I was wondering about the benefits you recieve from WIC while your breastfeeding. I was looking at the website and I saw about the food you recieve while pregnant and breastfeeding and I also saw that they can provide you with a breastpump to use. No one I know of has used WIC that is breastfeeding, so i was wondering if any of you are using WIC while you're breastfeeding and if you have found it beneficial. I plan on TTC in the late summer this year, and more then likely I will be using WIC, so i was wondering about it, and if anyone was about to get a breastpump
In my state (WI) if you are breastfeeding you continue to receive the food (milk, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, cereal, juice) for yourself while you breastfeed (otherwise you stop receiving these items at 6 months postpartum). As far as the breastpump goes, WIC can help set you up with one but they run it through your insurance to cover the cost (medical assistance.. at least in WI, will pay for pump rental).
I have a 10 month old that I'm breastfeeding. I receive (for myself) milk, juice, cheese, peanut butter, cereal, eggs, carrots, tuna, dry beans, and I think that's it. For my daughter, I receive baby cereal and juice. They have a breast pump that I could rent (for free) if I wanted to. But pumping really bites the big one, so I don't take them up on that offer.
Another question that I forgot to ask was, If i live with my mom, would I still be eligible to get wic? I didnt know since i was 18, but I currently get free insurance through the state because of our income. So I guess I could. But would they count both our incomes? or just mine?
Well I live with both my parents and they counted ALL of our incomes and they still gave it to me..I don't know about where you live though...if it's the same..
In my state (OH) you get the largest food package available, and a free $250 breast pump. A nice double with a carrying bag.
as far as living with your parents, they go by your parents and your income combined. I didn't get it because I live with my parents, and their income is too much. Also, and I don't know if this goes by state or what, but I heard that they count every income in your house, even if it is your sister or brother or something. That is what my friend told me, so it might be wrong but... I don't know. Just thought i would put it out there.
I just got my pump from WIC today. I got (for free) an Ameda Purely Yours double electric pump and let me tell ya, this sucker ROCKS!!!
Your income will go off of everyone in the home.
That's the one I got. That sucker is between 250 and 300 retail.
HAHAHA! I just realized I refered to a breastpump as "that sucker"
*giggles* :lol:
That made me laugh. They do go by everyones income in the home. When my sister was living her they even counted hers, so we can't get anything until we move out!! it's a bummer!
when my sisters baby was in NICU we joked that the breast pump was her baby. We always had "My baby sucks!" jokes... which I guess works for live babies too.
In KY, I got a bigger WIC package (more of most things, plus tuna and carrots) for breastfeeding, but no one offered me a pump. :cry: Also, in KY, they let you use your medical card as proof of income--if you qualify for the aid, then you qualify for WIC.
My ONLY complaint about breastfeeding on WIC is that they got mean once he turned one--even gave me a brochure on stopping that listed "Mother loses approval" as the second reason to quit breastfeeding.
One of my duties as a nurse in a public health clinic was to do the WIC certs and initial certs for PG and BF moms. Every state is different (Washington, for example, covers organic milk, and gives vouchers for farmer's markets), and we went by mom's income only. As a PP said, if you qualified for coupons you pretty much always got WIC.
Sadly, we only loaned pumps.
Know what you mean, Ama! I asked for a pump when Jane was 10 months old and they refused to give me one! I told them I hadn't known about them until that point, and they said "well, you're not going to be doing that much longer anyway." pffft!
LOL!!!
I stopped breastfed when he was 7 months. I got fed up and use bottle so i can start drinking with my friends. but formula costs isnt funny! :S
I did rent pump before and i have to pay for it and its lot of work to pump!