What helps reduce the incidence of ear and respiratory infections, intestinal disease, pneumonia, meningitis, Crohn's disease, colitis, diabetes, childhood cancers, allergies, constipation, urinary tract infections, multiple sclerosis, tooth decay and obesity? It also increases intelligence and reduces the incidence of osteoporosis and breast, ovarian and cervical cancer for the mother.
The answer is breastfeeding?
Total annual cost of not breastfeeding: $1.186 to 1.301 billion.
This only covers the costs associated with treating infant diarrhea, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), insulin dependent diabetes and otitis media.
The Sacramento County Women Infant and Children (WIC) Program is committed to making a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
- WIC offers breastfeeding support and help with any questions and or problems that our WIC participants might have. These benefits are for the mothers that participate in the Sacramento County WIC Program. The CRP WIC Program also offers benefits for the women they serve. For more information regarding the CRP WIC office at (916) 326-5830.
- WIC has International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) on staff that offer free consultations to WIC participants.
- WIC has breastfeeding peer counselors to offer support to WIC mothers.
- WIC has a breast pump loan program for women going back to work or school and can provide high quality hand pumps for free.
- WIC provides breastfeeding education and classes.
- WIC also has a breastfeeding help line. WIC mothers can leave a message and a WIC Lactation Consultant will return her call within 24 hours. The number is (916) (916) 876-5000.
- WIC Lactation consultants will be soon conducting home visits to WIC mothers who are also enrolled in Birth and Beyond and who are not able to come into the WIC clinic for a consultation.
- WIC offers extra food for women who choose to breastfeed.
