Expert: ruth kraft - 2/27/2009

Question
During my twin pregnancy I suffered from severe nausea and vomiting. I was pretty petite to begin with, just over five-foot and 100 pounds. I gained roughly 20 pounds and lost it all in the delivery room. My current weight is below my prepregnancy weight. I am hungry all the time, I feel like I'm always eating! I drink a 16oz water bottle after each feeding. I have been breastfeeding my twin girls exclusively for six months, and I would like to start running again. Getting my endurance back and tightening those "over-stretched" areas are my main goals for exercise. I am worried about my milk supply decreasing. Are there things that I need to do to keep my milk supply from decreasing? Oh, and I would also like to get pregnant in the next few months. I want to nurse until I can't nurse because of the pregnancy, not because of my exercise.

Answer
there are several questions here and I will do my best to make sure I answer them all :)

As far as exercising, and if it will effect your milk supply... no. but start out slow to build endurance. Make sure you eat all you want so that you get enough nutrition. nursing one baby needs 500 calories a day. nursing two doubles that. which would explain why you are hungry all the time. you seem to have plenty to spare so eat whatever you feel like it.  if you are getting enough nutrition and stay hydrated your milk supply will be fine.

and You can nurse as long as you want, even while pregnant. Many doctors say that you need to stop but its not true. the only reason you need to stop is if you have pre term labor issues. ( like your babies were born at 28 weeks or so because you went into labor early. now you are a little different as twins are suppose to come early. the body can handle only so much. therefore, the best way to gauge when you need to stop nursing is after 5 months pregnancy , you get oxytocin starting to flow in your system. and when this happen, if you nurse and start having contractions that don't seem to want to go away, it would be best to wean. however, make sure you are hydrated when testing that. as being dehydrated can make contractions come.

I hope that helped!
Ruth Kraft
www.honoringwomen.com