Back in February, the first lady lauded the benefits of breastfeeding, saying “kids who are breastfed longer have a lower tendency to be obese.” She’s right. Breast milk is magic. Not only does it reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity, it contains vital disease-fighting antibodies critical to new babies. And, of course, there are a variety of health benefits for mothers as well.
I breastfed all three of my children, and while it wasn’t always easy, it was free and I knew my kids were getting the best food possible — the food I was designed to provide them. Did I mention it was free?
The first lady isn’t the only government official singing the praises of breastfeeding; the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and the office of the surgeon general endorse exclusive breastfeeding for six months, as do the leading pediatric organizations. The IRS announced in February that breast pumps and other nursing supplies could qualify for tax breaks. Similar breastfeeding incentives were included in Obamacare; requiring employers to provide “lactation breaks” to their female employees.
Why then, given all of these pro-breastfeeding statement and programs, does the Obama administration continue to support a massive entitlement program that encourages poor women to skip breastfeeding altogether and instead turn to formula for their children’s nutrition needs? Of course, tackling entitlement programs isn’t really the Obama administration’s strong suit, is it?
That entitlement program — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (commonly called WIC) — encourages many moms to skip breastfeeding. Initiated in the mid-70s as a modest program to provide poor mothers with food assistance, the program is now a massive entitlement program that feeds 2.17 million infants a year. That’s approximately half of all infants in the United States.
Because these WIC mothers know that they have access to free formula, there’s an obvious incentive for them to go ahead and use it rather than bothering to breastfeeding — which can be more time-consuming that bottle feeding.
And in fact, only about one third of WIC mothers breast feed their babies for six months and account for between 57 and 68 percent of formula sales, which suggests that they are more likely than non-WIC moms to turn to formula. Sadly, this is the exact demographic — minorities and poor women — whose children are at highest risk for obesity, and would therefore likely benefit from breast milk the most.
Few politicians want to hazard criticism of a program like WIC, which is supposed to help just about the most sympathetic subset of society: infants and new mothers. Yet it’s important to recognize how programs like this can backfire on the intended beneficiaries.
— Julie Gunlock is a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum.
If they're going to fund such an entitlement, formula should be included. It's heinously expensive, and not all can nurse their babies.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDo these statistics really surprise anybody? Nursing a baby is hard work. It requires the mother to prioritize, putting the baby and his/her needs above the mother's desires and needs.
People on WIC typically have a few problems in common. They don't work hard. And they are lousy at prioritizing, thus they spend their time and money on activities that don't help their families.
Meanwhile, hardworking middle- and upper-class mothers DO tend to work harder and prioritize better. So we both nurse our babies (despite the challenges, time pressures, etc.), and pay confiscatory taxes that are used to feed babies of lazy/disorganized mothers formula. Wrong in so many, many ways.
As to the comment that some mothers "can't" nurse, that is very, very rare. My preemie wouldn't latch on for 5 very long weeks. I pumped and then finger-fed, tube-fed, etc. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I stuck with it and went on to nurse him for a full year. A lazy person wouldn't do that, however.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe WIC Program is not an entitlement and promotes and supports breastfeeding as the preferred option for all babies. WIC breastfeeding rates are rising rapidly thanks to recent policy innovations that incentivize breastfeeding over formula feeding and provide better support. Glad the author recognizes the importance AND the challenges of breastfeeding! But if she wants to increase breastfeeding rates among low-income mothers, I hope she will continue to support WIC!
For a new report on breastfeeding advances in WIC, See
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We're an Irish family; we prefer to be bottle-fed -- even the babies!
But seriously, this pseudo-science about breastfeeding providing antibodies is hogwash. "Breast is best" is about one thing and one thing only -- saving the government money by providing a plausible reason to deny formula coverage under WIC.
Everyone of us scientists know -- at least those of us that stick to science and keep out of public policy -- that the antibodies cannot pass the stomach-lining. They are destroyed and dissolved by the baby's saliva like any other protein. Repeating, you DO NOT provide an immune boost by breastfeeding; it's simply laughable on its face.
The so-called immunity boost has to do more with dirty, sweaty, bacteria-laden [ahem] than anything else. If we took as much care to clean the milk-delivery device (isopropyl, sterilize, etc., I do not recommend steam cleaning!) as we do bottles, there would be no measurable difference in immune systems of bottle/breast babies.
If you want to breastfeed, by all means do it. It seems to help some mothers bond with the kid. It also deprives loving fathers of the same opportunity. And shouldn't we be involving the fathers as much as possible in the bonding?!?!?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI find it interesting that you are willing to speak as if you are a professional scientific authority in the area of infant feeding practices and call evidence based research "pseudo-science" and then claim that the plausible benefit to breastfeeding is that "It seems to help some mothers bond with the kid" .
I wonder how much you have actually studied breastmilk and breastfeeding. It seems that you actually know very little especially compared to those who only study breastmilk and breastfeeding.
Science doesn't lie. Breastfeeding is a normal philological function that is preformed between a mother mammal and her young. Humans at their most basic level are just that.
I am a Certified Breastfeeding Educator and I am also a mother who breastfed 3 children for an accumulated time of 6 years. I am passionate about breastfeeding and your comments while at first were inflammatory, helped me to realize that this is not an formula v. breastmilk discussion. I see this as another opportunity to encourage, support, and educate the community that I live in. While I'm sure we are not geographically in close proximity the wonders of modern technology have made us neighbors. So, DrSandman, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to really take a scientific and unbiased look at breastfeeding, to support having a change of perspective; and if there is anything that I can do to educate you further please feel free to ask.
P.S. I'm Irish too and we like breast =)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't know that I buy your argument that bottlefeeding is more sterile. I breastfed three babies and then bottlefed our fourth child (adopted). I was lazy as heck with his bottles/nip_les; didn't boil or alcohol wipe or Silkwood shower a one. Other bottle moms I knew were the same. I suspect that most bottle moms start out with the best of intentions for the first few weeks of a baby's life, and then gradually abandon the extreme measures. I think if you studied actual practices and not best practices, you'd find that bottlefed babies have just as germy a food delivery system as breastfed babies.
P.S. Apparently nip_les is objectionable language in the context of an article on feeding infants.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis was meant to be a response to DrSandman.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat exactly are you a "doctor" of? I am a registered dietitian and am married to a doctor who also has a degree in nutrition, and all I can say is you obviously don't know anything about breastfeeding, human digestion, or formula manufacturing processes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe National WIC Association (NWA), the voice of the 8.9 million mothers and young children participating in WIC and the 12,200 service provider agencies would like to correct the record about the WIC Program and its numerous breastfeeding initiatives and achievements.
• WIC is not an entitlement program. It is a domestic discretionary program and members of Congress must vote annually on WIC’s funding level.
• WIC provides much more than food assistance. WIC is a preventive public health nutrition program, providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, medical and social services referrals, substance abuse referrals, smoking cessation referrals, spouse and child abuse referrals, and a nutritious food package to supplement the diets of at-risk low-income mothers and young children.
• WIC encourages and promotes breastfeeding as the ideal form of infant feeding and has been doing so, long before the 2011 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.
o WIC breastfeeding support and promotion includes breastfeeding counseling and educational materials, follow-up support through breastfeeding peer counselors.
o WIC breastfeeding moms are eligible to participate in WIC six months longer than WIC non-breastfeeding mothers and may receive breastfeeding aids such as breast pumps.
o In 1992, a breastfeeding food package was established for exclusively breastfeeding mothers, which included more foods and a greater variety of foods.
o In 1997, the USDA’s “Loving Support Makes Breastfeeding Work” campaign was developed to increase breastfeeding rates among WIC participants and encourage public acceptance of breastfeeding.
o In 2004, WIC initiated its highly successful breastfeeding peer counselor program.
o In 2009, additional changes to the food package provided further incentive for mothers to exclusively breastfeed, providing an enhanced food packaged with more food for the mother and significantly more solid food for the infant after 6 months than the other food packages. Women who report knowing about the breastfeeding food package are almost twice as likely to breastfeed as those who do not know about it.
o Between 1998 and 2008, WIC breastfeeding rates increased by 17.5% from 41.5% to 59%.
o Women who participate in WIC’s breastfeeding support activities have longer durations of breastfeeding and are less likely to stop breastfeeding.
o Women who receive advice to breastfeed are more likely to breastfeed than those who do not receive advice: 64% of WIC mothers recall hearing breastfeeding advice compared to 39% of mothers who heard breastfeeding advice from their physicians.
o WIC encourages infant father support of breastfeeding, engaging fathers in meaningful breastfeeding support activities.
Social, cultural, physical, time, and medical barriers may discourage mothers from breastfeeding. Data shows that low-income mothers are less likely to breastfeed in general due to time barriers and lack of support for overcoming breastfeeding obstacles. That is where WIC plays a significant role in promoting breastfeeding as the ideal form of infant feeding and supports mothers in their choice to breastfeed. In 2008, survey data indicated that 59% of WIC infants ages 6-13 months were breastfed. Research shows that without counseling, low-income mothers are less likely to breastfeed. Without WIC, it is very likely that fewer low-income mothers would breastfeed. As one WIC participant from San Bernadino County, CA, stated, "When I became acquainted with the WIC Lactation Consultant, she helped me overcome many personal difficulties as well as ensure that I could successfully breastfeed my child. I was able to nurse my daughter up to 11 months and now have a healthy 2 1/2 year old. I thought I had no support out here, but then I found WIC and other support in the community. I am very thankful and appreciative."
For infants of mothers who are unable or choose not to breastfeed for various reasons, WIC provides supplemental infant formula, an adequate alternative to breastmilk. Assuring that their infant has adequate nutrition is at the end of the day, most important.
-Rev. Fr. Douglas A. Greenaway, President & CEO, National WIC Association
To read more about NWA’s breastfeeding strategies, visit www.nwica.org.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcuse me, but does this not say that they are entitled to this support.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusethe video below is an example of how the WIC program is encouraging more moms to breast feed. The video is part of a show called "The WIC Show" and was produced by the Alameda County WIC program in California.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe video below is an example of how WIC is encouraging moms to breast feed. Yes, breastfeeding is a choice. But when moms learn about why it's the best choice many prefer to breast feed.
External Link
This video was produced by the Alameda County WIC program. It's part of a show called "The WIC Show".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou can find "The WIC Show" and "El Programa de WIC" on YouTube.
In response to Lesley Pezley, I wonder where you obtain your information from regarding WIC clients and whether they work hard and/or are too lazy to breastfeed? Most WIC clients work at low-paying jobs (hence needing the supplemental food support), and their greatest barrier to breastfeeding has often been their employers. With legislation that allows time for pumping, and with the WIC program's breastfeeding support through education, peer counseling from WIC staff who have breastfed their own children, initiation and duration rates of breastfeeding moms continue to increase. In addition, many WIC offices nationwide work with local hospitals to eliminate the baby bags that include formula, to encourage skin-to-skin contact with moms immediately after delivery with initiation of the first feeding on the breast. Likewise, WIC reaches out to employeers to present the case for breastfeeding on the benefits to employers in providing pumping time and areas (not a bathroom stall) for nursing employees. Perhaps if Ms.Pezley could look past her elitist and stereotypical prejudices, and take the time to actually research what the WIC program is - not what she assumes it to be - it might prove to be an eye opening experience.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSeriously Doc with a non-biology background, choose another argument!
Secreatory IgA (present in colustrum & breast milk) protects the infant gut from invading organism and antigens, plain, simple and well documented. Globulins (immune response...) IgG, IgM, and IgD are also found in mother's milk (not artificial baby milk) and well documented to protect the breastfed baby against invaders. Get with it!!!!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat's this psuedo-science stuff? Breastfeeding is proven to provide antibodies and stimulate antibody production. Breastmilk also provides oligosaccarides and white blood cells that both fight infection through different paths than antibodies. The previous "scientist" needs to get his facts straight and review the peer reviewed evidence based research. It is also my understanding that Ireland has a high rate of breastfeeding, but Irish in America may have given this up resulting in shorter life expectancy and more chronic illness.
Your attitude that breastfeeding is more work is one of the reasons many moms choose not to breastfeed. What could be more work than mixing formula and keeping it fresh? Not to mention the frequent opportunities for contamination in the process. When you breastfeed you always have a clean readily available food supply for your baby and all you have to do is feed the baby--no time or energy wasted in the kitchen.
Back to WIC. WIC is not an entitlement! In my county WIC is the only place moms can get help with breastfeeding and the WIC clinic has a tough job counteracting the poor and even incorrect "assistance" moms are given by some nurses and doctors in our local hospitals. Without WIC there would be many fewer breastfed babies in our county.Yes, WIC provides formula when moms won't breastfeed. I resent your characterization of all WIC moms as being lazy. Many WIC moms work and are the sole source on income for their families. They struggle to keep their children happy and healthy against many obstacles, some of which are dealing with government programs which are suppose to help them. WIC appears to be a program that helps families help themselves. The foods provided by WIC are all selected to provide specific nutrients while being easy to obtain and store, and be econimical.
Do your homework before critizing this proven public health program!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am so pleased that DouglasG provided comprehensive, accurate information about the number one public health nutrition Program - the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. As the Director of a local WIC Program located in the South Bronx, with one of the highest poverty rates in the nation .... I KNOW that the WIC Program makes a positive difference in the lives of millions of families. Regarding breastfeeding ... WIC is starting to be known as the "go to" folks for breastfeeding promotion, protection and support. Not only are we required to have a Breastfeeding Coordinator, but we have Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) on staff as well as other lactation professionals, we have active Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Programs to provide mom-to-mom support; we provide breastpumpt (manual, single user doble pumps, hospital grade electric pumps) free of charge to moms to support their breastfeeding; we work in the community to help create brastfeeding friendly communities and work places and we have significantly increased the rates of brastfeeding amongst the low income population. Formula is not the only incentive viewed by families. Breastfeeding mothers not only receive more food for herself, but receives invaluable counseling, oftentimes by an IBCLC for free! The amount of individual attention she receives would cost hundreds of dollars if she had to pay privately.
Lesley Pezley's comments are insulting to everyone.Generalizing about women on WIC stating they "don't work hard" and "do not prioritize" is disgraceful. In the 33 years that I have been working in WIC, I have met some of the most diligent and hardest working families in the nation. One of the challenges regarding breastfeeding is that they often are working two and three jobs or are working 12 - 16 hours per day! In the South Bronx, whre I work, our breastfeeding initiation rate is over 90%. That is because of WIC intervention and a mom that wants to do her best for her baby.
And Dr. Sandman, may I refer you to a plethora of excellent research articles that provide a wealth of evidence on how and why formula feeding increases the risk of a variety of different health issues? Perhaps you can start with Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in 2007.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlease feel free to go to the NWA website at nwica.org or to the USDA - FNS website for more information on WIC and breastfeeding.
THE DAIRY LOBBY in Washington. You missed a vital reason why the government still is in the business of giving out Formula!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTHE DAIRY LOBBY and THE DRUG COMPANY lobbyist is the reason the government will never give up handing out formula!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhile our country is furiously looking to "cut the budget," many programs are being vilified as a waste of taxpayer dollars. WIC is one of the many programs being blamed for wasteful government spending. Most of those on the WIC attack really shows a profound misunderstanding of the program and the real potential for harming fragile families if significant cuts are enacted. WIC has always supported breastfeeding and in the recent past has received some enhanced funding for activities shown to improve breastfeeding initiation as well as duration such as peer counseling. Formula is part of the WIC package for many reasons one of them being the excellent job that formula companies do at lobbying for inclusion of their products in the WIC program. They also do an excellent job at positioning their product in physician offices and hospitals as well as providing moms with a very limited supply of free formula in the first weeks of their babies’ lives.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think is it very irresponsible to vilify WIC without having done due diligence to find out how it is funded and what it actually provides to its recipients.
I think the problem with all of these programs is not the program itself, just the fact that there are so many, and many of them are at cross or overlapping purposes with each other. Why is the WIC program any different than food stamps along with the myriad other clinics that could teach parents to breastfeed? it's not that we don't want to feed hungry kids, we just think if we cut down the number of programs or push them down to the states, they would be able to serve their audiences better and for less money.
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