This Old House

by Faby Bearden

When my husband and I moved to this very old house he had inherited from his Dad, I dreaded every moment of it. Dating back to early 1900's it needed lots of work and cleaning.

Soon after we found ourselves expecting our first child and we were delighted! I started to accumulate coupons for diapers and even Carnation formula. I thought it might be easier on our tight budget to go ahead and buy formula before the baby was born! However, one of my friends told me that the hospital will 'determine' the kind of formula the baby will need, so I did not buy any, afraid of not choosing the right one.

I had vaguely thought of breastfeeding but did not know anyone who did it, and when I asked one of my co workers if she had breastfed her children, her face transformed into a disgusting frown and said no and she couldn't stand the thought of it. I left it at that.

Meanwhile, due to economic restraints, we had stopped working on the house and as my pregnancy progressed it seemed daunting to take on any major cleaning job.

Fast forward to my hospital delivery: the nurse came in the room and asked if I was going to breastfeed or bottle feed.

I shyly replied: I'll try to breastfeed. I had not given it any thought before, it just came out that way. Late into that night a phone call awoke me and the nurse said: "we have an inconsolable baby, we have tried everything so she is probably hungry, we are on our way to your room now."

I sat up and could hear a long cry coming closer and closer, the door opened and there she was: my baby all red and tired. I put her to my breast and she quickly quieted down. She knew what to do. I just stared at her and a flow of emotions overcame me. The next day I was given pamphlets about breastfeeding and I read for the first time what nursing was all about.

One thing stood out: "breastfeeding protects against allergies and other illnesses." I had been terrified about the baby becoming sick very often in the old house we were living in. The more I read the more I was determined to breastfeed. I was simply amazed about all the health benefits for both mother and baby. I knew then I just had to do the best for our baby. I fought the urge to use the formula I had been sent in very nice, ready-to-use bottles at a time when I encountered sore nipples and mastitis. I devoured everything I could get my hands on regarding breastfeeding. I read it all cover to cover.

When I had to go back to work I bought a cheap pump only to turn around and throw it away and buy an electric dual pump. I breastfed at baby's will at home and she drank my milk in bottles when I was at work. I am extremely proud to say that at 19 months, my baby is very healthy and still nursing strong and we have decided to let her self wean.

I also believe that had we been living in a newer, modern home I might have been inclined to use formula. So I thank this old house for being what it was. Together with a lot of self education and perseverance it made breastfeeding a wonderful reality for us.