Will exercise affect my milk production if I'm nursing?

Fitness expert Farrah Zweig illustrates how physically active mothers can still maintain healthy breastfeeding habits, important for both the mom and baby.
Will exercise affect my milk production if I'm nursing? | Kids in the House
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Will exercise affect my milk production if I'm nursing?

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Exercise will not affect your milk production while nursing. What you really want to focus on is being comfortable. You want to nurse your baby or pump your milk before going out to exercise. You also want to make sure you have a comfortable sports bra. I do not recommend you buying a nursing sports bra. You want to buy a regular sports bra and that you're comfortable. Make sure that your breasts, which may be larger than you are used to, are supported properly. Make sure that you are wearing comfortable clothing and then, after exercise, you may just want to take a shower. One of the biggest complaints of babies, it's not that your milk has a funny taste or that there's less milk, it's that you're just sticky. One of the other reasons that pops up about exercising while nursing is the fact that you may build up lactic acid. It is really only a concern is if you are doing very high intensity exercise which, potentially, you are not doing that anyway. You are waiting until your baby is a little bit older, possibly six months or more. If that's the case, where you are doing high intensity exercise, you want to pump and dump and then nurse your baby.

Fitness expert Farrah Zweig illustrates how physically active mothers can still maintain healthy breastfeeding habits, important for both the mom and baby.

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Farrah Zweig

Fitness Specialist

Farrah Zweig is a Personal Trainer who graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition, and Health. Her certifications include National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), CPR,  and AED Specialties include Pre/Post Natal exercise; Functional Training; Fitness and Wellness Coaching for Children, Adolescent and Teen Fitness, Significant Weight Loss.

Outside the gym, Farrah teaches Mommy and Me stroller exercise classes in the park, focusing on helping moms lose their baby weight, while increasing strength in areas affected by pregnancy, childbirth, and mommy-hood. She creates individualized programs combining balance, strength, circuit, and agility as well as core stabilization designed to help moms look and feel great about their bodies.

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Transcription: 
Exercise will not affect your milk production while nursing. What you really want to focus on is being comfortable. You want to nurse your baby or pump your milk before going out to exercise. You also want to make sure you have a comfortable sports bra. I do not recommend you buying a nursing sports bra. You want to buy a regular sports bra and that you're comfortable. Make sure that your breasts, which may be larger than you are used to, are supported properly. Make sure that you are wearing comfortable clothing and then, after exercise, you may just want to take a shower. One of the biggest complaints of babies, it's not that your milk has a funny taste or that there's less milk, it's that you're just sticky. One of the other reasons that pops up about exercising while nursing is the fact that you may build up lactic acid. It is really only a concern is if you are doing very high intensity exercise which, potentially, you are not doing that anyway. You are waiting until your baby is a little bit older, possibly six months or more. If that's the case, where you are doing high intensity exercise, you want to pump and dump and then nurse your baby.