post partum exercise and milk supply

BuffaloChixSalad wrote: »

Thank you! I was thinking that I could bounce back quickly but I am worried about my son not getting enough milk and having to supplement more often

You could always try it and if it seems like your supply drops than cut back a little on the exercise. Find what works best for you.

Congratulations!

5 weeks? Make sure your body is fully healed before anything high impact. That 6 week check is there for a reason--I noticed pain in my lower abdomen/pelvis after going back to running after my last pregnancy. I started at maybe 8 weeks and I just couldn't do it. It took a few months for that area to strengthen back up this time. Anyway, use this time for some pelvic floor exercises--seriously. Also check how your abs feel--see if you have any separation (this may mean you need to modify exercises/avoid some/add others to reduce/eliminate it).

As for milk supply, calories count. Drop your deficit too low and supply will drop. Most fully nursing women need about 1800 minimum. Less once you introduce solids. For me, as long as I ate enough (1800-2000), my supply wasn't affected by running 15-25 miles a week.

I started exercising fairly intensely when baby was 5 months old. My milk supply didn't suffer, but I was eating 2300 calories a day and losing at about .5 lb/ week.