BF and exercise

[kittycat37]

I've tentatively started exercising again and have a DD of 8 wks. The only trouble is I'm sure my milk supply seems to be lower after exercising (been about 3 times so far) - I thought I was imagining it at first but today after going to a class at the gym feeding her took a lot longer and she wasn't satisfied for ages.

I'm not sure it's worth exercising if it's going to have a bad effect on BF but if possible I'd like to do both.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does it settle down? I had thought that maybe exercise would increase the supply (like sex seems to - anyone experienced that too? - apologies if that's TMI).

I experienced the same thing with my supply being effected by exercise.
I would put off exercise till around 4mths when she's in a more predictable routine and you can exercise right after a feed.
Bloody hell lass! Your having sex and you have a 8 wk old baby!! Hats off to you!

kellymom has some info

my advice would be don't do it, wait til you're at least 3mo post-birth before starting to exercise and ignore all the celeb mums who are back in their jeans in 5 mins.

I started running again when DD was about 6wo and it was a STUPID idea I must have had when very hormonal. I felt terrible, my boobs hurt like buggery, the stress incontinence was beyond embarrassing, I was more knackered (if that's possible) and most annoyingly, it didn't make a blind bit of difference to my waistline or weight. I gave up.

I then took up 'Pushy Mothers' exercise classes when DD was 4mo and the trainer told us:
a) we should do no exercise til 3mo post-birth with the exception of very gentle post-natal yoga or swimming
b) doing sit-ups or stomach exercises after birth is a really bad idea for your recovery and can actually damage your stomach muscles even more at a time when they are trying to recover from the pregnancy
c) absolutely no running til 9mo post-birth

Now I appreciate that marathon runners and Olympiads may not have to stick to these rules but the rest of us mortals probably should. The weight came off eventually, in its own good time.

Am impressed you can manage it TBH, I tried a workout the other day, got about a 1/4 through my usual and thought I was going to die.

Take it easy.

For what it's worth, I started regular exercise (gym, running) at 6 weeks, and have had no problems with breastfeeding at all. Still ebf at just over 6 months. It's genuinely keeping me sane! Any perceived changes could possibly be coincidental.

a)we should do no exercise til 3mo post-birth with the exception of very gentle post-natal yoga or swimming

most people (barring c-sections) will be able to start exercising 6 weeks after birth but should realise they won't be at pre-pregnancy levels immediatly!

b) doing sit-ups or stomach exercises after birth is a really bad idea for your recovery and can actually damage your stomach muscles even more at a time when they are trying to recover from the pregnancy.

depends on the damage done, sit-ups (or any exercise that results in a doming or bulging out of the rectus abdominus) should be avoided but to say stomach exercises carte blanche will cause damage is incorrect, exercises such as pelvic tilts encourages the muscles to re-align and seperation to reduce.

c) absolutely no running til 9mo post-birth
rubbish, IF you have had problems with your pelvic floor then it might be a good idea to avoid running but apart from that you can start jogging at 6 weeks just be sure your technique is correct as you are at slightly higher risk of injury due to joint stability. I would be genuinely interested in where she got the 9 month figure from.

kittycat there is no evidence that exercise will hinder breastfeeding, if you think your LO isn't particularly happy is there any chance you can feed before the gym?

thanks Libra, maybe my trainer was overly cautious - I was just grateful to be told I could legitimately take it easy . The 9mo thing I got because she started a running club and was very specific that you had to be 9mo post-birth before you could join. Something about her insurance?

BF before you exercise - aerobic exercise can change the taste a little (sweaty boobs if nothing else). BF and exercised with both my DSs and they were always quite fussy with feeds immediately after exercise sessions.

Novicemama- I'm guesing the 9 month point is because the relaxin in your body has reached much lower points by then, even if still bfing, and their pelvic floors will be up to the job of impact work.

I understand I am always looking for excuses not to train and I'm a PT!!

Thanks for all the replies.

For me it's like zacklesmum said - it's really really keeping me sane. I feel so much more full of energy after even a gentle bit of exercise.

But I'm a bit horified by the abdominals advice Libra and novicemamma because I was doing sit ups today. Think I'll leave them for a while.

Because I'm feeding on demand I feed right before exercising and again straight after but TBH I'm still sometimes working out if DD is really hungry or it's something else. I think I really need to get that a bit more sorted because maybe there wasn't a supply problem today afterall - maybe she wasn't completely ready to feed. Or maybe the sweat put her off (poor little thing). But reading all the replies has been really interesting and very helpful - thanks again.

Was it hot in your gym? I do circuits and the babies are in the room with us. When it was really hot and she was hungry dd wouldn't feed as she was hot, I was hot and the milk was hot and it was all a bit much for her.

Also re the abs, are you going to a post-natal exercise class or have you told your instructor that you've had a baby as they should be advising you which exercises not to do or how to modify them for post birth.

our physio said no running or crunches till 12 weeks to ensure your pelvic floor is still intact in a few years. Bike riding is fine. i got a static trainer in the garden so can fit it in at all times of the day (was 90 quid though)

I used to express after I got home from the gym in the evenings while DS was asleep and actually found I got about 20/30ml more on the nights I went to the gym compared to the nights I didn't. My theory is that I got so hot and sweaty (mainly doing Body Combat classes) that my body thought it was hot weather and made slightly more breastmilk (or maybe just more watery breastmilk) to hydrate the baby.