Long before I gave birth to my daughter, I knew that I wanted to nurse my children. I envisioned myself, in a rocking chair, my beautiful infant swaddled securely in my arms, nursing contently. Little did I know, this was not reality.

My beautiful infant, (at least I got that part right!) was not interested in nursing for three days. Every time I got her latched on, which was rare, she would suck once or twice and fall asleep.

When we got home from the hospital, she decided she was very hungry. She nursed every hour and a half for six weeks. I had every problem with breastfeeding that a new mother can have. Severe engorgement, clogged ducts, a sleepy infant; all in a days work for me. I thought I was at the end of my rope.

I had formula in my pantry, it looked so good to me. One of the major formula manufacturers sent me a bottle. I had made up my mind, my dream was dashed. I had failed. That was when that same formula manufacturer made a critical error. They sent me a brochure in the mail. More coupons to use, but also some important information that clinched it for me. The brochure said that infants fed such formula had almost the same IQ scores as breastfeed babies tested at one year. My heart sank. Almost. That one little word changed my whole perspective on what I could offer my baby girl.

After a few weeks, we became a breastfeeding team. Now I love my special time with my baby. She is almost 9 months old now and still nursing. When I think about the decision I made that day, it makes me very happy. I didn't want my beautiful infant to be an almost baby. I want her to have every advantage I can give her. I wouldn't want it any other way.

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