Breastfeeding can be a difficult, yet it’s such a rewarding experience and very beneficial, to both mom and baby. With my first child I was very nervous and frankly scared within the first few days of breastfeeding and I didn’t know of anyone to help. That’s when I learned about WIC and the FREE and AVAILABLE help for all breastfeeding moms.
Whatever the concern or struggle, WIC is here to help. If you’re pregnant, just started breastfeeding, or encouraging a friend of family member, here are a few of the top reasons moms stop nursing – and links to where mom can find help on BreastmilkCounts.com.
Top Reasons We Hear Why Mothers Stop Breastfeeding
- “I’m not making enough breastmilk for my baby.”.
- “It hurts when I try to breastfeed. My nipples are cracked and bleeding.”
- “I don’t have any support.”
- “My baby is hungry all the time.”
- “I have to return to work and I don’t know if my office has a breastfeeding policy.”
- “It’s also inconvenient and I’m not going to have time to pump and get my work done.”
- My baby cries all the time. He must be hungry. I must not be producing enough milk.”
- “I can’t find the right position. What am I doing wrong?”
- “I’m nervous about breastfeeding in public.”
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When my first child was born I had several problems getting him to latch on correctly and since he was premature it took him a long time to drink even just a few ounces of breast milk. I found that as my anxiety grew so did the problems. One of the only ways I survived breastfeeding was by having a lactation consultant both in and outside of the hospital.
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How WIC Can Help
Whether it is 3pm or 3am, WIC makes it easy to get help online or a phone call away. Here are a few of the ways WIC makes it easy:
- Call the 24/7 hotline at 855-550-6667 for breastfeeding help. It’s available for all moms.
- Free lactation centers available in Austin, Dallas, McAllen, San Antonio, and Houston. It’s available for all moms.
- Call your WIC office to see a breastfeeding peer counselor and/or take a breastfeeding class for help – (available for WIC clients).
- BreastmilkCounts.com #1 Resource – Information on everything breastfeeding related – a one-stop-resource to help mom get answers quickly and easily. Topics range from latch and breastfeeding positions to milk supply and ways to connect with a counselor or lactation consultant.
Wondering about the benefits? Here are just a few of the breastfeeding benefits for Baby and Mom:
- Breastmilk provides health benefits for baby and mom that last a lifetime.
- Breastfeeding is good for moms. It lowers mom’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. It also burns up to 600 calories a day!
- Breastmilk has hundreds more ingredients than formula that help baby grow and protect him from illness. Mom’s milk also changes over time to meet baby’s needs.
- Breastmilk makes your baby less likely to have digestive problems, such as gassiness, constipation, and colic.
- Breastfed babies are healthier and get sick less often.
- Breastmilk is human milk for human babies. It is custom-made by each mom and changes over time to meet her baby’s needs.
- The benefits of breastfeeding extend over time. Every ounce counts. Breastfeed your baby for as long as you can.
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On a personal note, I also found that it helped dramatically with weight loss. I could feel my uterus contract, reducing post-delivery blood loss and helping my uterus return to its normal size more quickly. Research shows that with breastfeeding your uterus returns to normal size at about six weeks postpartum, compared with 10 weeks if you don’t breastfeed.
Rosa is just one Mom who benefited from WIC. Rosa, says “Go to WIC, because WIC really does help you…there’s no reason to give up on breastfeeding, because you can do it.”
Breastfeeding in Public is Protected by the Law and is 100% okay.
I admit that with my first child we rarely left the house. I was worried about breastfeeding in public. When my second and third child were born we didn’t have an option. My oldest was in preschool and we had extra curricular activities after school. I had to work past my fears of others judging us or the possibility that someone may be offended because I was feeding my children.
Here are a few tips to help you:
-Be confident. Baby should eat whenever he gets hungry no matter where mom is.
-Breastfeeding is for anytime, anyplace. Although the idea of sharing these moments in public may cause anxiety, moms should know that it is their legal right to breastfeed anywhere they are allowed to be.
-Breastfeeding in public can be done with confidence—most moms are already nursing in public and going completely unnoticed.
Texas WIC is the #1 resource in breastfeeding. True Answers. True Relief. WIC’s breastfeeding experts are here to help you breastfeed successfully. Locate a WIC clinic near you to find out if you are eligible.
