August is National Breastfeeding Month

August is National Breastfeeding Month and Texas WIC is launching a statewide awareness campaign to sharing resources to support moms and pregnant women to help meet their breastfeeding needs. The benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby last a lifetime. Breastmilk has hundreds of ingredients and antibodies that help protect babies from illness and allergies. For moms breastfeeding has been linked to lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.

Breastfeeding can be challenging sometimes so to help, Texas WIC has a free 24/7 support hotline, breasting peer counselors, lactation consultants, free nutrition and breastfeeding classes available to all Texas moms. The best thing about this is they don’t have to qualify for Texas WIC to receive those benefits. Texas WIC also provided women who do qualify with a free breast pump and pumping supplies.

WIC benefits are provided at no cost to eligible pregnant woman, breastfeeding moms and families with children younger than 5. Anyone with children under the age of 5 can apply for WIC, including dads, foster parents, guardians or grandparents. Moms can qualify for WIC as soon as they find out they are pregnant. WIC has recently updated their guidelines so that more families can participate. For more information on this please contact your local WIC office at ,(979-7326635), or call 211.