
Refers mothers with concerns outside the peer counselor’s scope of practice to appropriate lactation experts or health care professionals.Contacts mothers regularly during pregnancy, the early days of breastfeeding, and until the mother chooses to wean her baby.Provides basic breastfeeding information and support for WIC mothers.Desires to help mothers achieve their own breastfeeding goals.Gives basic breastfeeding information and support to new mothers.Has been carefully selected by WIC and trained in basic breastfeeding techniques and counseling skills.WIC breastfeeding peer counselors have a dramatic impact on helping a mother reach her breastfeeding goals because they give new mothers what they need most, a trusted friend who has been there.Ī breastfeeding peer counselor with the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and children (WIC) is a paraprofessional who: Breastfeeding support helps mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals. Mothers value sharing experience with other mothers to help overcome barriers and for positive support and encouragement when concerns arise. Knox Breastfriends Group and Facebook pageĪ mother-to mother breastfeeding support group for moms (and moms-to-be) and their children. We will do our best to match you with a community resource that address your concerns.

From doctors and dentists to additional resources like food, car seats, and cribs, you can talk to us about your family’s needs. WIC is well connected in the community and wants to make sure your family is too. We will measure participants in our office during the appointment, or participants may bring referral measures from their healthcare providers.

A simple blood test checks iron status to make sure participants are eating enough important nutrients to stay healthy. Growth checks make sure our moms, babies, and children are growing well – not too fast or slow. The nutrition educator can explain these options in more detail. Nutrition education is also offered in a fun group setting where families learn from each other or with brief, online education that can be viewed from any device with an internet connection. Nutrition educationĪt least twice per year, participants get to talk one-on-one with a nutrition educator about the food they eat and how to incorporate healthy habits into their lifestyles.

WIC offers many benefits to families who qualify for services: Healthy foodĮach participant receives specific foods to help meet individual nutrition needs.

