WIC Provides Breastfeeding Help
Clients can receive breastfeeding help and support from WIC. All staff members at each clinic are dedicated to helping all women breastfeed. Utah County WIC believes that breastfeeding is the best way to feed babies. To help mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals, we have a Breastfeeding Support Team ready to answer questions and offer expert help. Utah County WIC clients are encouraged to call the Breastfeeding Warmline at 801-851-7312 for questions about breastfeeding. Utah County WIC breastfeeding support includes:
- Breastfeeding the Newborn class
- Breastfeeding Peer Counselors: Mothers with breastfeeding experience who have received training so that they can support other breastfeeding mothers. They will call WIC mothers before, near and after their due dates. Please call 801-851-7312 for Peer Counselor help.
- Lactation educators in each of our county's WIC Clinics.
- Email breastfeeding help from a Certified Lactaction Counselor.
- Breastpump information and sources: Call our Breastfeeding Warmline at 801-851-7312 or email us at wicdietitian@state.ut.us.
- Referrals to other agencies in the area that may be of help to the breastfeeding mother
Breastfeeding women can also receive breastfeeding aids to own or borrow free of charge, if they are eligible. WIC employees trained in breastfeeding can determine eligibility for:
- Electric breast pump
- Hand breast pump
- Pedal breast pump
- Different sized breast pump flanges
- Nipple shells
- Supplemental Nursing System (SNS)
- Baby cup feeders
For Utah County WIC clients call the Breastfeeding Warmline 801-851-7312 for questions and help with breastfeeding.
WIC Provides Education
Clients receive individual nutrition counseling and nutrition classes. There are many things to learn about nutrition, exercise, and health. Each person can always find something to work on. A WIC nutritionist can help answer questions for you and your family.
Some of the topics clients can learn about are:
- Healthy eating during pregnancy for mom and baby
- Breastfeeding
- Infant and child nutrition
- Shopping on a limited budget
- Stages of child development
- The importance of childhood immunizations
- Tips for pregnant teens
- Common infant problems, such as colic, constipation, and crying
- and much more!
Always talk to your WIC nutritionist about questions that you have for your family. They can help you find answers to your questions or can refer you to someone else who can! Also check out our Online Classes to learn more about nutrition and health.
WIC Provides Food Assistance
WIC provides food vouchers each month that are used in local grocery stores to buy nutritious foods. WIC foods include:
- Iron-fortified cereal
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Milk
- 100% juice
- Peanut butter
- Dried beans or peas
- Iron-fortified infant formula
- Tuna, for exclusively breastfeeding mothers
- Carrots, for exclusively breastfeeding mothers
WIC foods must meet certain nutritional requirements. Each of the WIC foods is rich in one or more of the nutrients:
- Protein
- Calcium
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
It has been shown that low-income families do not eat enough of these nutrients. WIC foods help participants meet their nutritional needs. This is very important during pregnancy, breastfeeding and first five years of age. This is a critical period of growth and development.
Different food packages are issued to different clients to help meet their needs. You may receive different foods depending on if you are breastfeeding or not. A woman, infant, and child will each receive different food packages. A WIC nutritionist will determine which food package you will receive.
Referrals to Other Agencies
WIC refers clients to a variety of health and social services programs. These agencies provide additional services that may be helpful to you and your family. At your WIC appointment you can feel comfortable asking questions about any needs you have. If WIC employees are not the experts on the subject they will refer you to someone who is.
WIC refers to programs such as:
- Child care
- Dental services
- Employment
- Family planning
- Food banks
- Food Stamps
- Health
- Immunizations
- Literacy services
- Medicaid
- Prenatal care
- Substance abuse
WIC Makes a Difference!
WIC saves lives and improves the health of millions of women, infants, and children every year. WIC does make a difference! Studies from Food Nutrition Services (FNS) and other non-government groups prove this. It is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs.
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and social services. When participants receive these benefits they also often see improvements in health. Studies show improved outcomes and practices in WIC participants of the following:
- Birth outcomes and savings in health care costs
- Diet and diet-related outcomes
- Infant feeding practices
- Immunization rates
- Regular source of medical care
- Nutrition Status before Pregnancy
