Another WIC question

All debate aside...
I had no idea this program existed the article in another post was very helpful. From what I understand it not only proved supplemental food it also provides nutritional education and BF help.
QUOTE
The program also offers nutrition education, health and social service referrals and breast-feeding support.

I would qualify for it and I am now feeling in limbo about applying, the reason I qualify is I am unmarried technically but Kaila and I together would not qualify. My question is this, is the BF support and nutritional education worth it? Or would I do better or just as well talking to my ob/gyn and pedi?

 

We are using the WIC program as well as SSI disability. My IUGR baby was under 2lb 10oz, so she qualifies for SSI disability. My DH is a teacher, we now have 3 children and I want to stay home with the girls through RSV season at least. On DH's salary alone and 5 in the house, we qualify for WIC. It has been a HUGE help financially. We get 10 cans of formula per twin per month. I am unable to breast feed due to a previous surgery. Also, I get juice, milk, cheese, cereal and eggs for myself. If you are breast feeding, you also get tuna, beans, peanut butter and carrots I believe. The do have a nutritionist that meets with you, but we didn't get into the breast feeding part, as I know I am unable.

Think of it this way, you've been paying taxes and supporting these programs for all of your working life and so have your friends and family. People like us (who have multiple kiddos at once) are who these programs were intended to help. I'm not trying to start a political debate, but my point is...take advantage of any help you can get. It's there for a reason!

 

I think you get the lease of a hospital grade breast pump, which would be very useful if you are going back to work. I would consider if you can afford the extra food, formula/ pump, or if it would be a financial hardship for you to buy these things, and make your decision based on that. I don't think you should do it just for the counseling. I don't know what they tell you for BFing, but the nutritionist basically says eat a well balanced diet, and don't eat too much. I'm assuming you know this already.

 

They are very helpful when it comes to BF. They gave me a medela pump as well as lots of BF education and support. However, it does not go on married or not....it is household size and income, so if you are living together, you have to count his income as well.

 

Well honestly I don't think it would be a hardship for us. I think I will check into some prenatal classes and such, as this is really the part I am interested in. Thanks for the replies.

 

QUOTE(twinsmade4 @ Jan 13 2009, 09:13 PM) [snapback]1146106[/snapback]
They are very helpful when it comes to BF. They gave me a medela pump as well as lots of BF education and support. However, it does not go on married or not....it is household size and income, so if you are living together, you have to count his income as well.


OHHH I did not realize this. I guess as a household we would not qualify anyway.

 

I took a breast feeding class and found it helpful. Check with your OB and see what's out there. They might even have something specifically for multiples. The hospital I'm delivering at has tons of support for BFing, and I felt more confident after learning that.

 

QUOTE(lalalauren @ Jan 13 2009, 09:15 PM) [snapback]1146109[/snapback]
OHHH I did not realize this. I guess as a household we would not qualify anyway.



OK, I just noticed you are pregnant. Some WIC offices will let you go ahead and count the babies if that will help you qualify. Might be worth checking into.

 

Shoot, I pay into and have been for 15 years so I will be applying for it! I am getting laid off soon and want to BF but if they need more than I don't know how I will manage the costs of the formula. I have a friend that said her formula for twins was over $600-$800?! Can be extremely expensive.

 

WIC is a great resource and they are helpful with information (charts for storage guidelines, baby's average intake, etc.) on breastfeeding. The nutritional ed. is just the basic stuff you probably already know. I already had a pump but they do offer the double electric Medela's for you to use if you need one. If you are only interested in the education it provides though I would just take classes at your hospital or other facility as I think they would be more helpful with latch-on problems, nipple soreness, etc.

Congrats on your twin pregnancy!

 

I used to be a social worker who helped teenage girls get on WIC. It's a great program. I wish I qualified for it. The government has some great information on breast feeding, nutrition and raising babies. I was really impressed, and used to tend the meetings just so I could learn something in case I ever had kids. That was eight years ago...I am sure it's an even better program with more research and information now.

My sister, who is very wealthy, could have benefited from the program. She really struggled with feeding her baby and how to work with it. I think she did some serious damage to her little girl because she had no one to turn to for this information.

 

[SIZE=12pt]I battle this issue dearly.. A very long time ago (it feels like ) when our first 3 were born we were in the military and we got wic for our 3 girls until we no longer needed it (income was very little). My husband makes a good income now, although some would say there is no way you make it on that.. We'll we have no debt so that helps!! We have 5 children now and twins coming with one income, so I have been back and forth about getting wic again. I am pretty sure we qualify due to the income eligibility. My mom asked this morning what I was doing and this topic got me thinking so I was on the site checking into it again. She said you don't need that. I think sometimes it's a stigma thing?? I mean my husband has paid into programs like this forever why not use it if you are able to.. I don't think it should be for just those that "need" it.. as some really could do better.. sorry that is a whole other issue.[/SIZE]

 

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies. I am going to check into the finacial guidlines. If we do qualify then I think I will go ahead and apply. I feel like I dont know any thing at this point. about BFing except that I plan on doing it. I am also going to check on classes too. again thanks so much everyone!

 

QUOTE(roadtocalvary @ Jan 14 2009, 10:13 AM) [snapback]1146620[/snapback]
[SIZE=12pt]I battle this issue dearly.. A very long time ago (it feels like ) when our first 3 were born we were in the military and we got wic for our 3 girls until we no longer needed it (income was very little). My husband makes a good income now, although some would say there is no way you make it on that.. We'll we have no debt so that helps!! We have 5 children now and twins coming with one income, so I have been back and forth about getting wic again. I am pretty sure we qualify due to the income eligibility. My mom asked this morning what I was doing and this topic got me thinking so I was on the site checking into it again. She said you don't need that. I think sometimes it's a stigma thing?? I mean my husband has paid into programs like this forever why not use it if you are able to.. I don't think it should be for just those that "need" it.. as some really could do better.. sorry that is a whole other issue.[/SIZE]



I don't think you should feel bad at all about joining the WIC program. My husband and I both work full-time jobs and still qualify and use WIC. It has been very helpful for us b/c eventhough we do both work full-time we don't have much money to live on after bills are paid. I bf so formula isn't a issue but I can't imagine trying to buy it if I had to for twins!!! I don't think there is as much as a stigma on WIC as there is on Food Stamps and cash assistance b/c I don't think it gets abused in the same way. Don't get me wrong there are many ppl that are trying hard to make it and working and STILL need a little help from the state but then there are those that would rather collect that way than try to make a living.
It's funny b/c your mom is saying...."you don't need that" and with my last pregnancy I wasn't going to apply and my SIL kept calling me asking if I had gone yet and telling me I would be crazy not to check into it. I am glad I did.
Good luck with everything and congrats on your big family!

 

QUOTE(roadtocalvary @ Jan 14 2009, 09:13 AM) [snapback]1146620[/snapback]
[SIZE=12pt]I battle this issue dearly.. A very long time ago (it feels like ) when our first 3 were born we were in the military and we got wic for our 3 girls until we no longer needed it (income was very little). My husband makes a good income now, although some would say there is no way you make it on that.. We'll we have no debt so that helps!! We have 5 children now and twins coming with one income, so I have been back and forth about getting wic again. I am pretty sure we qualify due to the income eligibility. My mom asked this morning what I was doing and this topic got me thinking so I was on the site checking into it again. She said you don't need that. I think sometimes it's a stigma thing?? I mean my husband has paid into programs like this forever why not use it if you are able to.. I don't think it should be for just those that "need" it.. as some really could do better.. sorry that is a whole other issue.[/SIZE]

DO NOT feel bad about using assistance. You don't want to compromise the health of yourself or your kiddos for the pride of not using WIC. I NEVER thought we'd be in this boat. I had a corporate HR job paying 56K a year and then owned my own business that was doing well, but still getting off the ground. Then, I got preggers with these two miracles, went on 4 months of bed rest, 2 of those in the hospital. I had to close my business and we're left living on DH's salary alone. With it being RSV season and my girls not qualifying for the antibiotics, I'm choosing to take the WIC assistance and stay home with the girls for a bit.

You're not a bad person for using the resources available. If your hospital is anything like mine, they will be pushing WIC and other social services at you any chance they get because they realize the financial and emotional responsibilities that come with caring for twins.

 

It goes on household size plus the two you are carrying. So as a family of 4 would you quilify? I was on it with my son and if you breast feed and supplement formula you get the full package for both. It was very helpful. I could have never afforded formula. Expecially for twins. Its $15 a can and you go through a can every 3 days. Add that up times 2. That's a lot. Plus you get like 5 gallons of milk a month and cheese. That alone can get expensive with the amount of milk I've been drinking. My mom (even though single with three kids) never applied because of a pride issue. But that didn't let me get in the way. She got into a lot of debt trying to pay for formula without help to save her ego. I wasn't going to make her mistake.

 

[SIZE=12pt]I talked to hubby today and he said he thinks it is a great program and nothing to feel ashamed about. We most certainly qualify, as I called today. I will probably make an appointment for next week as I see the doctor on Monday. We can get it for me & our 16mth old and then the twins if we need it for supplemental formula. I plan to breastfeed but sometimes that hasn't always gone my way. For the lady wanting to know if they qualify you can get on the wic site and they show you the household income scale they use.[/SIZE]

 

QUOTE(roadtocalvary @ Jan 14 2009, 10:33 PM) [snapback]1147431[/snapback]
[SIZE=12pt]I talked to hubby today and he said he thinks it is a great program and nothing to feel ashamed about. We most certainly qualify, as I called today. I will probably make an appointment for next week as I see the doctor on Monday. We can get it for me & our 16mth old and then the twins if we need it for supplemental formula. I plan to breastfeed but sometimes that hasn't always gone my way. For the lady wanting to know if they qualify you can get on the wic site and they show you the household income scale they use.[/SIZE]

If you're breastfeeding and supplementing with formula, you can get all the bonus stuff for BFing one twin and then get formula for the other. That's what I ended up doing with my girls for the first couple of months when I needed to supplement. To qualify, they've counted the baby/babies I was pregnant with as part of the family size. Some of the information you get from WIC is fabulous. Some, not so much. I always got hassled because one of my girls was/is really little. She's never been on the growth chart at all, but does follow her own curve. Every time I went in, I got a lecture about it. I'd already had and nursed 3 children before my girlies, and their Pedi was fine with her growth. But still, I'd get lectured because she wasn't falling in their guidelines. They honestly weren't very pro breastfeeding for twins, either. They didn't think it was possible. I shouldn't say that as a blanket statement. A couple of the gals in the office were fine, and others weren't, but you don't get to choose who you see each time (at least there you didn't). Sooo, just be forwarned, LOL. I do believe that it's a great program for the most part, and the WIC lactation consultant was an absolute God-send when I had my oldest DD and neither of us was really getting it!

 

QUOTE(roadtocalvary @ Jan 14 2009, 05:33 PM) [snapback]1147431[/snapback]
[SIZE=12pt]I talked to hubby today and he said he thinks it is a great program and nothing to feel ashamed about. We most certainly qualify, as I called today. I will probably make an appointment for next week as I see the doctor on Monday. We can get it for me & our 16mth old and then the twins if we need it for supplemental formula. I plan to breastfeed but sometimes that hasn't always gone my way. For the lady wanting to know if they qualify you can get on the wic site and they show you the household income scale they use.[/SIZE]



I am so glad you are choosing to do this. It will make life just a liitle easier for you....one less thing to worry about. Seeing as how we are all going to have our hands full in due time (no pun intended ), having one less thing is a BIG relief!!
Also, as the PP said, don't worry about if they hassel you regarding any of your children's growth. They are doing the same thing with my son (he is 9mths and weighs 17lbs). They don't feel he is gaining like they think he should. I just go by what our Pedi says and he says our baby looks GREAT!
Take care!

 

I applied and was approved as well. I am 24 weeks and they have already offered so many resources, they even told me about a couple classes that I was not aware that the hospital I am delivering at will be offering! The service is great so far! And I am looking forward to saving on formula as well as bf classes.

 

For those of you on WIC with other kids, you might what to check out this program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program. You can't be on WIC at the same time, but you can have one child on CSFP and another on WIC. I have been on both, and now that the my girls are older I chose CSFP. You go once a month and pick up your food box(es.)

This month's box contained: 2 cans green beans, 2 cans corn, 2 cans pears, 1 can beef stew, 2lb spaghetti noodles, 2 boxes Rice Krispies, cans of evaporated milk (I cook with it or mix it with water for the little girls), a bag of powered milk (again I use it for cooking), 6 cans (2 qt. each) juice (apple and orange), one bag of beans, and a 2 pound block of cheese.. That's all I can remember at the moment.

The contents varies each month. Peanut butter and beans are alternated, as are different cereals, juices, fruits and veggies and the canned meat. I like it better than WIC because it's real food you can eat, not just juice, eggs, milk, and cheese. I don't know what the packages look like for infants or breast feeding mothers.

I found out about this program when my oldest turned 5 and no longer qualified for WIC. The info about this program was on a paper they gave explaing why she didn't qualify anymore. She just aged out of this program in December when she turned 6.

Hope this info might help. If you have questions, feel free to PM me.

 

QUOTE(Jen620 @ Jan 15 2009, 11:50 AM) [snapback]1148463[/snapback]
For those of you on WIC with other kids, you might what to check out this program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program.



Thank you for sharing this. I am going to look more into it once my babies are off of formula. I never knew this existed. Darn! I read a little more and found it is not available in my state. It is only available in :

Alaska
New Hampshire
Arizona
New Mexico
California
New York
Colorado
North Carolina
District of Columbia
North Dakota
Illinois
Oglala Sioux Reservation (SD)
Indiana
Ohio
Iowa
Oregon
Kansas
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Red Lake Reservation (MN)
Louisiana
South Carolina
Michigan
South Dakota
Minnesota
Tennessee
Mississippi
Texas
Missouri
Vermont
Montana
Washington
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Nevada