Food Program to Help Pregnant Women

Sep 13 2007

The federal government has two food programs to help pregnant women in need. The special supplemental food Program for

women, infants, and children (WIC) provides vouchers for specific foods for women in economically needy communities who are at nutritional risk. factors for nutritional risk include.

Anemia
Underweight or overweight
Multiple pregnancy
Substance abuse
Closely spaced pregnancies (less than 2 years apart)
Adolescence
Poor fetal growth
Poor pregnancy weight gain
Prior premature or low birth weight baby
Diabetes
Other conditions determined by the physician or midwife

The WIC program also provides nutritional counseling. The supplemental commodities distribution program distributes surplus foods such as meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, eggs, beans, peas, dairy products, and grains to women with low incomes.

If you think you qualify for these programs, request a referral from your physician or midwife.