 am a peer counselor for the wic program in San Rafeal, Ca. I think
breastfeeding is bonding for baby and mom and from experience I understand a new found comfort zone. I am currently nursing my 21 month old daughter and the longer we go the more she wants to nurse. Its something special in our breastmilk and I am very happy about being a peer counselor and supporting moms who choose to breastfeed. thank you.
Peer Counselor
Shani Silas-San Rafeal, CA WIC
 am the mother of 4 children. My oldest daughter is 16 and I breastfed her for 6 mos. My 2 boys, 8 and 10 were breastfed for 17 mos. and I am currently breastfeeding my new 6 week old son Caiden. Caiden had trouble breathing when he was born and spent 7 days in the NICU. I couldn't even hold him until he was 6 days old. I pumped breast milk and they fed it to him through a tube for 4 days, then I was finally able to hold and nurse him a little when he has 6 days old. He knew exactly what to do!! I had to go to the NICU every 3 hrs. during the day to feed him and they bottle fed him breast milk at night. He is now almost 7 weeks old and doing wonderful! He is nursing like a champ and has gained 3.5 lbs. in 6 weeks! I was afraid he wouldn't latch on or nurse well with his rough start and with being over a week old before getting to nurse, but he did better than all my other children did!!! He is proof that even if your child has trouble right after birth, don't give up!! Try breastfeeding anyway, it's the best thing for them and your baby may surprise you!!
Elayne
 am a mother of six children. I have breastfed all 4 of my girls and both boys. ( the youngest 1yr is still nursing) I remember struggling through breastfeeding with my first three children with very little support from hospital staff. When I had my fourth child I had made up my mind to give him formula as soon as he was born. During the first four weeks he was very sick. He would throw up all day long, projectile vomiting. Then he developed weeping cysts on his face. It looked like his face had been burned with a match. My husband pleaded with me to breastfeed him. I went to WIC and asked if their was any way for me to start breastfeeding even though he was already one month old. They arranged for me to meet with a Peer Counselor who was very kind and empathetic. She explained that I would be able to breastfeed him again with a little patience and time. She encouraged me to relax and reassured me that I was perfectly capable of providing sufficiently for him. The following weekend I decided to dispense with all bottles and pacifiers. By Monday morning he was totally breastfeeding and continued to breastfeed for 18 months! Now he is five years old and is a very healthy and handsome boy. Thank You WIC!!!!
WIC has truly been an inspiration to me. I am now myself a Peer Counselor for Broward County WIC.
Toni
Florida
have the following experience to share about breastfeeding.
Before my first child was born and I was trying to decide between breastfeeding and bottle feeding, a friend of mine told me how much extra rest she got because she breastfed her baby. "I just picked her up from her bassinet at night when she cried and lay back on the pillow to nurse her. It was so easy compared with having to get up, go downstairs to the refrigerator, warm the bottle and sit somewhere to feed the baby!" I'm not saying I wouldn't do whatever was best for my baby, but my friend's story really convinced me! I also really liked the fact that breastfeeding was using my body in the way God designed it, with breastmilk being the perfect food for my baby.
Rayna
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