In the News Let’s Chat: Join Us on Instagram Live for WIC Breastfeeding Tips

Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month with WIC!

Join us for a special Instagram Live event on Wednesday, August 26, at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT as we celebrate #NationalBreastfeedingMonth! 💖

You’ll hear from WIC experts about how we can support your breastfeeding journey at home and on the go with resources like breastfeeding supplies, lactation support, nutritious foods, and health care referrals. 

Every August, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts #NationalBreastfeedingMonth to encourage families, communities, and organizations to come together for action and conversations about how we can build a stronger support network for breastfeeding parents! This year’s theme for #NBM2026 is RISE, which stands for: resilience, interdependence, self-determination, and empowerment! 🐦🔥

From moonlit sleepless nights to early morning sunrise feedings, breastfeeding parents deserve compassionate, respectful, and specialized lactation support. Whether you’re pregnant and planning or breastfeeding and navigating challenges along the way, WIC is here to help make your journey smoother. 

Tune in to our Instagram Live event on Wednesday, August 26, by following us at  @WICYouGotThis! 

Whether you’re navigating pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, or raising little ones up to age five, this is your space to learn, ask questions, and feel supported. Our breastfeeding experts will share practical tips, insights, and ways that WIC can support your family every step of the way. 

Our Instagram Live events offer a low-key, conversational way to connect with breastfeeding experts and fellow parents. Get your questions answered in real time or watch later as an Instagram Reel. You can also learn more about WIC and the process to enroll in the Learn About WIC section of this website.

Meet the panelists and moderator: 

Jessi Gomez, IBCLC, BS, Panelist— Jessi is a current WIC Breastfeeding Program Supervisor for Pinal County Public Health District. For the past eight years, her role has supported the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program and lactation care for participating families. 

She makes desert living with her family and 3 cats easier by paddleboarding and listening to music. Jessi loves to create spaces for both WIC families and members of the surrounding community because personal success begins with shared knowledge from neighbors and partnerships.

Esther March-Singleton

MBA, RN, BSN, BHS, IBCLC, RLC, Panelist—Esther M. Singleton is a Registered Nurse (RN), International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Certified Lactation Educator™ (CLE), and Childbirth Educator with over 30 years of experience in the childbirth and breastfeeding field. She holds degrees in nursing, specializing in Maternal and Child Health, and in Business and Health Care Administration/Management.

Currently, Esther serves as the Florida Department of Health Broward County WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, President of the Broward County Breastfeeding Coalition, and Senior Advisor and faculty for the CAPPA CLE© program. She also works as a Perinatal Educator for both a local hospital and a community organization.

In her personal time, Esther is committed to family and community. She enjoys bike riding, spending time with her family, and taking long walks on the beach.

Kina Ferreira, Panelist—Kina is the proud mom of four young adults, ages 22, 19, 18, and 16. While raising her children, she participated in the WIC program. She breastfed each of her children for at least one year, and every journey was different. With two of her children, she experienced issues with breastfeeding, while with the other two, she dealt with oversupply. Those experiences gave her a deep appreciation for the unique challenges every breastfeeding family can face.  

For the past seven years, Kina has worked as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor at the Concord, New Hampshire WIC office, where she has had the privilege of supporting and encouraging families throughout their breastfeeding journeys. She originally planned to become an IBCLC, but recently discovered that her passion is more centered on supporting families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. She is currently attending school to become a certified doula and hopes to complete her certification this September. 

Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN, Moderator—Darlena is responsible for managing the National WIC Association’s (NWA) nutrition and breastfeeding activities. Darlena’s work includes representing the Association on various committees both inside and outside the organization, developing public comments, participating in the Association’s advocacy efforts, and assisting with the review of research and studies related to nutrition and breastfeeding.

Join us in celebrating the strength and gentle grit of breastfeeding parents this National Breastfeeding Month! We hope to see you on Instagram Wednesday, August 26th at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Share this blog post with family and friends who may be looking for more information about WIC breastfeeding benefits! If you’re unable to attend, don’t worry. The Instagram Live will be recorded and posted as a Reel on @WICYouGotThis the next day.

Author

Mariah Cowsert

Mariah Cowsert is a Senior Communications Associate at the National WIC Association. She has 9 years of experience in public health communications, with her work ranging from direct social service and affordable housing organizations in DC and her home state of Michigan to supporting sexual and reproductive health education initiatives at a national nonprofit in Baltimore. As someone who grew up in a low-income household in rural Michigan, she knows firsthand that when families have access to quality, healthy foods regardless of their income or zip code, they can not only survive but thrive.