If I nurse my 1 year old, can I still go swimming??

Question

My baby is older now and doesn't require as much milk from me as he once did, is it safe to go swimming? I didn't want to risk breast infection, that's why I didn't go last summer when he was a newborn.

COLD WATER is what can cause breast infection when breast feeding. i don't think most people know this. And No, I don't need to completely wean him. He just turned 1 year. He doesnt get that much anymore, so many of you just dont know what you're talking about.

If anyone bothers to come back to read this, I was told by a nurse-midwife that it was NOT good for mother's who breastfeed to be in cold water. This causes breast inflammation. Some asked, so that's why I'm adding on to this. anyway..thanks to everyone who answered. I will decide when it's time to stop. thankyou.

Answer 1

Cold water won't cause a breast infection. Cold will (temporarily) reduce milk production, so, no, it doesn't cause breast infections. In fact, it is often recommended to women with engorgement to avoid developing mastitis (see first 2 URLs in sources section below). Cold *while* nursing could stop the milk from flowing and possibly result in a breast infection, but even that wouldn't hurt if no more often than once a day.

Yes, swimming is fine (see last reference below). Occasionally, a baby may object to the smell/taste of chlorine if you are swimming in a pool, but otherwise, it's not a problem at all. I went swimming twice a week in a cold-water pool starting when my baby was just a few weeks old, including occasionally jumping out of the pool and nursing immediately..

P.S. A midwife is *not* a breastfeeding expert. She also happens to be human. She was wrong. Read the information from La Leche League below; they are the experts on breastfeeding. Cold (water or otherwise) can be used to *prevent* and *treat* breast infections.

Answer 2

You can go swimming any time you want to. You would have been fine to go swimming last year. There is nothing about swimming that could give you a breast infection.

Since chlorine is very drying to the skin, take a shower following your swim. If you find your nipples are becoming dry and irritated from the chlorine, you could apply a coat of purified lanolin (such as Lansinoh) to your nipples following your baby's feeds.

UGH....here come the "weaning police" again!

megalus03 - She DID NOT ask for advice about weaning...she asked if she could go swimming! And the AAP recommends 12 months as the MINIMUM amount of time a baby should nurse!

sidd - There is no reason for her to wear breast pads. They also don't stop you from leaking...they just soak up anything that does come out. It's not common for a woman who has been nursing for a whole year to still be leaking anyway.

EDITED TO ADD:
Who told you that cold water will cause a breast infection? That's NOT true. I've been nursing for 7.5 (combined between 3 kids) and I've been counseling breastfeeding mothers for 4.5 years. It's not true that cold water will cause a breast infection. I have never ever seen that in any breastfeeding literature. Breast infections (mastitis) typically come because mom isn't taking good care of herself.....she's run down, not eating right, not nursing as often as she should and gets plugged ducts, new bra is too constricting which leads to plugged ducts which leads to mastitis, etc. Cold water has NOTHING to do with it.

REALMOMOF4 - ACTUALLY, the WHO recommends *2 years* as the minimum and the AAP recommends 12 mos as the minimum.

BEERBOHMS - Honestly, it's none of her ped's business if she continues to nurse or not. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the organization he should be a member of, recommends one year as the MINIMUM amount of time a child should nurse. And if the baby is getting breastmilk and other calcium sources, there is no reason for dairy milk to be introduced yet.

Answer 3

You can go swimming anytime you want. Cold water does not cause a breast infection, I'm not sure where you got that idea. I am a postpartum RN, mom of three breastfed kids and a lactation educator/counselor so I am pretty sure of my info.

There are several kinds of "breast infections" you might be talking about, one is mastitis, a clogged infected milk duct, highly unlikely you would get that at this stage when the baby is a year old. Another is thrush, which is a yeast infection which you can get the same way you get vaginal yeast infections - an overgrowth of yeast due to an imbalance in the system - antibiotics, fever, exhaustion, pH imbalance, etc.

Good for you for breastfeeding so long. Keep it up as long as you both want to, it's good for both of you.

Answer 4

Swim mama! And keep on breast feeding. You could have very well went swimming last summer. The chlorine will kill any bacteria that could give you an infection. The only possible problem would be the baby may not like the smell or taste of your breast after swimming so you may have to clean up first.

Breast is best!

Answer 5

i've never heard of cold water being a cause of breast infections. in fact, cold water is recommended to help relieve the pain of a breast infection. These infections are caused by common bacteria. i swam a lot when i was lactating -- with no problems at all. contact La Leche League for professional advice though.

Ignore those who tell you to wean your child. The World Health Organization recommends 1 yr as the MINIMUM time to nurse. 2 to 3 years is optimum. Mother Nature didn't design babies to drink cow milk. Human breast milk has the right proteins for optimum human brain development.

Answer 6

I actually swim and I'm nursing my 8 mo old. I didn't know cold water can cause breast infection?? Shoot I should look into that. We go swimming about 3x per week. The water is not freezing but it's not warm either. He is only breastfed with no solids so now I don't know if I should swim anymore :(

Ok i just read the other answer..i feel better now :)

Answer 7

Hello, and first off, GOOD for you for nursing your toddler! Nursing a toddler is one the most beneficial things you can do as a mom (but of course, you already know that!)

Now, about swimming. I've nursed all three of mine, without limiting swimming. I've not heard that cold water can contribute to infection, and in my case, there's been no problems associated with swimming. I do prefer to shower after I swim, before I nurse a baby, because I just don't like the idea of nursing after I've been dipped in chlorine; but even that isn't necessary.

So I say, jump in! Summer is too short not to enjoy.

Answer 8

I never heard that cold water causes infection. Have you tried breast shields? I found some called "lily padz" they kinda form a seal around your nipple to keep them from getting wet they are made just for swimming and are very comfortable they also work well when going braless. Hope this helps!

Answer 9

I was told it was okay to swim while I was nursing. I swam after all three of my girls were born and while I was nursing them. I never had a breast infection and I swam in competition pools. I don't see why you would need to stop nursing at this time. You are right that it is your choice as to when you stop nursing him. Talk with your doctor, since it was my doctor's who told me I could continue swimming while I was nursing. Good Luck.

Answer 10

I'm currently breastfeeding my 9 month old and I also breastfed my daughter. I go swimming and have not had any problems with breast infections.

You breastfeed as long as you and the baby want to. It's good for your child and your personal decision.