WIC provides help for moms who want to breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding promotion and support is an integral part of the WIC Program. WIC strives to increase the initiation, duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding among women enrolled in the Program. All WIC agencies have trained personnel ready to assist mothers in making informed decisions about their infant feeding choice. WIC also instructs mothers in the basics of breastfeeding. Many WIC agencies have breastfeeding peer counselor support programs that provide mother-to-mother counseling. In addition, all local WIC agencies provide breastfeeding aids such as manual and electric breast pumps. WIC offers a food package for women who exclusively breastfeed their babies. This food package adds tuna or salmon in cans or pouches, as well as additional amounts of whole grains, cereal, milk, cheese, juice, peanut butter, beans, peas and lentils.
Due to COVID-19 Pandemic we have suspended our Breastfeeding Empowerment sessions.
Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute is currently offering free live zoom sessions of a “Virtual Ready, Set, Baby Prenatal Class Session” for WIC participants in both English and Spanish. Please see flyer below:
January – April 2022
North Carolina receives special funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build and sustain Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) Programs in the Local Health Department. The funding for the BFPC Program is allocated through the United States Department of Agriculture, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC. The purpose of the BFPC Program is to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration among women enrolled in the Local Health Department WIC Program through mother-to-mother peer breastfeeding support.
WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are moms just like you. Plus, they have breastfed their babies. They live and work in your community. Peer counselors offer support to pregnant and breastfeeding moms.
What does a WIC Peer Counselor Do?
For breastfeeding support or information, please contact:
Megan Choplin
Granville Vance Public Health
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
(252) 295-1502