stopped breastfeeding at 5 months but now feel guilty

[sunnymum77]

I breastfed my DS exclusively for 4 and a half months and then combined with Aptamil for about 2 weeks. After that I ended up only giving formula as I found my milk was reducing and DS was turning away every time I tried to breastfeed. It was also hard to juggle his feeding with school run for my DD. I had fed my DD for 3 months and felt fine when gave up, but this time round I feel really guilty and that I should have persevered until at least 6 months, as all the articles I have read on the internet say how inferior formula is, and that should BF for 6 months exclusively. Does the fact that I didn't reach the 6 month mark mean that any benefit is now wiped out?

No not at all! It's great how ever long you breastfeed for, you have done a great job so please don't feel guilty.

I think no matter when you stop there will be an element of guilt. I only planned to breastfeed for 3 months but have kept going til now and DS is 6 months, thinking of introducing formula and feeling guilty too so I know where you are coming from.

OP look here for Reasons to Be Proud of the Breastfeeding you have done. Well done and congratulations on your new baby! (Well new -ish, but still!) :)

You have given your children a marvellous nutritional start and done a great thing for their immune system. Well done. Certainly, the benefit is not wiped out because you didn' feed until 6 months.

I think I've read something detailed about this actually. I'll just go and see if I can fid it.

Agree with recklesspixie - you'll feel guilty no matter when you stop. I b-fed DD to 6 months and felt guilty when i stopped. My mum couldn't understand how I felt that way as she thought I'd done so well (she b-fed us for about 4 months).

You've done very well. :)

I found this but I couldn't find the thing the article is based on. Still good though

Thanks all, feeling much better!