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Exercising when breastfeeding

  

Date Posted: 2/11/2012 6:08:07 AM

Posted By: maxwellgoko  Membership Level: Bronze  Total Points: 45


It is very safe to exercise when breastfeeding. There has been a misconception that exercising when breastfeeding usually reduces the volume of milk that a mother produces. Actually, studies have shown that exercising slightly increases the volume of milk produced.

However, various precautions should be taken into consideration when a breastfeeding mother is exercising. She should drink a lot of water. Drinking plenty of water ensures that water lost through sweating is replaced.

Breastfeeding and exercise should also be accompanied by a balanced diet. Many breast feeding mothers exercise in order to limit the level of calories in their bodies. It is however recommendable to take 1800 calories per day. While limiting the amount of calories, a balanced diet should contain nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B6.

The benefits of exercising when breastfeeding is that a slightly higher volume of milk is produced. This means plenty of milk for the baby. Breast milk contains a lot of nutrients necessary for the baby's growth.

Exercising when breastfeeding helps in the control of the mother's weight. Control of weight in this case means prevention of excessive weight gain or the maintenance of weight loss. Exercise not only prevents excessive weight gain, but also maintains the mother's body shape.

Exercising when breastfeeding is of benefit in that it helps to prevent diseases. Many diseases are brought about due to weight gain. These diseases may hinder proper breastfeeding by the mother.
Exercising when breastfeeding also improves the mother's mood. This ensures that the mother is relieved from stress or any other issues bothering her. Studies have shown that when the mother is happy, the quantity of milk produced will be higher compared to when her mood is low.

Boosting the mother's energy is another benefit of exercising when breastfeeding. This ensures that the mother remains active all day

hence improving her mood. This in turn translates to higher milk production.

In conclusion, it is notable that exercising when breastfeeding is safe and has numerous benefits if the precautions are taken into consideration.



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