have the extra money, but didn't get FS).  I'm beyond appreciative for their help!

[ProudMommy51006]

We qualified for WIC but not foodstamps.

But I do think it would make a few more breastfeed.

[paganbaby]

How old was your oldest when you became pregnant?

And i can't imagine choosing to FF if I didn't have wic. That stuff is expensive! lol. Glad you had it when you needed it though.

Quoting LuckyIrishMom:

I qualified for WIC, but chose to breastfeed.  My friend didn't qualify for WIC, and chose formula.  WIC isn't a waste, and many who qualify for WIC, would not qualify for food stamps.  And in my case, after getting pregant while still breastfeeding my oldest, I had to switch to formula after I stopped producing properly.  WIC was a life-saver for a struggling, military family (who didn't have the extra money, but didn't get FS).  I'm beyond appreciative for their help!

[ashleyrenee24]

WIC tried to offer me free formula but I turned it down and breastfeed.

[avpriddis]

seriously? they give out formula? Here you have to have special circumstances, usualy a doctors note, to get formula on WIC. They really push breastfeeding, and you get more from them when you bf.

[paganbaby]

My Sil for one...

She just had a baby a few days ago and she's very engorged. I recommended that she pump to feel better and to give the baby some "extra" while she was at it. Her response? "But then they'll just fill right up".

She's a sahm who thinks BF is icky. Thank goodness she gets Wic right?

Quoting ProudMommy51006:

We qualified for WIC but not foodstamps.

But I do think it would make a few more breastfeed.

[paganbaby]

No way! Where do you live at?

Quoting avpriddis:

seriously? they give out formula? Here you have to have special circumstances, usualy a doctors note, to get formula on WIC. They really push breastfeeding, and you get more from them when you bf.

[paganbaby]

Same here :-)

Quoting ashleyrenee24:

WIC tried to offer me free formula but I turned it down and breastfeed.

[Kris_PBG]

Yes - I do think more would qualify if formula was not free....

I'm not saying they should not provide it - but if they didn't, I think many more would bf.

[nocalmegan]

It wouldn't have made a difference for me. Callie wouldn't latch right and after about 10 weeks of trying with cracked bleeding nipples I tried formula. We qualified for WIC but not FS so we couldn't have used them to buy formula anyways.