Hi Paula,
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation regarding exercise and nursing out there. I feel that this is a disservice to women who want to exercise for themselves, but are torn because there is information out there that says that if you exercise more than lightly your breastmilk will be affected by lactic acid. The following is an excerpt from my "Healthy Moms Perinatal Fitness Instructor Training Manual" and it is based on the latest controlled and peer reviewed research.
Lactic Acid, Exercise and Breastmilk
Studies now show that regular, sustained and vigorous aerobic exercise at moderate to high intensity does not alter the quality or quantity of breastmilk. Unless exercise intensity is very high (above the anaerobic threshold), there is little change in lactate levels in either maternal blood or breastmilk.
In other words, you would have to do some major anaerobic work (ex. sprinting until gasping) in order for the lactic acid level in your body to reach levels that would affect your baby's acceptance of your post-exercise breastmilk.
Here is one example that comes to mind that might put your mind a little more at ease abput doing your higher intensity Cathe tape:
In the spring, summer and early fall, we teach a stroller fitness class that is very high intensity, involving running, skipping, hopping, jumping jacks, "running through the tires," etc. The class is basically an interval training formatted class. Since it is so high intensity, pregnant students are not even allowed to attend. Immediately after each class, we always have moms that stay and nurse their babies right there. I don't mean a couple, I mean at least 75% of the moms who attend! (I think we have such a high breastfeeding rate with the moms in our classes because we start pushing the benefits of nursing from the time women join our class when they are pregnant).
Try wiping your breast off after you exercise before you start to nurse Hope. Maybe she doesn't like the taste of sweat!
Hope this helps alleviate some of your fears. Keep us posted.
Sheila Watkins
What I have read suggests that you nurse right before you exercise, and then by the time she wants to nurse again, most or all of the funky taste from the lactic acid in your system will be gone. I've never heard that it causes colic or increased fussiness though. If it's beyond a general grumpiness that's associated with a change in the taste of the milk, maybe it's that Mommy-guilt we all know so well, whispering that this time you're taking for yourself somehow is neglecting your baby. If THAT'S the case, just ignore it.