Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
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WIC is a nutrition education program that provides foods that promote good health for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children.
WIC services are free to those who meet the eligibility requirements. This program is for:
- pregnant women
- women who have given birth within the last 6 months
- women who are breastfeeding children under 12 months of age
- infants and children up to five years of age who:
- are at nutritional or medical risk
- meet the income guidelines
WIC provides free, nutritious foods. The money WIC clients save on these foods can be used to buy other nutritious foods WIC doesn't provide (such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and baby food). In addition, WIC staff members provide nutrition counseling for WIC clients and referrals for health care and social services (such as immunizations).
Breastfeeding Support
Breast milk from a healthy mother can supply all the nutrients her baby needs for at least the first six months of life. In addition, breastfeeding has a host of benefits for both mother and baby. Babies who receive breast milk have less diarrhea and many fewer illnesses in the first year of life. In fact, infants who never received breast milk are hospitalized about 15 times more often than breast-fed infants.
Mothers who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner and have a later return of menstruation. They also may be protected against breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
For these reasons, Adagio Health strives to support new mothers in
breastfeeding their infants. Adagio Health provides educational materials
about breastfeeding to pregnant women and new mothers and has breast
pumps available for breastfeeding mothers.
Adagio Health is the fourth largest WIC provider in Pennsylvania, serving
more than 12,000 residents of Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and
Indiana counties each year. To find out the location of the nearest
WIC office or satellite, call 1-800-WIC-WINS (1-800-942-9467) or contact Adagio Health.
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