Amazing BreastMilk – Part Three

As quoted from Babyslime in a note :

“In my breastfeeding mom’s calender, there’s this quote: “Breastmilk contains 37 known immune mechanisms which find and destroy any viruses or bacteria that may harm the baby. However, as soon as the baby is exposed to solid foods – even one bottle of sugar water – 17 of these immune mechanisms are destroyed and can never be restored.”

Amazing, eh? 😉

One more reason to think twice about starting solid feeding. To many Mothers are being told there babe needs to start solid food because of a poor weigh gain in a month. They get sent home with formula samples and instructions to start rice cereal and told “Babies First solids”. Also well known as supplementing. Very Child is different! Callum has a slow weight gain. He is happy, healthy 7 month old.

Did you know that there’s actually cow milk products in heinz rice cereal -but weren’t on the label? Cow’s milk is not for babies!

I have a lot of notes on Private asking what the hell is Congee?

Congee is a neutral (as in ying and yang) food, so it’s good for babies, sick or aged people. Fruit isn’t very good as a first food (according to chinese med) because it’s too sweet and acidic.

This is how I make my congee:

To cook it, put one part normal rice and three parts water into a sauce pan – add a small( And I mean small) amount of veg oil. Bring to boil then simmer with the lid on for about 1.5 to 2 hours. I think the crock pot would be ideal for this. The oil is essential to help break down the rice. The finished product should be the consistency of a heavy gravy with rice in it. If it’s too watery, you can keep simmering with the lid off.

You don’t need to strain it… however I know some people prefer to strain the solid rice bits out of the congee, this may be difficult if the congee is thick – I prefer my congee thick. You might want to put it through the blender for a first food. When making it for Callum I put it through the blender. Then I just serivce it warmish to him. I sometime add in EBM or some apples or pears. It really doesn’t matter. On it’s own is fine aswell.

However for Adults :

When I eat congee I add, a bit of soy sauce, chopped shallots, salted duck eggs, ham or some meat balls with preserved veg. Sometimes I cook the congee with a ham bone and some dried mandarin peel. Yummers.

I wouldn’t keep congee more than 2 days as it does go off very quicky.

Remember Breastmilk is designed to be the perfect food for your baby’s first year and over! I’m a big believer of self -weaning and Extended Breastfeeding! Get out and shake your boobies girls! They are there to Fed! Not play toys that just hang from your chest! Breastmilk is Amamzing, did you know that it has antibodies and white blood cells? I’m shore that Babs must have a entry/entries somewhere of more amazing facts about breastmilk! Hop on over and learn something new!

Starting solids is a wonderful time of a new milestone, please don’t push it to soon. Enjoy your breastfeeding relationship/bottle relationship that you and your Babe have made. It’s a big world. There will always be time for soilds. For some babies, delaying solids longer than six months can be a good thing; for example, some doctors may recommend delaying solids for 12 months if there is a family history of allergies.

Kell