Extended Breastfeeding

I've been pondering over this issue for a while to come now as Faith's 1st birthday looms near. Like most moms that I know of, I've been thinking to wean her to formula around the time she turns one.

One of the key attraction of weaning Faith to formula is that it frees up more time for me as I wouldn't need to express breastmilk for her afternoon feeds. But at the back of my mind, I'm wondering if the introduction of formula would provide yet another challenge as Faith continues to have lacklustre interest in expressed breastmilk (EBM).

In fact, I've actually started her on a little formula some two weeks ago, with 1/3 formula mixed with 2/3 breastmilk. So far, the response to it has been mixed. Some days, she would finish her milk after much coaxing from my mom, taking nearly 1 hour to finish her bottle of milk. On other days, no amount of coaxing or cajoling would make her finish her milk, and she might only drink about 100ml or so.

All of these has been troubling me until a weekly email bulletin from Baby Center landed in my inbox, along with a particular article on extended breastfeeding, i.e. breastfeeding a baby beyond 1 year of age (click here to see Baby Center's article).

Truth to be told, I've never imagined that I would be able to breastfeed Faith for this long. In the first few weeks of delivery, back when Faith and I were working out the kinks in getting into the right breastfeeding technique, I swore that I would persevere only until she reaches the six month mark. Six months came and went and with her bottle rejection, I decided to continue with breastfeeding until she reaches the age of 1 year.

And now, with that date drawing near and her continued disinterest in bottle feedings or even in cups, I was wondering what alternatives do I have to make her take to formula. Reading the Baby Center article was like a godsend and in ways, an eye-opener for me.

All these while, I've not really thought beyond breastfeeding Faith past the age of one. Perhaps, you may call it selective retention or reading. Back then, I seem to get the impression that breastfeeding beyond the age of 1 is not required as the nutritional value of breastmilk after that age is no different from formula. Either that or contribute it to the successful marketing and promotional efforts of formula milk companies to create that illusion.

From what I'm reading and researching so far after the Baby Center article, the facts continue to point out that there are both emotional and nutritional benefits to breastfeeding a toddler. In fact, a child who decides to wean himself/herself more often than not results in a emotionally secure and independent kid.

To me, the other enticing attractions are that the IQ of a kid increases the longer they are breastfed and also that some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has states that mothers should breastfeed their baby for at least one year and as long after as both mother and baby mutually desire. Apart from AAP, both UNICEF and WHO also encourage breastfeeding for at least 2 years or longer.

Reading all these articles and information have given me much comfort and determination for extended breastfeeding, as well as hope for Faith's bottle/formula milk rejection issues. Perhaps one may surmiss that I'm putting off the inevitable issue to a further date in the future. But who is to know that? Perhaps as she grows older and is able to comprehend things better, she might be willing to drink milk from a cup. For now, the most important and key factor to me is that she continues to drink milk, which is still an important part of her diet for her growth and development.

Certainly, I know without a doubt that Faith enjoys the entire nursing process. Many a nights, she would be giggling or smiling in glee as I settle her into her routine for nursing. Most recently, when we were in Beijing and she was down with Roseolla and feeling cranky with a poor appetite for food and water, she was willing to nurse longer at the breast. That gave both her and me much comfort becos I knew that no matter how little water she drinks in the day, she at least would be willing to drink breastmilk and would not dehydrate in the dry weather.

I used to think that it wasn't necessary for mothers to breastfeed for longer than a year. In fact, I was amazed that one of my friend actually nursed her daughter for 2 years 3 months before weaning. Thanks to my daughter's little "intricate" problem, I'm now a wiser and more well-informed mom.

Perhaps she's telling me in her own ways that the time is not right and its too early to wean her off breastfeeding. As for me, I've always been concerned about Faith's low birth weight and her resulting small build and weight up until today. If nursing is the way to ensure that she gets her nutrients, coupled with all the positive benefits, I don't see any reason why I should stop.

Maybe my baby is wise for one of her age and knows what's really good for her. As for me, I'm lucky to have the luxury of time to be able to breastfeed her and put off the idea of weaning to a much later stage.

And if you have any interest on some of the articles about the benefits of extended breastfeeding, I've included some links to the articles below:

1) UNICEF - Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding
2) Pediatrics: Official Journal of AAP - Parental Concerns About Extended Breastfeeding in a Toddler
3) Parenting Web - Extended Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding beyond the first year
4) KellyMom - Factsheet on Extended Breastfeeding
5) About.com: Pediatrics - Breastfeed a toddler - Why on earth?

Chocolate Macarons

If CP was to read this particular posting, he would have the last laugh. More than a year ago, way before I was expecting Faith, CP asked if I would like to go with him to attend a baking class on macarons. I clearly remembered telling him very confidently and somewhat haughtily that I wouldn't even think of it. I would rather just buy them and eat 'em, thank you very much. Part of the reason stemmed from the fact that I've heard that it was difficult and tedious to make macarons.

If you think about it, cooking itself can be tedious at times, what with the preparation work beforehand, chopping, dicing, seasoning, stewing, braising yaddah yaddah yaddah... and preparing all the mise-en-place just to cook something that is eaten within less than 15 minutes.

I couldn't imagine going through all the steps needed, although at that time I didn't know the exact process of macaron-making beyond what I've heard, just to produce macarons that were so small and delicate that you would finish them in 2 bites. To me, the act of eating macarons is an event and an enjoyment in itself that I wouldn't want to mar with the thought of hours spent making and baking them prior to eating these delectable morsels.

However, many many moons later, I've this urged to try to make macarons myself. Why? Mostly, I was curious to try and ascertain for myself just how tedious macarons making can be. Thanks to CC, who passed me the macaron recipe from a class that she attended together with CP (maybe this is what you call poetic justice? :)), I've got myself a very very detailed recipe to try my hand with.

The outcome of it? Well... as I was sieving the ground almonds and later, while mixing together the whipped egg whites and the ground almond mixture and much later on, the pipping of the macaron cookies, I kept mumbling to myself, cursing all the while, "I'm never gonna make these macarons myself again. I'd rather pay the price to eat macarons!".

Perhaps I didn't have the right tools to help aid me in making them. I was using a really miniscue sieve (the size one normally use to sieve tea leaves) to sieve the ground almonds. I was also using some cheap plastic bag to pipe the cookies out, without any piping tips.

The long and short of it was that through this process, I've come to appreciate why the per unit cost of one macaron can be so exorbitant, depending on where you bought it. Other than the whipping of the egg whites, which I've thankfully got my KitchenAid to deal with, the rest of the stuff, you've got to do it by hand. Piping even and round macaron cookies of similar size was yet another challenge which I wasn't able to successfully master on this first attempt. Hence, I had many varied and uneven ovals instead of round macaron cookies at the end.

By the time I was done with it, I realised belated that the macarons would taste better after sitting overnight in the fridge. Since I did them yesterday, it would be best if I eat them only today. In a somewhat eureka moment, I ingeniously told Louis that I especially made them for him as a gift for Valentine's Day. This is so that he would be guilt into helping me finish most of the batch of macarons, no matter how they tasted. Hee hee... Till now, my hubby still haven't have the faintest idea of his wife's little trickery ;)

Suffice it to say that one batch of my macarons turned out nicely with the frilly edges at the bottom (known as "feet"), that is supposed to be the hallmark of a good macaron. Unfortunately, they didn't quite acquire the nice dome, yet another hallmark of macarons. Nonetheless, they were still very edible and very sinful, on account that I've made chocolate macarons.

At this juncture, I doubt I would make many more batches of macarons, although I am determined to give macarons making another one or two more attempts so that I wouldn't repeat some of the same mistakes that I did this round. The other more important reason, being that I would like to be able to proudly say that I've baked a good and credible batch of macarons myself.

However, I think I would still continue to patronise and buy macarons in future for my own personal enjoyment. The reason for this is simple. When you bake a batch of macarons, you tend to only make one flavour. For me, the real thrill and fun of eating macarons is to select and try as many varied flavours and offerings that is available, without buying seconds (not to mention thirds of fourths) of any flavours. That's something that I simply cannot produce as a home-baker!

And since its Valentine's Day today, here's wishing that all of you had a good one.

Happy Valentine's Day, Darling!

Chinese New Year

This is Faith's first Chinese New Year. We've taught her to put both her hands together and wish "Gong Xi Gong Xi". Unfortunately, Faith felt that she didn't want to be a performing monkey, and hence, would only do it at her own whim and fancy. Usually, that excludes wishing anybody Gong Xi Fai Cai on first sight :)

Still, its exciting that this year, Faith would be able to collect some ang paos, although the meaning and symbolism of it might escape her. For Faith, all ang paos are chewables -- something she can put in her mouth :) The only damper during this festive period is that she seemed to have caught a virus or something. She's got a runny nose and might still be teething too. As a result, she seems to be like a leaking tap these days, leaking mucus and saliva from her nose and mouth :)

On CNY's Eve, we had steamboat dinner at my MIL's house. I've made 3 items to add to the food. The first was the braised abalone with conpoy, which I learnt from Sam Leong's class a while ago and blogged about. Decided to skip the spinach tofu as it requires deep-frying and I didn't feel like deep-frying anything. The other two were lemon tart and creme brulee for desserts as 2 of my MIL's sisters and a brother, along with their families were coming for the tail end of the dinner :)

The braised abalone turned out well. After 6 hours of braising, the abalones were soft enough yet with a slightly chewy texture. According to my SIL, she said that's how abalones should be. Phew.... was almost afraid that I would spoil the entire dish and waste the 2 cans of abalones.

The first day of CNY, we went to "bai nian" at my MIL's place, as well as to have our lunch there. Left Faith at my in-laws' place after lunch while Louis and I went home. He to sleep as he was working till 3 am the previous night, while I did some slight chores. As it was just my in-laws and us for dinner, we decided to head to Muthu's Curry at Suntec City.

Needless to say, we had to order the curry fishhead, tandoori chicken and 3 side dishes of vegetables. The fishhead was great and the portion was generous. The tandoori chicken was excellent. The meat was well-spiced and soft, with bits and pieces of the chicken well charred. We had a walk around Carrefour after dinner, as it was opened.

On the second day of CNY, we had dim sum lunch at Man Fu Yuan at Intercontinental Hotel. The restaurant was nice enough to give us a room. Like the previous years, my MIL's 2 sisters and brother joined us too. Interestingly, the older 3 children (with the exception of Faith, who was in pink) were all decked out in red. I simply had to have the children take a picture together with Faith. Anthea was delighted that Faith was sitting quietly on her lap for the photo-taking, without her usual wriggling.

Today, we had a vegetarian lunch at the Bright Hill Temple. My mom had a complimentary table for today and hence, my parent-in-law, elder FIL & family and us trooped to the temple for a vegetarian Lohei and steamboat.

Seems like we are having lots of food these few days. Thankfully, I ate normally, taking care not to over-indulge in the goood food, given the festive mood. Right now, we're not sure what's for dinner as my FIL is having some of his siblings over for a game of Mahjong. But I have this slight hankering for some sinful food, like MacDonalds :)

Hahaha... we'll see.

Throughout the CNY period, Faith's been having her usual porridge. I gather she must find it boring compared to what the adults were having. Come next year, she would be able to join in and eat what the adults are having. That would be fun. Especially when these days, it doesn't take much for her to go "Mum-mum"* at every sight of food.

*Note: Mum-mum is baby-speak for when Faith wants to eat anything or when she sees food. Occasionally, it also means for any objects and items that she wants to get her hands on :)