What is the W.I.C. Program? It stands for Women, Infants, and Children. It is a terrific program that helps to supplement your groceries by supplying certain food items that pregnant and breastfeeding women should be eating.
- Women -- pregnant (during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after the birth of an infant or the end of the pregnancy)
- -- postpartum (up to six months after the birth of the infant or the end of the pregnancy)
- -- breastfeeding (up to the infant's first birthday)
- Infants (up to the infant's first birthday)
- Children (up to the child's fifth birthday)
- WIC mothers choosing to breastfeed are provided information through counseling and breastfeeding educational materials.
- Breastfeeding mothers receive follow-up support through peer counselors.
- Breastfeeding mothers are eligible to participate in WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers.
- Mothers who exclusively breastfeed their infants receive an enhanced food package.
- Breastfeeding mothers can receive breast pumps, breast shells or nursing supplementers to help support the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.
WIC foods include:
juice, iron-fortified cereal, eggs, cheese, milk, peanut butter, dried beans or peas, iron-fortified infant formula, tuna, and carrots. Federal regulations specify the minimum nutritional requirements for these WIC-eligible foods. Each of the WIC foods is rich in one or more of the nutrients protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. These nutrients have been shown to be lacking in the diets of the population WIC serves and are needed to help WIC participants meet their nutritional needs during critical periods of growth and development. The WIC foods are intended to supplement a participant’s nutrient intake and should be consumed along with other wholesome foods needed for a balanced diet.
If you can use this assistance then by all means try to get it. They also have awesome support for breastfeeding mothers.
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