Can exercise while breastfeeding affect breast milk?

You want to be active to get in shape after giving birth, but worry about whether exercising while breastfeeding will negatively affect your baby. Let's go find the answer to this question.

Exercise both improves health and has a positive effect on the mother's mental and physical well-being. But still, some people worry whether exercise can affect breastfeeding or not? Please join aFamilyToday Health to follow the sharing below.

1. Some of the benefits of exercise

Increases heart health

Improves blood lipid and insulin levels

Feeling happy with being re-energized and reducing stress

Strengthen the affection between mother and baby

Reduce depressive symptoms.

Moderate exercise does not affect the secretion of milk, the nutritional content of milk or the growth of the baby. However, if you exercise to the point of exhaustion, it can increase lactic acid levels and decrease the IgA antibody levels in breast milk.

2. Does it affect the secretion of milk or the nutrient content of milk?

Studies show no difference in milk secretion, the nutritional content of milk or the weight gain of the baby when the mother exercises. One study showed that when mothers exercise regularly, milk production increases slightly.

3. Does exercise while breastfeeding affect the immune system in milk?

There is no difference in immune factors present in breast milk if you exercise moderately. However, the antibody content in milk will decrease shortly after you exercise. Most breastfeeding mothers do not exercise too much. If you exercise too much, the amount of antibodies in breast milk decreases.

IgA antibody levels in breast milk will drop shortly (10-30 minutes) after maternal exercise and will return to normal within an hour. In addition, research has also shown that the antibody content in milk increases after the breast is fully breastfed, regardless of whether the mother exercises strenuously or not.

4. Does lactic acid in breast milk increase after exercise?

Research shows that lactic acid increases a negligible amount after mothers exercise moderately (50 - 75% intensity). Lactic acid in breast milk increases moderately if mothers exercise maximum intensity (100%). This increase can last up to 90 minutes after exercise and it is not harmful to your baby.

5. Will the baby refuse to breastfeed after the mother exercises?

One study shows that babies may become irritable or refusing to breastfeed after mothers exercise at maximum 100% intensity. However, another study showed that babies still breastfeed normally after mothers exercise even though mothers exercise with maximum intensity.

If your baby doesn't seem to like the taste of your breastmilk after you exercise, this may not be related to exercise. The reason may be that your baby may be distracted with your body odor after exercising or uncomfortable with the salty taste of sweat on you. If this happens, you can express a small amount of milk (3 - 5 ml per breast) before breastfeeding or delay breastfeeding about half an hour after exercise so that the lactic acid level in the milk decreases or you decrease. intensity of exercise down.

6. Some tips to help you exercise while breastfeeding

For guaranteed exercise and comfort, learn about a breastfeeding mom's sports bra to choose the best shirt, especially when you're doing strenuous exercises like running. , dance…

Some babies do not like to breastfeed when their mothers are sweating (due to the salt on the mother's skin). Wash your breasts or shower before feeding your baby.

If you regularly do exercises that involve arm movement, reduce it and do it with a slower intensity.

Complete water for the body.