One year ago, WIC’s monthly breastfeeding support groups transitioned to an online platform to keep WIC participants safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. These meetings help parents navigate the challenges and successes of breastfeeding, and have been invaluable to families who have not been able to have hands-on support during this trying time.
Online breastfeeding support groups have been successful in six different languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Armenian. They help families across all of these languages ease into parenthood and breastfeeding by holding space for parents to ask questions and share their experiences. Parents learn from one another through their own stories, while they lean on International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) and WIC nutritionists for additional guidance.
Parents have shared that online support groups are easier to attend because they do not have to travel, and they have been particularly beneficial throughout this last year while home visitations were difficult.
The support group helped me learn how to position my baby at the breast to latch so I could still learn to breastfeed even when no one could give me one-on-one help because of COVID.
Danielle, PHFE WIC Participant
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Click here to learn how to join a group!
