Breast feeding - do you feel your LO has had any advantages?

[Twohootsunderthemistletoe]

I know this is going to probably be a controversial subject before I start but I really need to get this off my chest....

It is possible my DD (19 mo) has asthma and I'm pretty cut up about it tbh (I was severly asthmatic and had v bad ezcema as a child and it really did cause me no end of upset at school etc). I breastfed until she was 15 mths and then gave up - feel I should have carried on until longer but at the time I was the only person I knew still feeding and felt pressure to stop etc

In the last couple of weeks she's also got a few dry patches of skin on her face which do look like eczema too

What I am really thinking to myself is why the hell did I breastfeed? The main reason I did it was because I'd wanted to try and defend DD from getting asthma and eczema, allergies and having a generally rubbish immune system like I have. However, it also turns out that she is slightly lactose intolerant!

I've heard a lot of 'evidence' saying breastfeeding can prevent these things - has anyone ever found they breastfed and their Los didn't inherit something they had??? Where is the proof?

I feel a little raw right now so this is probably coming across all wrong but I just wanted to protect my DD from the things I had as a child as it really made me miserable And I really hoped breastfeeding would have helped me

I feel let down and I feel I've let DD down too(It doesn't help that DH is v healthy and had no health problems as a child - whilst he said to me that I shouldn't feel guilty and it's not my 'fault' I honestly feel in his heart he blames me )...

This has really hit me hard...

just imagine if you hadn't breastfed. Don't you think you would have been far more racked with guilt and regret and wishing you could turn the clock back. At least breastfeeding has saved you that, and it may have made quite a positive difference. You absolutely know for sure it won't have harmed her, which would probably be the case with formula feeding too, but you would never be sure.

Twohoots,you have nowt to feel guilty about.

You breastfed longer than probably over 95% of the population.

You did your best and you did a greatjob.

Story.

End of.

As most people have said it's a bit hypothetical, and whatever you chose to do, you can't redo it or undo it.
I am still bfing my DS at 24 months (or two as it is better known ) I think he is pretty healthy and I do feel that I am helping his developing immune system by supporting it with my mine. He has been pretty health thus far, apart from a few colds, which he seems to bounce back from quite fast.
He definitely uses it as an emotional support mechanism and feeds when he is upset or feeling insecure, so he is happy. I can't really imagine not being able to offer this comfort, so I suppose that would be a benefit, there isn't much that is as nice to a baby/toddler as their mummy's boob.

OK, I have asthma and used to get mild eczema (small patches). I bf all three of mine

DS1 bf until 10 mths, then ff during the day, odd bf at night

DS2 bf until 7 mths, then ff (FIL died, couldn't bf and hold everything together)

DD bf until just over 2, never ff 'cos she refused bottles.

DS2, least amount of bf, has asthma (improving though) and used to get eczema patches

DD, most amount of bf, constitution of an ox.

I have absolutely no idea if bf is why they have these health differences, but I do wish I hadn't stopped feeding DS2 when I did, just in case.

Ok ... DS was only breastfed until 6 weeks ... not an allergic bone in his body
DD breastfed for 11 months and she is the one who seems to react to things and seems an 'allergy type' ... apart from being allergic to penecillin and having a severe reaction to a vaccination, she hasn't been diagnosed as allergic to any foods BUT she has had constant rhinitis for the last 6 week which I am convinced is due to either a milk intolerance or hayfever (it is spring here in NZ). The way I see it is - Thank god I DID breastfeed her for as long as I did, imagine how bad she could have been if I had stopped breastfeeding earlier?

I think that is the only way you can see it two hoots .... you will never know but if your DD has inherited your alllergy genes she was always going to be prone to them wasn't she? Breastfeeding has given her the best protection you could give ....

Don't beat yourself up about it ... honestly ... you have done a great job

Maybe threebob will come along and see this - her little boy, Bob, is really allergic to many foods and was from birth (he reacted when SHE ate certain foods) ... she breastfed him for a long time (she may even be breastfeeding still, I don't know) giving him the best nutrition possible ....

Take care xxx

asthma, exzema etc are due to a quirk in the immune system. It's genetic and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Breastfed babies receive antibodies from mum and are thus less likely to succumb to infection etc. Breastmilk, however, will not not change the genetic makeup of your baby's immune system.

Don't beat yourself up - 15 months is a great length of time. Look on the positive side - you gave her extra protection when she was teeny weeny and really needed it I BF DS1 until he was 18 months but stopped the day before my amnio. I still feel guilty about it!

I only bf my babies for 12 months each and all of them were lactose intolerant to varying degrees, are you cutting lactose out of dd diet ? tesco and sainsbury used to have lists of all their products that were dairy / gluten etc free, which I found really helpful. Your dd could have been much worse if you hadn't bf, you need to feel proud of yourself