Breast feeding and exercise

[atalanta85]

I'm still a way off from birth, but a few people have been asking me what I need so they can buy presents.

I am (well was before pregnancy) an extremely active and very fit person. I am hoping to work towards returning to this as soon as I am able, but I've been told that breast feeding and exercise don't really go together.

I've been told that feeding after exercsie can cause severe bloating, diarrhea, constipation etc and that I should pump before any activity as up to three hours afterwards, the milk isn't healthy for the baby. Is there any truth to this?

EDIT: (forgot to add this part, lol) What are some good brands for pumps? - I live in Australia if that makes any difference.

 

[blake12336]

Not sure about exercise but I use the medela swing and it's fab!

 

[aliss]

This was never an issue for my baby (I started training again at 3 weeks postpartum)

I am also very active, every day my baby naps at 8am and I head straight into my own home powerlifting gym and bust my butt.

I *think* part of the problem is that women may let themselves get engorged during a longer workout and then the baby chokes a little when the milk comes on too strong. Also, a very tight workout bra probably makes this worse.

It is absolutely untrue that the milk is unhealthy for the baby

To pump around workouts is for YOUR convenience only!

I never bothered with it, because I found it easier to just whip out my boob to care for him instead of wasting the time with a pump bottle. Gave me an extra 20 min in the gym

 

[Rachel_C]

Sounds like absolute codswallop to me!

Have a look at this link - https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/mom-exercise/ I trust KellyMom with all my BF questions! As you can see, it says that exercising to the point of exhaustion could have a very short term effect on milk (less than an hour) but I think with a baby you'd be very unlikely to exercise that long or that hard because you still have to look after the baby/get up at night etc after the exercise! Even if you did do that once a day, it would potentially affect one feed, which KM doesn't seem to think would be detrimental. I would just use your common sense - don't exercise so hard that you're exhausted, just be sensible and go for little and often if you're more used to very intense exercise. Let your body and your baby be your guide and enjoy it

 

[1stTimeOct.12]

I agree this sounds ridicules to say to someone. I read on here All the time ladies who started working our within a month of birth. I personally know someone who ran a half marathon only two months pp. my only issue with working out is that I have to make sure my boobs are drained before I run. Otherwise it's quite uncomfortable.

 

[cautious...]

I've spoken to both my breast feeding support worker and a personal trainer that specialises in postpartum exercise, both said exercise is fine and shouldn't affect supply etc. The lactic acid produced during exercise can make your milk taste slightly different apparently. My LO doesn't seem bothered. I was told to drink an extra litre of water per hour and also watch any pressure on my joints as apparently the hormones make your body a lot more supple

 

[MommyJogger]

Absolute BS. Your milk is healthy for baby at any point before, during, or after exercise. I've bf at water stops in the middle of marathons and I've pumped there before, too. My baby wasn't bothered and my milk tasted no different. To even get the lactic acid taste effect I think you literally have to exercise to exhaustion. Falling down, can't think straight, talking gibberish about the trolls spying on you from the woods exhaustion.

 

[cautious...]

Absolute BS. Your milk is healthy for baby at any point before, during, or after exercise. I've bf at water stops in the middle of marathons and I've pumped there before, too. My baby wasn't bothered and my milk tasted no different. To even get the lactic acid taste effect I think you literally have to exercise to exhaustion. Falling down, can't think straight, talking gibberish about the trolls spying on you from the woods exhaustion.

I was a little sceptical about one easy going exercise class producing enough lactic acid to change the taste of my milk!

 

[Seity]

As long as you eat more and drink plenty of water to compensate, you'll be fine. I have a very hard time keeping the weight on, so I stick to toning exercises vs cardiovascular ones because otherwise my milk supply suffers.