by Stefanie Trudeau

Created on: May 02, 2008

WIC is a government program intended to help pregnant women, infants, and young children get adequate nutrition. WIC is available to families with pregnant women and children under 5 who fall within the income guidelines. For young families who are struggling to keep up with bills and the rising prices of gas and groceries these days, participating in the WIC program can be very beneficial to their wallet and their health.

Having nutritious food available during pregnancy and early childhood is essential for cell development and appropriate growth. The food available through the program includes healthy items such as milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice, baby cereal, peanut butter, and beans. For mothers who are breastfeeding, they also include tuna and carrots. During the summer, many WIC programs also distribute vouchers for farmer's markets so that families can get fresh local produce. This benefits both the families receiving the food, and the farmers growing it.

At a typical WIC appointment, you will have either a group meeting (usually focused on breastfeeding for pregnant women), or a private session to speak with the nutritionist. If you are pregnant, they will keep track of your weight gain, and if you have children, their growth will be charted. The meeting is usually pretty brief, and following that you will get your food checks.

WIC promotes breastfeeding and offers information and counseling to pregnant women and breastfeeding moms. Often, the women who come into the WIC office do not have a partner or family who supports their decision to breastfeed, so the lactation consultant tries to give them the encouragement they need to start or continue to nurse their baby.

I have found the nutritionists, lactation consultants and other WIC employees at my local office to be knowledgeable, helpful and courteous. I appreciate that the lactation consultants are always available by phone to answer questions or help a new mom who is having trouble nursing.

Another advantage of the WIC program is that it gives the women and children it serves the opportunity to meet others in their area and make friends. WIC offers more than just significant savings on families' grocery bills. For families who qualify, it can be a great advantage to help make ends meet and support new moms who may be struggling.

For more information about the WIC program, and to find your state's requirements, you can visit the United States Department of Agriculture website and look under the Food and Nutrition Services section.

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