By ERICA ARCHULETA, MEdWIC is an acronym visible throughout America including the aisles of the new Smith’s Marketplace, however it is an acronym that tends to be underestimated or thought of as the milk and cheese program.
WIC is far more than milk and cheese, and as we celebrate World Breastfeeding Week it is important to recognize the contributions the WIC program has made over the years and continues to make every day to breastfeeding women throughout America, New Mexico and Los Alamos County.
Formally established by an amendment to section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a federal assistance program administered by United States Department of Agriculture , Food and Nutrition Service for the nutrition of income eligible pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants and children under the age of five. As with any public health program WIC has evolved through the years to address the every changing health and nutrition needs of women, infants and children. WIC began to promote and support breastfeeding women in the late 1980s.
Research has shown that breast milk is the optimal food for a baby’s first year of life as it provides a plethora of health, nutritional, emotional and economic benefits to both mother and baby. Since the overarching goal of the WIC Program is to improve the nutritional status of women, infants and children, WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants. WIC has historically promoted breastfeeding to all pregnant women as the optimal infant feeding choice, unless medically advised against.
WIC mothers choosing to breastfeed are provided with support and education through counseling and breastfeeding materials. Breastfeeding mothers receive one-on-one support through breastfeeding peer counselors. Breastfeeding mothers are eligible to participate in WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers and those who exclusively breastfeed their infants receive an enhanced nutritional food package. Breastfeeding mothers can receive top of the line breast pumps, in special needs cases mothers are given access to hospital grade breast pumps, breast shells, supplemental nursing systems as well as other supplies to help support the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.
To qualify for participation in the WIC program, one must meet the following criteria:
- Live in New Mexico
- Be a pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum woman, an infant under one year of age or a child under 5 years of age
- Meet the income eligibility guidelines
- Have a nutritional risk in one of two main of categories: 1) medically-based risks such as history of poor pregnancy outcome, underweight status, or iron deficiency anemia, and/or 2) diet-based risk factors such as poor eating habits which can lead to poor nutritional and health status.
- Participants must apply in person.
WIC serves Los Alamos residents in the Los Alamos Public Health Office on the first and third Thursday of every month. For an appointment, call 505.662.4038 or 505.476.2602.
