Mom wants to start kickboxing, will it affect milk supply?

QUESTION: I want to start a very intense workout program (cardio-kickboxing) and I want to make sure my milk supply won't dry up. I read the question about running, does this apply to my situation as well? You burn an average of 800 calories per hour doing this exercise. I really need to loose weight, but as you can tell my son is doing very well with breastfeeding and I don't want to inhibit this. I was unable to breastfeed my daughter and am really enjoying the bonding experience with my son.

Please help!
 

Dear Suzanne

At your baby's age your body slows on producing the excess amounts of milk making hormones, you will notice that your breasts are getting softer and smaller and you may or may not feel fullness when it is time for the baby to feed (this does not mean that you do not have enough milk) Two other things happen at this time also, baby starts taking a lot less time to nurse and is a lot more distractible, and there is a very large growth spurt around this time. Many moms think they have lost their milk -- not true!

Because of the hormone changes I mentioned above -- your body holds onto the extra weight put on during pregnancy until closer to 6 months postpartum. This is why I recommend that moms start slowly on any type of exercise and healthy diet program and build up over a couple months to the more intense type of work outs that you describe. You will see the pounds just melt away as you maternal body shape firms up. what a wonderful double benefit.

Also make sure that when you do any type of contact exercise that you have the proper protective gear on and that it does not excessively restrict the breast tissue -- you could end up with multiple plugged ducts and possibly mastitis.

It is nice to note that a fully breastfeeding mom who starts on a sensible weight loss program -- not only loses the weight more evenly -- she tends to keep it from coming back.

Good Luck

Anne Norton-Krawciw,RPh, IBCLC

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