Does exercise affect breastfeeding milk?

No. Exercise contributes to your overall health and is beneficial and appropriate for breastfeeding moms like you. Even vigorous exercise does not significantly affect the amount or composition of milk your body produces. And despite what you may have heard, it's unlikely that your baby will reject your milk even if you breastfeed shortly after exercising.You might have read about a widely publicized 1992 study that found mothers' milk is higher in lactic acid right after exercise and that babies find it less appealing. Researchers concluded that mothers should nurse their babies (or pump) before exercising and avoid nursing after exercise for up to 90 minutes. These findings are now considered questionable for a number of reasons. One is that the babies were fed milk with a medicine dropper. And even though the babies were not accustomed to drinking milk that way, the researchers didn't take this into consideration.As long as your baby seems content to nurse, there's absolutely no reason not to nurse right after you work out. For your own comfort, though, you might want to pump or feed your baby before high-impact activities such as running, and wear a bra that provides plenty of support. Some women wear a sports bra over a nursing bra for extra support. By Susan Toth