ALAMANCE COUNTY WIC PROGRAM PROVIDES BREASTFEEDING ASSISTANCE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Month? The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) subdivides National Breastfeeding Month with World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), which the theme this year is “For A Healthier Planet”.  According to WABA, breastfeeding is healthier for the planet because “breastmilk is a natural, renewable resource that is environmentally safe and green because it is produced and delivered without pollution, packaging or waste”. For the second year in a row, August 9-15 was recognized as Native Breastfeeding week with the mission to reflect the diversity of Native Breastfeeding experiences. August 16-24 this year put the spotlight on breastfeeding during emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. August 25-31 is the 7^th Annual Black Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated to help prevent black infant mortality and diet-related diseases that Black/African American children have a higher risk of, to increase breastfeeding rates and the number of lactation professionals in communities of color, and to encourage and support Black breastfeeding women.

Alamance County WIC provides breastfeeding support to the community in many different ways. One of those ways is through the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program in which Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, Jean and Ismari, provide breastfeeding support and referrals as needed. They are both bilingual in English and Spanish and have had experience breastfeeding while on WIC themselves. The new Breastfeeding Coordinator, Jackie Davis, is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Registered Dietetic Technician and here to support clients and to help meet their breastfeeding goals. If you or someone you know needs support or assistance with breastfeeding, please contact Alamance County WIC at (336) 570 – 6745 for more information. 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many pregnant and breastfeeding women are wondering how safe it is to breastfeed during this time. Rest assured, breastmilk continues to be recommended as it prevents illnesses and limited studies show that COVID-19 and SARS-CoV, another coronavirus infection, is not present in breastmilk of the positive-tested mother according to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests COVID-19 positive or suspected positive mothers wash hands and wear a mask when nursing. If a mom who is COVID-19 positive or suspected positive chooses to pump breastmilk, she should not share pumps, wash hands before pumping, wear a mask while pumping, properly clean and sanitize pump parts after every use, and have a healthy person offer the expressed breastmilk to the baby. Recommendations for proper pump cleaning and care can be found on the CDC website.

WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program Women, Infants, and Children) program provides supplemental nutrition, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and community or healthcare referrals to women who: are pregnant, have had a baby in the last 6 months, or are breastfeeding and have had a baby in the last 12 months, as well as infants and children up to 5 years of age. To be eligible, the child or mother must: live in the state of North Carolina, live in a household with an income at or below 185% of the Federal poverty income guidelines (see the Table), and have a nutrition-related problem or be at risk of developing a nutrition-related problem. The women and children that meet the criteria listed above who receive Medicaid or Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program (SNAP) services meet the WIC income eligibility criteria. The WIC Program is available at Alamance County Health Department, located at 319 N. Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, NC.  For more information or to apply for the WIC Program online, go to https://www.nutritionnc.com/wic or call Alamance County WIC at (336) 570 – 6745.

 This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Income Eligibility Chart (Effective June 22, 2020)