1. Exclusive Breastfeeding
Ana Zaragoza, Chelsea Young, Katrina Tran, Kristy Vu and Yesha Patel

2. Introduction Topic - Exclusive Breastfeeding Community - Infant Health
- breastfeeding is an ideal food for an infant
- necessity for healthy growth and development for an infant
- positive effect on the reproductive process for the health of the mother
By 2011, there are 18.8% of mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants through the 6 months (CDC, 2011).
The advantages of exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months include a lower risk of gastrointestinal infection for the baby, more rapid maternal weight loss after birth, and delayed return of menstrual periods (WHO, 2011)

3. Women, Infant & Children (WIC)
Education and support with materials such as breast pumps may be provided. Certified Lactation Educators are also available to help with questions about breastfeeding
Organization Mission: To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care (USDA).
Organization History:
WIC was established as a permanent program in 1974
Orange County, four local agencies serve eligible participants.
Design to eliminate major hunger and nutrition deficiency

4. Current Health Program
The WIC Love Support Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program helps women initiate and continue breastfeeding.
Lack of knowledge related to the benefits of breastmilk was a risk factor for the lack of exclusive breastfeeding in this community.
This program was created to address these barriers.

5. Loving Support Peer Counseling Program
Program Goal: The goal of this program is to address the barriers associated with breastfeeding by providing education support and role modeling.
Program Objectives:
To encourage WIC participants to initiate and continue breastfeeding
Increase referrals to WIC for breastfeeding support
Increase general public acceptance and support of breastfeeding
To provide technical assistance to WIC State and local agency professionals in the promotion of breastfeeding

6. Loving Support Peer Counseling Program
How the Program Operates:
WIC peer counselors are mothers in the community with personal breastfeeding experience. The personal experience these mothers have give them an opportunity to provide information and support to new moms. With assistance from a peer counselor supervisor, the breastfeeding coordinator of the local agency, the WIC nutritionist or nurse and the lactation consultant peer counselors share tips, answer common questions, and provide support through any challenges that may emerge. Peer counseling may take place at a hospital, a WIC clinic, mother’s group meetings and even at home (nal.USDA, 2005).
This particular program has been running since 2004 and will continue on as long as the grant funding necessary to support the program is available.

7. Loving Support Peer Counseling Program
The Data:
Over 2.03 million infants participated in the WIC
Program nationally.
Approximately 29.5% of infants were breastfed
nationally.
12.5% fully breastfed
17.1% partially breastfed
Western Region had the highest percentage
of infants reported as fully breastfed at 20.7%
This data indicates an increase of 0.4% in fully breastfed infants nationally
from 12.2% to 12.5%.

8. Cultural Competence Behaviors
Respect for mother’s beliefs and knowledge
Attitudes
Positive attitude towards different race of mothers
Prioritizing infant health by breastfeeding
Skills
Confident enough to share the experience with others during discussions
Breastfeeding is a learned skill, something to keep in mind
Open questions
Empathize - show that you understand how she feels

9. Leadership/Key Contacts
Laurence Obaid (Director of Orange County Health Center)
(714)
WIC Nutrition Breastfeeding Coordinators (California)
Barbara Longo (Nutrition Coordinator, Deputy Division Chief)
(916)
Erika Trainer (Chief, Nutrition Services Branch California WIC Program)
(916)