Jessica Kasper can’t tell you how many times she’s cried over spilled milk.
An Eldorado mom of two, Kasper described her efforts to breastfeed her first child as traumatic: She said she suffered from a condition that made breastfeeding “toe-curling painful” while absorbing negative comments about her breastfeeding journey from others. Even so, she breastfed her son, now 5, until he was about 6 months old.
When her daughter was born about 10 months ago, Kasper was determined to take a different approach the second time around.
“I took the pressure off myself, and I gave myself permission to seek help as soon as help was needed,” she said.
Help came from New Mexico Women, Infants and Children’s peer counseling initiative, which pairs current WIC clients with fellow moms who have experience breastfeeding. The peer counseling program — which will celebrate its 35th anniversary next year — ensures participants don’t have to face the challenges of breastfeeding on their own, said program manager Liz Jaramillo-Lopez.
“Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, feeding a baby is hard,” Jaramillo-Lopez said. “It takes preparation. It takes commitment. It takes care.”
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She added, “With breastfeeding, having the support for mom is the number one thing. So that’s why we love our peer counselor program, because they provide our moms the support that they need.”
Administered in New Mexico by the state Department of Health, WIC might be best known for providing free healthy food to low-income families, but the program also provides breastfeeding support.
WIC has some eligibility requirements: Participating parents must be pregnant, nursing or raising a child younger than 5 and have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level — equivalent to just under $60,000 for a family of four.
But the program is ubiquitous in New Mexico. Upon celebrating WIC’s 50th anniversary in 2024, the program served more than half of the state’s babies.
Breastfeeding is a key part of setting babies up for long-term nutritional success, said New Mexico WIC breastfeeding manager Kendall Pluta. As the ideal first food for an infant, she said it’s a starting point for healthy eating.
“Your body creates this milk, and it’s the exact source of milk that that baby needs during that first year, if not longer,” Pluta said.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months after birth, plus continued breastfeeding — in addition to introducing appropriate foods — until a child’s second birthday or beyond.
But breastfeeding also comes after pregnancy and after birth, at what can be a challenging time in new parents’ lives, said Jeanne Gallegos, deputy director of New Mexico WIC.
“It’s that first month to three months that you’re freaked out,” Gallegos said. “You’re worried about: Are they eating enough? Are they pooping enough? Are they getting what they need? Is my breastmilk enough?”
Amid all that uncertainty, WIC peer counselors can offer some comfort.
“They can sit there and support that mom and walk her through some of those tough situations,” Gallegos said.
The peer counselors undergo 80 hours of breastfeeding training — the same training WIC staff have to complete — in addition to continuing education on the subject.
They’re contractors, meaning they’re paid for their work and they can be available even when WIC clinics are closed — since breastfeeding concerns aren’t limited to business hours.
“A big piece of what has helped grow our initiation and duration rates is that they’re available any time of the day, evening, night,” Pluta said.
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Nasiba Turner is one member of the team that supports parents through the peer counseling program.
For her, becoming a mom brought on a major career change. At 37 weeks pregnant with her first son, Turner quit a job in state government to stay home with the baby — but learning to breastfeed got her interested in the field.
Now a certified lactation counselor — and mom to sons ages 13 and 11 — Turner works as what’s known as a “designated breastfeeding expert” for the WIC program. Peer counselors can refer parents to Turner if they need a higher level of breastfeeding help.
Kasper credited Turner for greatly improving her breastfeeding experience with her second child. Shortly after her daughter was born, Kasper said she encountered the same issues while breastfeeding — but she was able to manage them with Turner’s help.
Now 10 months old, her daughter is still “going strong” on breast milk while starting to try other foods, Kasper said.
“When you feel safe somewhere with someone, healing can happen,” she said.