Does exercise affect breastfeeding?
Hello, my name is Kristen Shelstad, and I am currently a junior in the
nursing program at the University of North Dakota. I had joined the
listserv a few weeks ago so it is still fairly new to me. I have a strong
interest with the OB unit and am trying to learn more so I can assist the
new mothers with answers to their questions.
Many mothers are eager to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight
and are very willing to start an exercise regimen. I found a few studies
on the effects of exercising with breastfeeding. A former study (Dewey et.
al, 1994), found that aerobic exercise does not play a role with a
decreased amount of milk supply. Their study included women 6 to 8 weeks
postpartum participating in an exercise program lasting 12 weeks. The
exercise program consisted of 45 minutes of aerobic exercise for 5 days per
week. The different types of exercise included biking, jogging and rapid
walking. The breast milk composition and the amount of milk did not differ
from women who were exercising compared to the women who weren’t exercising.
Another study was performed on the effects of exercise on
immunologic factors in breast milk (Lovelady, Hunter, Geigerman, 2003).
They defined moderate exercise as 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day 3 to
5 days a week. There was no difference between the concentrations of sIgA,
lactoferrin, and lysozyme in the breast milk when comparing exercising
women and non-exercising women. This study has not only found that
exercising women become more cardiovascular fit, but also that their breast
milk contains the adequate components for nutrition.
An additional study, Immune Status of Physically Active Women
during Lactation, shows no relationship between exercising women who
breastfeed and a decreased immune status (Lovelady et. al, 2004). This
study shows that women who carry out moderate exercise while breastfeeding
have an immune status similar to women who don’t participate in exercise.
Exercise again, confirmed that women become more physically fit and that
exercising does not affect breastfeeding.
My question to you is if in your experience, is the mother able to
keep up with exercising while breastfeeding?
Thank you,
Kristen Shelstad, SN
Dewey, K.G., Lovelady C.A., Nommsen-Rivers L.A., McCrory M.A., Lonnerdal B.
(1994). A Randomized Study of the Effects of Aerobic Exercise by Lactating
Women on Breast-Milk Volume and Composition. The New England Journal of
Medicine, 330(7), 449-453.
Lovelady C.A., Hunter C.P., Geigerman C. (2003). Effect of Exercise on
Immunologic
Factors in Breast Milk. Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 111
(2). 148-152.
Lovelady C.A., Fuller C.J., Geigerman C., Hunter P., Kinsella T.C. (2004).
Immune Status of
Physically Active Women during Lactation. Journal of the American College
of Sports Medicine, 36(6). 1001-1007.
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