Breastfeeding promotion and support is an important part of the WIC Program since breastfeeding is known to:

• Improve infants nutritional status
• Reduce infant illness
• Significantly lower mortality and morbidity rates

Breastfeeding helps mothers feel close to their baby, and the breast milk contains all the nutrients infants need to grow and develop. Breastfed infants tend to be healthier since they receive antibodies from the breast milk, which protects them against infection.

The goal of the WIC Program breastfeeding services is to ensure that all pregnant participants be encouraged to breastfeed unless it is contraindicated for health reasons. Benefits breastfeeding participants receive may include individual breastfeeding counseling, educational materials, provision of additional foods for breastfeeding women and the distribution of breast pumps for breastfeeding women to encourage breastfeeding through times of separation from their infants.