North County Health Services WIC Program

Breastfeeding Policies

Federal regulations mandate the Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Supplemental Food Program to promote and support breastfeeding as the
norm for infant feeding. The NCHS WIC Program is committed to promoting
and supporting breastfeeding as the norm for infant feeding and to
providing women with the information necessary to make an informed
infant feeding choice.

> **I. Policy Statement:**
>
> **The NCHS WIC Program shall encourage every woman to breastfeed
> unless breastfeeding is contraindicated for health reasons. In
> accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement,
> each woman enrolled in the WIC Program, regardless of the level of
> intervention, shall be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively for the
> first six months after birth, at which point gradual introduction of
> iron-enriched solid foods should complement the breastmilk diet. It is
> also recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months,
> and thereafter for as long as mutually desired between mother and
> infant.**
>
> **Breastfeeding encouragement shall occur sometime during the prenatal
> period and is required for all prenatal women, regardless of the
> number of weeks gestation at the time of enrollment. For women who
> have previously indicated that they do not plan to breastfeed,
> breastfeeding encouragement may include group or individual discussion
> addressing methods to overcome perceived problems associated with
> breastfeeding.**
>
> **During the postpartum period, breastfeeding women shall be provided
> with breastfeeding support and information to enable them to continue
> breastfeeding. Breastfeeding encouragement shall occur at the time of
> certification and other times as needed and shall consist of an
> assessment of any problems associated with breastfeeding, which the
> woman is experiencing, and a discussion of information/methods to
> overcome such problems.**

II. This policy will be implemented using the following steps:

    A.  The breastfeeding policy will be reviewed at orientation with
        all new staff, volunteers and contract employees, it will be
        routinely communicated (at least once a year) to all WIC staff
        and updated as necessary.

    B.  NCHS WIC shall have a designated Breastfeeding Coordinator who
        is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating
        breastfeeding promotion and support activities.

    C.  WIC staff will be trained in the necessary skills to implement
        this policy and will be provided ongoing training to enhance
        breastfeeding counseling skills.

    D.  Breastfeeding education should be culturally appropriate and
        learner-centered to ensure participants make an informed infant
        feeding decision.

    E.  Provide information to all pregnant women about the benefits of
        exclusive breastfeeding.

    F.  Encourage and empower mothers to initiate breastfeeding within
        one hour of birth and to room-in with their baby.

    G.  Educate mothers how to maintain and manage lactation for at
        least the first year of life.

    H.  Educate breastfeeding mothers to avoid premature and unnecessary
        introduction of food or liquids, other than breastmilk.

    I.  Educate mothers to recognize their babies' feeding cues and to
        breastfeed on cue.

    J.  Educate mothers about potential consequences of giving
        artificial nipples or pacifiers until breastfeeding is well
        established.

    K.  Foster the identification and/or development of breastfeeding
        support groups and networks for WIC mothers.

    L.  Establish a breastfeeding friendly workplace for all WIC
        employees and participants.