https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 16:31:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636245 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:24:51 +0000 Anagram 2636245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mfa_lady: I think it's different when you pump (at work or as an EPer) and you see the oz you pump out, as opposed to feeding a baby and not knowing what they were getting. I EPd for my first and nursed but pumped at work for my second and both times, every time I worked out hard, I had an immediate small drop in supply. When I worked out for 3 weeks straight with my second, I had a drop in supply that never really recovered. (From about 30 oz a day to 22-24). If I were nursing, I probably never would have noticed and the baby would have just eaten more solids. Which might be the reason my girls were so late to solids--they both drank a looot of BM through bottles until a year old. Up to 30 oz a day sometimes.</p> <p>I was doing everything--drinking tons of water, drinking BM teas, eating 3k calories a day...and still, working out caused a drop. Could be just me, but every mama friend I have in real life that works out while nursing has had babies that take to solids very early and heartily. I've always secretly theorized that their babies are hungrier than mine, haha---which, hey, who cares. By 6 months, babies are mixing food and bm so the ratio doesn't matter so much. I'm just interested. I wish we could have a study with consistent weighted feeds after hard exercise, it would be cool to see the results. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636209 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:38:12 +0000 mfa_lady 2636209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@OldpuebloJenn: Definitely sounds like my mistake was not starting early enough with DD1! I waited too long and then since I was pumping at work so much (as opposed to being able to do a ton of skin to skin and nursing), when it had an effect I couldn't change it much. Thanks for your input! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636198 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:19:58 +0000 OldpuebloJenn 2636198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You may not have supply issues with working out. With my first I started training for a half marathon when she was 6weeks old. I never had a drop in supply. I increased water on run days and would have oatmeal for breakfast most days. I would nurse immediately before and after a run (it took her a few times to get used to sweaty boob!)<br /> This time, I'm 7weeks pp now, I began walking a mile everyday at 3w pp and am back to barre and yoga 3-4x a week. I've noticed no change in supply. I had a bought if mastitis at 4weeks, so I'm avoiding high impact like running for now, but I've added lecithin in as a supplement to help avoid clogged ducts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636176 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 11:32:30 +0000 mfa_lady 2636176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Good to know about the mastitis and easing back in!</p> <p>@JenGirl: Good ideas! Thank you!</p> <p>@KayKay: Sounds like that's the case, and that I just waited too long last time / maybe wasn't eating enough GOOD calories. I'm more concerned about just getting back into the swing than losing weight....I know it's tougher with #2, but it happened in due time with my first. I'm going to try not to rush anything. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636171 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 11:19:53 +0000 KayKay 2636171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As long as you are getting enough food and water, it shouldn't really affect your supply. I just make sure to do things like add peanut butter to my oatmeal, snack on other higher calorie/healthy foods (cheese, nuts), etc. I'd also make sure you're specifically drinking during your workouts and getting something to eat &amp; drink soon after to replenish.</p> <p>That being said, I've always worked out more for sanity and fitness than actual weight loss. I think if you are looking at it as a way to lose baby weight, you'll just have to be careful and recognize that only a small calorie deficit/slow weight loss may be obtainable for you while nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2636108 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 10:00:47 +0000 JenGirl 2636108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others, make sure you're getting enough calories. There are some great, healthy, ways to pack in calories, especially fats and carbs - avocado, nuts, peanut butter, whole fruit, brown rice, oatmeal, granola... And keep up the water intake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635926 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:36:58 +0000 Corduroy 2635926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked out while pregnant with LO1 doing CrossFit Mom workouts. I went back to the gym at 2 weeks just to stretch and then jumped back in to group workouts at 6 weeks. I got mastitis after my first real work out. It wasn't until later that I learned mastitis can be brought on by stress/exhaustion (at least according to my LC and experiences). So my tip would be to ramp up and not go all out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635921 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:26:34 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2635921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SKINNYCOW: if I workout hard, my tracker puts me at like 3200...I'm usually "supposed" to be eating around 2800. I love to eat but that's a lot of food and I rarely hit those numbers. I'm regularly 300 - 500 under. But when I first started tracking I was closer to 800 calories under so I'm doing better/feeling fuller and happier. That's what matters. But you're right, it feels like SO. MUCH. FOOD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635917 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:17:59 +0000 mfa_lady 2635917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@madger: @SKINNYCOW: @Maysprout: @Mrs. Sunshine: Thanks, all! Super helpful info. </p> <p>@YogiRunner: I don't think it HAS to--I just think I did it wrong the first time around. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635892 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:30:35 +0000 YogiRunner 2635892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following... I actually had no idea exercising affected supply! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635775 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:52:47 +0000 skinnycow 2635775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: Haha 2,500 is on the low end for me. I'm usually closer to 3,000 :meh: Which seems ridiculous... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635771 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:45:52 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2635771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SKINNYCOW: I eat that much to maintain and I'm not even nursing! Haha. </p> <p>I agree with PP, just eat when you're hungry. I liked to focus on the quality/nutrition factor of the food and not necessarily the amount. I had no trouble losing weight, though that was also never my main focus. The weight came off a little slower with #2 but only by about 2 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635763 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:28:32 +0000 Maysprout 2635763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I start going on walks pretty soon. Just slow sight seeing walks. With my 2 others I started incorporating slow jogs around 2 weeks pp. I'd only jog for a min and then walk for like 3 min. I've been a runner for awhile so even though everything is super slow (my jog is really no faster than walking speed) just psychologically it helps me to get out of the house and feel like I'm progressing, even if it's only for 10-20 min. I build up very slowly, adding an extra lil something each week. With both it took me about 8 months to really feel like I was back to pre pregnancy working out. But it took going week by week and honestly not each week was positive. Sometimes I'd hit a set back and say ok let's reel in the goals and take it easy for a week or two. </p> <p>The biggest challenge for me was limiting my time in a sports bra. Sometimes I'd get in a bad habit of doing other things when I got home and stay in it for too long, which would make clogs. Def drink lots of water and eat lots. I never drank whole milk before but whole milk, whole milk yogurt. Lots of avocados and bananas and coconut. Oatmeal works like a charm boosting my supply and I eat lots of oatmeal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635762 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:24:00 +0000 skinnycow 2635762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started working out when DD was 6 weeks with no issue - I just drink a lot of water and make sure I'm eating enough calories to maintain supply. I use myfitnesspal to determine the amount of calories needed to maintain my weight and then add an extra 500 calories on top of that for breastfeeding. I'm eating at least 2,500 calories a day which sounds like a lot but I've had no problem losing weight/getting toned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635756 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:13:21 +0000 madger 2635756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>with my first, I started running the day the doctor cleared me at 5 weeks and was able to nurse her until she was 20 months, and that included training for and running several races including a marathon. I was lucky to never have supply issues, BUT I did make sure I drank a TON of water, Nuun when I needed it (electrolytes), and lots and lots of healthy fats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635753 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:10:19 +0000 mfa_lady 2635753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Microscope: Oooh, great suggestions! Thank you!</p> <p>@avivoca: I am also definitely on the "eat healthier" train. That'll be a huge help for me this time around, I think--and hopefully if I can just plan better it'll be a little easier. I THOUGHT I was drinking a ton last time, but maybe trying even more will help, too. ETA: And also all the avocados! You suggested that to me on an old nursing post and I think they helped my pumping output more than anything else! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635739 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:59:50 +0000 avivoca 2635739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the same boat. I'd like to start exercising sooner. Last time, I had to make sure I kept my caloric intake up and drink TONS of water. I'm hoping to count macros this time and eat healthier in addition to running. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635732 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 13:49:59 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2635732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would check out both bikini body mommy and diary of a fit mommy, as both ladies have recommendations on keeping up supply while working out (and diastasis recti stuff, and other new mama work out stuff) also, drink tons of water! I had no supply issues after I started working out again at 6wks pp, so long as I kept my calories in check and drank tons of water (about 100oz per day, using a water app to remind me to drink).</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-exercise-and-nursing#post-2635629 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 12:00:40 +0000 mfa_lady 2635629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Didn't know if this would get better responses on the Diet/Fitness board or the Breastfeeding board, but, anyway...</p> <p>With DD1, I didn't start trying to exercise until she was probably 6+ months old. I was nursing and pumping on the weekdays and nursing on the weekends, and I always saw a huge dip in supply when I worked out (everything from an exercise video to hot yoga--I know, hot yoga is super dehydrating and maybe not the best choice). </p> <p>With DD2 (due later this month), I'd really like to do whatever I can to feel like I can BF AND work out in order to get "back to normal" a little sooner than I did with DD1. To be honest, I never really got to a happy place after she was born, because I kept not exercising due to the supply issues and then got pregnant with her sister before we weaned. </p> <p>So, please tell me your tips and success stories for nursing and working out! Did you eat certain foods? Did you start exercising really early, while your supply was still regulating? Did you do specific types of exercise that didn't seem to affect supply? Thanks in advance! </p>