Breast feeding - feeling guilty

[Nocaloriesinchocolate]

I breastfed DS for 3 months then gave up for my own convenience. He is now 35 (years) and although healthy, he has headaches and bugs that last a few days from time to time - and always has had. Stress tends to prompt this. Reading so many threads on MN about the benefits of breastfeeding I feel really guilty now and wonder if he would be the picture of health had I breastfed longer. DH and friends tell me I’m worrying unnecessarily but they would say that wouldn’t they? So I wondered what all you strangers think.

I wouldn’t even give it a second thought. He’s 35.

No. It’s normal to headaches and bugs. I’m still feeding my 3 1/2 yr old and she is ill all
the fucking time - well at least it feels that way. I only feed my first for 6 btw.

Do you get worried/anxious about other things?

I understand, it’s hard when all you want is the best for your children. I was breastfed and siblings for the same amount of time before being moved to formula and we don’t have similar issues.

It might be he would have ended up with this regardless if you breastfed or not. And they’re no way of ever knowing.

You did the key part which is the colostrum aka gold that’s super good for baby.

There is nothing you can do to change the past, it’s torturing yourself for no reason. If this is general tendency (I do it for alot of stuff and replay many past events) some councilling may be useful to keep anxiety at bay

Is this something you have only started thinking about recently? Is there anything else you have been dwelling on?
It sounds like he’s as healthy as the average adult, and looking after his health and managing his stress is his job now.

No, some people are just more prone to catching things. I breastfed both my DDs for 13 months. One is in great health, the other has more health issues than you can shake a stick at. It's just (bad) luck, nothing to do with your choices.

I bf both my DC without any problems and gave up at 3 months each time. I also shortly after went back to work even though I didn't need to go back at all.
They're 20 and 18 now and I never give it a second thought. I actually remember their post 3 months more fondly because we all slept much better.

Thank you all so much. No,, its only something that’s crossed my mind - I dont lose sleep over it. I dont over worry about things but I’m grateful for the concern.

Oh and when I say Ive talked to friends I dont mean Ive specially approached them - its only when the subject of breastfeeding happens to come up in conversation

No, he probably doesn't take enough vitamins/exercise/eat enough veg, I'd say! If he has children himself or nieces/nephews etc it'll be their school bugs too affecting his immune system. You 100% can lay this particular worry to rest, it's not worth the headspace!

I'm 33. I have asthma, eczema, a range of different things that pop up from time to time - my mum breastfed me for over a year. I wouldn't give it any further thought.

I smoked outside when my Dc were babies then I stopped. At 22 my DS started smoking. Is this my fault? NO

Get some perspective !

I was breastfed until I was 2.5 years old and I have truly terrible health.

BF my daughter for 2yrs 2 months. She's always ill. Do not feel guilty.

Breastfed my daughter until she was 2. She's 6 now and constantly picking up bugs from school. Just a part of life

honestly lovely, you’re overthinking. I fed my dd until she was 2, and my mum fed my sister until she was 1.
I was formula fed.
my sister and DD are much sickier and buggier than I ever was

I think even the most fervent supporters of breastfeeding wouldn't claim it prevented stress induced headaches in adulthood!

Not much you can do now 😂

Maybe worth him looking at diet and gut health though to help with illness.

Are you actually joking. This seriously can’t be serious. He’s 35