Breastfeeding Support - California Women, Infants & Children Program

Get breastfeeding support from WIC

WIC is here to help you meet your infant feeding goals. This may include breastfeeding or a combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding. WIC offers lactation consultants, peer counselors, and a food package with more food to help you breastfeed successfully. WIC also offers information about normal newborn behavior and what to expect.

Find a local WIC office

Counselor talking to mother

Breastfeeding specialists at WIC

Many WIC offices offer no-cost breastfeeding help and support for WIC families. At these offices, breastfeeding specialists like peer counselors, lactation educators and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)make sure your baby is latching on well and gaining weight. You can learn more from your local WIC office.

Handsfree breast pumping

Breast pumps

WIC parents who work full time, attend school for long hours or have low milk supply may be eligible for an electric breast pump at no cost to you.

Counselor smiling at mother and baby

Breastfeeding peer counselors

WIC breastfeeding peer counselors provide a parent-to-parent connection with their pregnant and post partum participants. They extend WIC services by offering breastfeeding education, support, and role modeling. New breastfeeding parents often have questions and WIC breastfeeding peer counselors have answers. They know the community resources available and how to refer WIC participants. WIC breastfeeding peer counseling programs are unique and designed to meet the specific needs of the participants in each local WIC agency.

Check with your WIC office to see if a peer counseling program is available.

For more information:
Moms helping moms | United States Department of Agriculture

Brandi's WIC story

When she was a WIC participant, Brandi discovered the benefits of breastfeeding through WIC's breastfeeding support and peer counseling services. Her experience was such a success that she became interested in becoming a WIC peer counselor—a parent in the community with personal breastfeeding experience and training who mentors, coaches, and supports breastfeeding WIC parents.

After four years as a peer counselor, Brandi became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She established the Breast Friends Mommy Group, to meet the breastfeeding, parenting, and birth-related needs of West Oakland residents.

Since the group’s establishment in 2013, exclusive breastfeeding rates in the community have steadily increased. Brandi’s WIC story is a testament to how one person’s passion for breastfeeding parents can change the cultural landscape in a community.

Additional resources

Breastfeeding and COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) all support breast milk for babies even if the milk is from someone with COVID-19. Breast milk provides babies with protection against many illnesses, which is one of several reasons why health professionals recommend breastfeeding.

Learn more at the CDC and Breastfeeding website.

Choices in childbirth

Choices in Childbirth is a resource to help people know their pregnancy and birth options, take an active role in their maternity care, and to remind them that they are not alone during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Learn more at the Choices in Childbirth website

Transgender and non-binary parents

La Leche League provides guidance for transgender and non-binary parents who want to reach their breastfeeding or chestfeeding goals.

Learn more at the the La Leche League website.

Breastfeeding program partners

Class WIC teams up with a variety of breastfeeding partners and advocacy groups to provide WIC families with the utmost breastfeeding support.

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Page Last Updated: July 31, 2023

Get breastfeeding support from WIC

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