Let the food fun begin- Stage 1

So we bumbled along for several months. Levels going up. Levels going down. Worrying endlessly despite being told not to. Altering and correcting formula levels. Writing down everything Gremlin drank. Overall though we got used to our own little routine and started to feel, dare I say it, confident.

Then at 19 weeks we were called back to GOSH and told to start weaning.Gulp.

For a child with PKU, there are 4 stages to weaning. Stage 1 is the introduction of protein free foods. We are told that Gremlin can eat banana, mango, apple, pear, peach as well as carrots, green beans, parsnips, swede and sweet potato. We are also given special rusks and breakfast porridge which are protein free and available on prescription. The final part to learn is her medicine. She will need to get all the other nutrients she needs from a special gel.

In addition she can have shop bought jars/pouches so long as they contain 0.5g of protein per 100g or less. These items count as protein-free foods. My newest obsession for analysing labels begins.

We head home and I start steaming, pureeing and freezing ice cubes of the aforementioned fruit and vegetables in earnest. But Gremlin just isn't ready and I hold off for another 4 weeks.