Development of a WIC single-user electric breast pump protocol

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Nutrition Programs

Background:

• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides crucial support to low-income families.
• Electric breast pumps are essential tools for breastfeeding mothers, particularly those separated from their infants.
• Comparing multi-user versus single-user breast pump protocols is vital for optimizing WIC program resources and participant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a protocol for administering single-user electric breast pumps to WIC participants.
• To compare the efficacy and benefits of single-user versus multi-user breast pump models within the WIC program.

Main Methods:

• Enrolled forty breastfeeding WIC mothers separated from infants ≥30 hours weekly.
• Participants planned to breastfeed until infant's first birthday and had used a WIC-loaned pump for ≥1 month.
• Developed and implemented a protocol for single-user electric breast pump issuance.

Main Results:

• An appropriate protocol for administering single-user electric breast pumps was successfully developed.
• The single-user breast pump protocol showed potential benefits for both the WIC program and participating mothers.
• This suggests a more efficient and potentially beneficial distribution model.

Conclusions:

• Recommendations include strengthening policies and procedures for the single-user breast pump protocol.
• Future WIC program efforts should consider refining issuance criteria for breast pumps.
• Continued evaluation of this protocol is recommended for long-term success.