Breastfeeding was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made in my life.
Initially I never gave it much thought simply because neither my mum nor MIL breastfed their kids so no-one encouraged me to do it. Back in 2002, there wasn't much information about breastfeeding available on the net either. Just a handful of my friends had become first-time mothers and were fumbling their way into motherhood themselves.
A few weeks before my eldest daughter Xian was born, I was given several cans of Nestle's NAN for newborns. I figured that would last me a couple of months before I ran out. Back then, both the hub and I were newly weds and at the starting block of our careers so whatever money we could scrimp, we saved.
But breastfeeding never crossed my mind.
Until the day Xian was born.
After I delivered Xian, the nurses asked if she was to be fully breastfed, supplemented or bottle-fed to which I instinctively replied "100% breastfeeding".
The rest is history.
I successfully nursed all my 3 girls way past the usual 6 month-period and never supplemented with cow's milk until they were about 2 years old. Xian and Wen were weaned off at 25 months (about 2 years) and Wei stopped at about 32 months (almost 3 years).
As firm supporter and believer of breastfeeding, I am aware of the tremendous benefits breastfeeding brings to both mother and child, not to mention the creation of a wonderful bond between them. I'm not so sure if the results are conclusive for this study - whether or not this means I'll be spared the trauma of my girls' emotional roller-coaster teenage years remains to be seen.
But I certainly have no regrets breastfeeding my children and would strongly advocate all future mothers to consider this natural source of supply for babies and supplementing with cow's milk only at the last resort.
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