Federal WIC Program May Boost Pregnancy Outcomes for Women, Newborns

Pregnant women enrolled in a federal aid program have better outcomes than those who are struggling to put food on the table, new research shows.

The new study, from a team at Ohio State University, found that women enrolled in WIC had a lower risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. Those outcomes included gestational diabetes, blood transfusion, preterm birth and stays in intensive care for mom and baby alike.

The study dovetails with concerns about Congressional proposals to slash WIC funding for the first time.