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Running after having a baby

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bmfrazie
bmfrazie Posts: 2,391 Member
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I know lots of people jump right back into running after giving birth. However, my question is out there for those ladies that do long distance after birth. How much of an issue is it to do Long distance running (13+ miles) while being a nursing mother?

I plan on keeping my running up the entire pregnancy and keeping my min. distance at a 5k. However, I want to be back up to 9 miles by 1 month post delivery and 1/2 marathon by about 2.5 months. Will that be viable to accomblish when I am a nursing mom?

----I do intend to talk about this with my doctor. I was just curious if other long distance ladies have tackled this issue before and what your thoughts are.

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  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
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    I think to be up to 9miles by 1month is too soon, i would keep to gentler shorter runs for the sake of your pelvic floor so soon PP, and also not to stress your milk supply x
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
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    I think to be up to 9miles by 1month is too soon, i would keep to gentler shorter runs for the sake of your pelvic floor so soon PP, and also not to stress your milk supply x

    I agree with this. I didn't really start running again (I wasn't a long distance runner before kids, but I ran) until I was 6 weeks PP. Giving birth takes a lot out of you and your body needs time to heal. If you do too much too soon you can start bleeding heavy and that can be serious. I would do some walking when you feel comfortable to do so (I felt like I could go for walks about a week PP) and ease into running again. And I definitely agree you don't want stress your milk supply. Just listen to your body and don't do too much too soon.
  • millionsofpeaches
    millionsofpeaches Posts: 372
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    Does your OB's office have a lactation specialist? The hospital definitely will... This may be a good question for them.
  • biobreak
    biobreak Posts: 33 Member
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    There are so many variables that it's really hard to say what will work. The general guideline that most doctors give is 6-8 weeks before running, though of course you can walk before that. I had an unplanned c-section and it took longer for me to get back out there than I had hoped.

    But yes, you can run while breastfeeding! One thing that helped me was to nurse just before heading out for a run so that he was topped off and happy while I was gone. I think I got up to 10 miles or so while breastfeeding for his first year, so it's possible!
  • katapple
    katapple Posts: 1,108 Member
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    My friend just ran a half marathon this weekend, her baby is 2.5 months old, and she is breastfeeding. While it wasn't her best time, obviously, she was so proud that she got back out there so soon! We are going to work on her speed over the winter so we can break the 2:30 mark on her next half in March :)

    Obviously, it depends on the person, every pregnancy and birth is different. How active have you been during the pregnancy?

    Most doctors will tell you no exercise for the first 6 weeks so don't be disappointed if that's the case for you. And don't expect to be anywhere NEAR what you were before pregnancy!
  • M_lifts
    M_lifts Posts: 2,224 Member
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    i would say take it easy, you dont want to get any stress fractures so soon.
  • girlontherun5
    girlontherun5 Posts: 59 Member
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    I was a long distance runner before having my last baby, I ran through the whole pregancy, I ran on a Sunday and she was born the following Tuesday...although by the end I wasn't moving to far or too quickly :) But it helped keep me feeling good and my doctor had no issues with it.
    I started running again when she was 12 days old, but her birth was the least stressful on my body even though she was my biggest baby at 9lb 13oz. I didn't have any stiches and I was feeling good. I took it easy and slow and progressed based on how I felt. I ran a 1/2 marathon when she was 4 months old and a full marathon when she was just under 6 months. However, that being said, I started having some hip issues which turned into IT band issues (from overcompensating for the sore hip). Which put me out of commission for a few months after the marathon.
    In hind sight it was too much too soon for me and I likely didn't give my body enough time to heal. Ligaments loosen up during pregnancy and this might have caused some of my problems too. I would say take it slow and easy and don't focus on anything really long distance until you know everything is good....you don't want to be where I was on the sideline for a few months....
    As far as the nursing, I just had to get my timing right :) But I did notice that after the long runs she didn't always seem to like the milk, maybe the taste changed somehow?

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