If I exercise 3 times a week, will this diminish my milk supply?

[pemmie]

Hi: I am 6 weeks post c-section and have been told i can now exercise. i used to run for my exericise and want to start again. I would like to "jog" (slow run) 3 times a week now for 30-40 minutes and am wondering if this will negatively impact my milk supply? i heard that you should wait 2 months after starting bf'ing to start losing weight, but i'm not sure that jogging will do much to impact my weight anyway? i am also trying to eat better - cutting out junk food which will likely affect my weight with or without the exercise.

any thoughts? did anyone else exercise and maintain their supply?

thanks!

[Caroline162]

Congrats on your precious baby!!

As long as you are not restricting calorie intake, you should be just fine. I began walking within a week of having my son and about three months after he was born I was running 4 miles five days a week. I just weaned him at 13 months (and would have kept going longer except that I am pregnant again and he started biting me when my milk changed). You will probably notice that you are STARVING, and should eat whenever you are hungry. Of course making healthy eating choices is better anyway. But healthy doesn't necessarily mean low calorie, just GOOD calories and not empty ones. So make sure you are getting enough calories (no eating just lettuce LOL!) and drinking LOTS of water, and you'll be just fine. Good luck! I know that post-pregnancy body can be a struggle.

[OrangeMood]

Hey, i thought after CSec you gotta wait 8 weeks... I had a vaginal, i got an OK after 6 weeks and worked out 5 days a week up until i had to return to work. now i work out 3 days a week but its a killer workout.... I lost all my pre-pregnancy weight, got 2 lbs to go ( assuming it's my girls that grew a size). Make sure you work out right after you breastfeed/pump ( you gotta be completely empty) and wear a good sports bra

[Caroline162]

Oh yeah, I found that wearing two sports bras worked well.

[pemmie]

i'm actually not all that hungry with the breastfeeding - strange... anyway, the ob gave me the green light to start runnung at 6 wks - i guess he thought i was adequately healed? i'm not allowed to do any ab exercises though for another month or so - which is where i have a big mound of jello around the belly button!

[smileygirl]

I think you'll be fine as long as you take it easy and work yourself back into it slowly. Make sure you are consuming enough GOOD calories and staying well hydrated. You'll probably notice that your c-section scar will tingle.... at least mine always did the first time I exercised or played sports after my c-sections!

[Candace717]

Way to go Orange! I'm always glad to hear success stories of the weight coming off.