Should you dive while still breastfeeding?

[Kim]

My wife has just finished breastfeeding our youngest and recommenced diving. We have always been told that you shouldn't dive while still breastfeeding. In another thread someone (who I believe is quite experienced!) expressed some surprise and said that he'd never heard of this.
I would be interested to hear from one of the forum doctors if this is real - or just an 'old wives tale'. I am currently under the impression that it's bad for two main reasons (but I stand to be corrected!)
1. The pressure can affect the milk supply and cause production to stop.
2. There is an increased risk of nipple infections.

Please could someone clarify (or debunk) this information?

 

[jbd]

Kim,
Do a search on this site. This was discussed a year or so ago. I believe that the indication was that there was no real reason not to scuba dive while breastfeeding.

 

[Scuba-Bill]

My wife has just finished breastfeeding our youngest and recommenced diving. We have always been told that you shouldn't dive while still breastfeeding. In another thread someone (who I believe is quite experienced!) expressed some surprise and said that he'd never heard of this.
I would be interested to hear from one of the forum doctors if this is real - or just an 'old wives tale'. I am currently under the impression that it's bad for two main reasons (but I stand to be corrected!)
1. The pressure can affect the milk supply and cause production to stop.
2. There is an increased risk of nipple infections.

Please could someone clarify (or debunk) this information?

Hope one of these links helps.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=105
http://www.scuba-doc.com/womdiv.html#Breast_Feeding
http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_asklc_ans160.html
http://www.cyh.com/cyh/questions/questions_detail.stm?qa_id=22
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=scuba+diving+breast+feeding&fr=my_top

 

[CBulla]

Nice set of links Scuba-Bill! Like the icon to

 

[Kim]

My wife was already susceptable to 'plugged ducts' so reading through the above links I guess she was probably correct to do so. The 'marine pathogens' one was new to me - but makes sense. Having had several nights with sudden high temperatures and sometimes diarrhea I guess cutting down the chances is also no bad thing. I'm happy to see one thing debunked - there's no mention of adverse affects of pressure on supply. All in all it seems to be a matter of choice - probably OK - but with some risks. I know that in Japan the doctors and nurses don't like it at all. They do tend to err on the side of caution here though - it might have something to do with one of the highest life expectancies in the world!! (The last time I looked the average life expectancy was 83 years old).

 

[jbd]

Certainly with her tendnecy towards some problems she made the right choice. The good thing is all diving that lays ahead you both. Enjoy!!!

 

[Kim]

Certainly with her tendnecy towards some problems she made the right choice. The good thing is all diving that lays ahead you both. Enjoy!!!

Thank you! We surely will - (and hopefully with the kids when they get older!)