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Breastfeeding Dyads - Frequently Asked Questions
MN WIC Program
Questions about Breastfeeding Dyads
- Sometimes the 1-year-old certification is done a little early, for example when a child is 11 months old. Fourteen days before the first birthday, CPAs may provide either an infant food package or a child's food package for that month. If a breastfeeding infant is given a child's food package in that situation, what should the breastfeeding mother receive? (i.e., due to the lack of preservatives in powder formula, the potential risk of contamination, and a premature infant's increased vulnerability) (01/20/10)
- How do you assign Breastfeeding food packages for families with twins, or triplets, or more? (01/20/10)
- If a woman is breastfeeding multiple infants and the CPA determines it is appropriate to assign a can of formula for one of the infants, based on mom's request and the CPA assessment, what food package does the woman receive? (01/20/10)
- Does a woman who is breastfeeding multiple infants qualify for FP 7 even if her infants are receiving an amount of formula that would otherwise correspond to FP 5 for a woman breastfeeding a single infant? (01/20/10)
- How do you assign a food package for the mother of twins, if one twin is on a medical formula and the other is breastfed? (01/20/10)
- Please clarify: After 6 months, do Mostly-Breasfeeding or Some-Breastfeeding NOT get a food package? (05/13/09)
- If a participant is exclusively tandem nursing a 14-month old and a new baby, can she receive the Fully Breastfeeding Multiple Infants Food Package (FP 7+)? (05/13/09)
- Why aren't carrots in the enhanced food package anymore? (05/13/2009)
- When in Demographics, what is the WIC Type for Fully-, Mostly- or Some-Breastfeeding? Also, what WIC Type is a pregnant women who is fully BF an infant less than 1 year of age? (05/06/09)
- Should we always assess baby's food package before mom's food package? (05/06/09)
- What is the best reference information to use for the mom and baby breastfeeding dyad? (05/06/09)
Sometimes the 1-year-old certification is done a little early, for example when a child is 11 months old. Fourteen days before the first birthday, CPAs may provide either an infant food package or a child's food package for that month. If a breastfeeding infant is given a child's food package in that situation, what should the breastfeeding mother receive? (i.e., due to the lack of preservatives in powder formula, the potential risk of contamination, and a premature infant's increased vulnerability) (01/20/10)
How do you assign Breastfeeding food packages for families with twins, or triplets, or more? (01/20/10)
The intent of the new food packages is to promote full breastfeeding, which is best for both infant and maternal health, and for infant nutrition. With this in mind, we expect that for most "multiples" the standard is full breastfeeding (no formula). Further, fully breastfeeding, especially in the early days and weeks, will help mom best develop a milk supply to sustain twins, or even triplets.
ANY formula provided must be based on a breastfeeding assessment. If assessment indicates that assigning some formula is appropriate, assign the least amount of formula to meet the identified need.
The following table shows the appropriate food package for Mothers, based on amounts of breastfeeding and formula used.
- Infant foods are assigned according to the food package each infant is receiving. One infant could be fully breastfed and receiving meat and more fruits/vegetables; and the other(s), if receiving any formula, would get a food package with no meat, and fewer jars of fruits/vegetables.
- Mom's package is determined by the infant receiving the most formula.
- See the Mom and Baby WIC Food Packages table on the MN WIC Fresh Choices website.
MN WIC BF Dyad Food Packages for Multiple Infants
Infant's Age |
Fully BF Multiples Mom Receives FP7+ |
Mom Receives FP 7 |
Mom Receives FP 6 |
One or both infants receiving: |
|||
| Birth to One Month | Priceless breastmilk for all! |
0-1 can powder formula |
2-8 cans powder formula |
| 1-3 Months | Priceless breastmilk! |
0-4 cans powder formula |
5-9 cans powder formula |
| 4-5 Months | Priceless breastmilk! |
0-5 cans powder formula |
6-10 cans powder formula |
| 6-11 Months | Priceless breastmilk! |
0-4 cans powder formula |
5-7 cans powder formula |
If a woman is breastfeeding multiple infants and the CPA determines it is appropriate to assign a can of formula for one of the infants, based on mom's request and the CPA assessment, what food package does the woman receive? (01/20/10)
She receives Food Package 7.
Does a woman who is breastfeeding multiple infants qualify for FP 7 even if her infants are receiving an amount of formula that would otherwise correspond to FP 5 for a woman breastfeeding a single infant? (01/20/10)
Yes. A woman breastfeeding multiple infants is eligible for FP 7 if her infants are receiving any formula up to the amount that would correspond to FP 5 for a woman breastfeeding a single infant.
How do you assign a food package for the mother of twins, if one twin is on a medical formula and the other is breastfed? (01/20/10)
In this rare situation assign the food package based on a mother breastfeeding a single infant. The mother will receive FP 7. One twin will receive zero formula and the other twin will receive the appropriate food package (full formula if not breastfeeding, or a formula amount to supplement the breastfeeding).
Please clarify: After 6 months, do Mostly-Breasfeeding or Some-Breastfeeding NOT get a food package? (05/13/09)
Fully-Breastfeeding and Mostly-Breastfeeding women are eligible for all WIC benefits (including a food package) for up to 1 year after delivery. For Some-Breastfeeding women, food benefits end at 6 months. They continue to be eligible for other WIC benefits, such as nutrition education and breastfeeding support, up to 1 year after delivery or until they discontinue breastfeeding.
If a participant is exclusively tandem nursing a 14-month old and a new baby, can she receive the Fully Breastfeeding Multiple Infants Food Package (FP 7+)? (05/13/09)
No. Federal regulations specify that FP 7+ is available to women who are breastfeeding 2 or more infants from the same pregnancy, with each infant receiving a Fully-Breastfed infant food package.
Why aren't carrots in the enhanced food package anymore? (05/13/09)
Because with the new food package participants will receive a Cash-Value Voucher for Fruits and Vegetables, which allows them to select a greater variety of fruits and/or vegetables. Fully-Breastfeeding women receive the largest Fully-Breastfeeding women receive the largest Fruit and Vegetable voucher, $10.
When in Demographics, what is the WIC Type for Fully-, Mostly- or Some-Breastfeeding? Also, what WIC Type is a pregnant women who is fully BF an infant less than 1 year of age? (05/06/09)
The terms "Fully-Breastfeeding", "Mostly-Breastfeeding" and "Some-Breastfeeding" relate to food packages, not to WIC Type. The terms categorize the Breastfeeding dyad food packages by how much the infant is breastfed, and if formula is given, how much.
All non-pregnant, breastfeeding women are assigned WIC Type Postpartum Breastfeeding in CHIP demographics. A breastfeeding woman's Food Package must correlated to her infant's Food Package and might be either Food Package 5, 6 or 7. See the Mom and Baby WIC Food Packages reference sheet for appropriate food package assignment.
Should we always assess baby's food package before mom's food package? (05/06/09)
Yes. The baby's food package will determine mom's food package.
What is the best reference information to use for the mom and baby breastfeeding dyad? (05/06/09)
Refer to the conference package for the Food Package reference sheets. The Mom and Baby WIC Food Packages reference sheet links the mom's and baby's packages and provides a quick overview for CPAs. For more detail about a specific food package, refer to the applicable reference sheet.
