Very Sweet!

A few days ago, husband came with Ying Ying to fetch me home after work. As usual, Ying Ying asked to be nursed in the car on the way back. (I suppose she missed her 'neh neh' since I had been away for almost 11hrs at work.) When she unlatched, she made some cute smacking noises with her lips and announced loudly, "Very sweet!" :D

Though my breastmilk is no longer her main source of nutrition, it really helps to physically bond us together. Apart from the familiar action of suckling, she gets to smell my skin and enjoy the warmth emitting from our skin contact. I guess this brings great comfort and security to her since she has been breastfed from birth. Now whenever she gets really upset at home, I would offer her some 'neh neh' and after a while she will be fine again.

This physical bonding is particularly important since I don't get to spend as much time with her now that I am working. The pregnancy is also making me very tired so I don't have much energy to feed and bathe her as often as I used to.

I dare say Ying Ying would not have been so attached to me had I not breastfeed her. However, it doesn't mean that she clinges to me and asks for 'neh neh' all the time. Now that she is older, she seems to understand that breastfeeding is very much a private affair between the two of us. She accepts that she only gets her 'neh neh' in the privacy of the bedroom or the car.

So I always advocate to mothers out there - breastfeed your children until they self-wean naturally! There are many excellent benefits to continue breastfeeding in toddlerhood. And don't worry - no one breastfeeds forever! :D

Updated (1 March 08): Ying Ying had a bout of running nose and while husband was bathing her, she accidentally tasted her mucous. Then she announced loudly, "Very Sweet!" Hmmm... does this means my breastmilk tasted like mucous?!?!?