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Moms Who Work Out & BF

SposaBellarinaSposaBellarina member
in Health & Exercise

My baby is 1month old now and I expect my OB to give me the green light to work put again when I go for my 6-week PP appt.  I am really excited to get back to exercising-- I run, do Pilates, Zumba, and ballet-- but I have a few questions about how ths will work with breast feeding.

1) how-- if at all- does exercise affect your milk supply?

2) do I need to adjust my caloric intake ?

3) what nursing sports bra can you recommend? 

Thanks! 

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Re: Moms Who Work Out & BF

  • *LrCg**LrCg* member
    With both my kids I tried working out (I went back to my regular routine about 4 weeks out) and noticed a dip in supply so I stopped.  When they (not twins) were @ 3-4 months old I tried again and I was now a pumping while at work mom and I noticed a big dip.  So I decided that those 5-7 lbs didn't really matter that much.  And when they weaned without changing diet, etc. I dropped in within a week.  So I know for some mothers it doesn't effect it (or some need to eat more, etc)- I could never find the balance to make it work.  It did feel odd because I was use to working out prior to kids and then during my pregnancy and I had my kids back to back but the milk supply was just too important to me.
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  • verybusymomto4verybusymomto4 member
    I worked out with my last 3 and BF w/o any problems and I will do the same after my baby is born. I worked out twice a day, started once a day then picked it up to twice daily.
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  • blu-eyedwifeblu-eyedwife member

    1) how-- if at all- does exercise affect your milk supply? For me, it increased my milk supply.  I always seem to be able to pump more when I'm working out.

    2) do I need to adjust my caloric intake ? I didn't purposely, but when I first started breastfeeding I was ravenous, so I'm sure my calorie intake was higher than normal.

    3) what nursing sports bra can you recommend? I don't have a nursing sportsbra, but I love my Moving Comfort bra.  It has velcro straps which means I can lower which ever side I want to nurse from.

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  • JaysonandKristinJaysonandKristin member

    I have noticed that hydration rather than calories affects my supply.  So, my recommendation is to ensure that you are very well hydrated.  I scared myself out of working out after my first baby in order to avoid phantom supply issues.  I started working out at 6 weeks pp with my second, and I only notice a decrease in my supply right before my AF.

    My OB said that 300 more calories per day is plenty sufficient for BF'ing.  I don't track calories anymore.  My diet is absolutely clean, and I am seeing good results, so I don't bother anymore.

    I don't have any nursing sports bras.  PP's suggestion of the Moving Comfort bra sounds promising.  I've never used anything other than standard sports bras, and I've never had an issue. 

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  • tasiacelestetasiaceleste

    Moving Comfort makes my favorite bras. 

     

    There was a controversial study about lactic acid (post-exercise) tainting the flavor of breastmilk and making it less appealing for babies.  If you are concerned about this, pump or breastfeed first, and avoid feeding for 90 minutes post-workout.  

     

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  • JG362009JG362009

    1.  It didn't affect my supply.  I ran 5 days a week and cross-trained one day a week with my first baby and EBF until he weaned (well breast milk and some solid foods after he was 6 months old)

    2. I haven't really adjusted my caloric intake.  I

    3.  I don't have a nursing sports bra but I do have to wear two sports bras while I'm breastfeeding.   

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  • reederahreederah member
    When I was BFing I worked out a lot. It never affected my milk supply and never paid attention to eating more calories... I really just listened to my body and ate when I was hungry. I wore regular sports bras, and two of them! (of course, I was running and needed some extra support). And working out right after nursing baby seemed to work best because I wouldn't be too full, big, or leaking while working out.
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  • crh416crh416

    I worked out pretty hardcore (circuit training, running, bootcamp) and was able to BF no problem.  I just really had to watch my water intake.  I noticed big drops in supply if I didn't hydrate well enough.

     Don't know about a nursing sports bra.  However, I do swear by Enell sports bras!  I'm pretty busty and these were the only bras that allowed me run while BFing.  Spendy but so worth it.

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