The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Cooperative Extension Partner with In-Home Breastfeeding Support

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe how in-home support by trained paraprofessionals increases breastfeeding rates and duration among low-income WIC participants. Low breastfeeding incidence and duration among low-income women are of concern. In-home support was provided by Extension paraprofessionals who were trained as breastfeeding counselors. Breastfeeding duration was tracked for babies born to WIC mothers during a three year period. The intervention resulted in significant increases in numbers and percent still breastfeeding at two weeks and eight weeks postpartum. In thirteen counties with the lowest breastfeeding rates, WIC Coordinators and Extension Home Economists collaborated to hire paraprofessionals to be trained as Breastfeeding Peer Counselors by the state WIC Lactation Consultant. Wearing pagers, the counselors are available to provide support to low-income WIC participants prenatally, postpartum hi the hospital, and after discharge when breastfeeding concerns typically surface. The state WIC Lactation Consultant provides technical support to breastfeeding counselors by phone and site visits. Among the 2,250+ participants seen since 1993, both breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are more than double that of statewide WIC rates. The greatest effect is seen at two weeks, when only 16% of those receiving peer support quit breastfeeding, compared with 58% of those without support. Fifty-four percent are still breastfeeding at two months postpartum compared with 18% of women in the general WIC population. One unexpected finding was that African American mothers breastfed the longest compared to all racial groups. Participants cite the home visit as the most helpful aspect of the program.