how long post-childbirth did you start running again?

[Anonymous]

I have a 4-week follow-up scheduled and will ask doctor then but I'm just wondering when other mothers started running again post (vaginal) childbirth with 2nd degree tear - not sure if that's relevant but seems like it could factor into readiness.

[Anonymous]

All of my pregnancies and (vaginal) deliveries were textbook and uneventful so recovery was quick and lochia subsided quickly too. Im a life long runner so I ran through my pregnancies and as soon as I was cleared at 6 weeks post partum I was ready. Up until then, I did a ton of walking to get myself moving.

The only tricky thing about post partum running is having full breasts. I had to either pump or nurse before hitting the trail. I doubled up on sports bras too bc there was a lot more to keep in place.

If you're a hard core runner with long aerobic runs and sprints, be mindful of the lactic buildup. Apparently, a lot of it can make your milk taste sour (temporary of course), but Fyi.

Curious how you have a 4 week post partum check up. The standard is 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of my pregnancies and (vaginal) deliveries were textbook and uneventful so recovery was quick and lochia subsided quickly too. Im a life long runner so I ran through my pregnancies and as soon as I was cleared at 6 weeks post partum I was ready. Up until then, I did a ton of walking to get myself moving.

The only tricky thing about post partum running is having full breasts. I had to either pump or nurse before hitting the trail. I doubled up on sports bras too bc there was a lot more to keep in place.

If you're a hard core runner with long aerobic runs and sprints, be mindful of the lactic buildup. Apparently, a lot of it can make your milk taste sour (temporary of course), but Fyi.

Curious how you have a 4 week post partum check up. The standard is 6 weeks.

I was a life-long runner but an injury kept me from running prior to my pregnancy with DC #1. I got back into running 1 year after my son was born and ran regularly for a solid year and then until 24 weeks with this pregnancy. i did elliptical for the second half of pregnancy until DD was born. I'm not hardcore, I was running about 4-5 miles 4/5 days a week b/c my prior injury keeps me from much longer runs. I remember nursing being a big obstacle for me with getting back into it last time around, so thanks for mentioning that. I can't wait a year this time around so I'm happy to hear you were able to get back to it at 6 weeks.

my practice does follow-up anytime btwn 4-6 weeks. I'm not sure why - I did 6 week follow-up last pregnancy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of my pregnancies and (vaginal) deliveries were textbook and uneventful so recovery was quick and lochia subsided quickly too. Im a life long runner so I ran through my pregnancies and as soon as I was cleared at 6 weeks post partum I was ready. Up until then, I did a ton of walking to get myself moving.

The only tricky thing about post partum running is having full breasts. I had to either pump or nurse before hitting the trail. I doubled up on sports bras too bc there was a lot more to keep in place.

If you're a hard core runner with long aerobic runs and sprints, be mindful of the lactic buildup. Apparently, a lot of it can make your milk taste sour (temporary of course), but Fyi.

Curious how you have a 4 week post partum check up. The standard is 6 weeks.

This is very similar to my experience. Ran until the third tri (then switched to walking), took almost daily walks through the neighborhood with DS around 1 week pp. Then started running again at 5 weeks pp (very slow and less than 2 miles). I was still a bit sore at that point but no longer bleeding. I just took it really easy those first few months. As PP said, the boob thing is tricky and requires more planning/timing than I'd anticipated. I couldn't just go for a quick run if I had 30 spare minutes while DS was napping!

[Anonymous]

14 years. And then one day I was late for my train and had no other choice.

[Anonymous]

I had an uneventful pregnancy and an uneventful labor/delivery with second degree tearing. I had run up until about 3 weeks before I gave birth. (though it was "running" in the way that a mini kit kat is "gourmet chocolate." I was very slow, ran about 2 miles at a time and had to pee every ten minutes.)

Started "running" again 4 weeks after giving birth. Doctor had cleared me to do whatever felt right. Before that I was walking on the treadmill a week after giving birth, just to try to get moving again and ward off boredom and winter blues. Pace was slow, but I was able to do about 3 miles at a time, and a couple months later I got back up to my usual 6 or 7.

Note: I was unable to breast-feed and my boobs are small, so that wasn't an issue for me.

[Anonymous]

3 weeks? I know I cheated, but I was walking a lot right away and it felt okay (biggest issue was timing the breastfeeding/pumping so my boobs fit into a sports bra).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 weeks? I know I cheated, but I was walking a lot right away and it felt okay (biggest issue was timing the breastfeeding/pumping so my boobs fit into a sports bra).

Did you take the baby out with you? Just wondering how soon you can get out and at least walk with a newborn.

[Anonymous]

6 months. I was lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 weeks? I know I cheated, but I was walking a lot right away and it felt okay (biggest issue was timing the breastfeeding/pumping so my boobs fit into a sports bra).

Did you take the baby out with you? Just wondering how soon you can get out and at least walk with a newborn.

Not this pp (I'm actually the OP) but I walked from week one with my May baby. My second child was just born a week ago and I'm not walking with her bc of the cold weather. Not sure when we'll be able to get out. Rough timing for a newborn.

[Anonymous]

I waited too long after #1, and never felt myself. I started 3-4 weeks after #2 (c-section), with doctor's blessing to do what felt OK. I started with a couple very slow miles at a time, and ran a half marathon the day #2 was four months old. I did breastfeed and running didn't affect that at all. I was *huge* while nursing, and just sized up a couple band sizes in the Moving Comfort Fiona bra. Worked great.

to PP's question: I didn't bring the babies on runs until around 8 mos., but you can get out and walk with your baby the day you get home from the hospital. Bundle bundle bundle if it's cold, wear the baby inside your coat if it makes you feel more confident, but get out if you want to! Helped so much with my post-partum blues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I waited too long after #1, and never felt myself. I started 3-4 weeks after #2 (c-section), with doctor's blessing to do what felt OK. I started with a couple very slow miles at a time, and ran a half marathon the day #2 was four months old. I did breastfeed and running didn't affect that at all. I was *huge* while nursing, and just sized up a couple band sizes in the Moving Comfort Fiona bra. Worked great.

to PP's question: I didn't bring the babies on runs until around 8 mos., but you can get out and walk with your baby the day you get home from the hospital. Bundle bundle bundle if it's cold, wear the baby inside your coat if it makes you feel more confident, but get out if you want to! Helped so much with my post-partum blues.

OP here. This is awesome. I hope to be running by 4 weeks once I get cleared by doc. Love the Fiona bra, too, and glad to hear it worked for you bc My nursing boobs are enormous. I think I Will have to nurse or pump right before run.

[Anonymous]

I waited until I got the 6-week "okay" from the doc before resuming after a C-section. I started super easy with short, easy jogging intervals.

Side note: I skipped buying expensive sports bras and just doubled up my usual sports bras. So glad I saved the money.

Another note: I found that I needed to super hydrate on running days, even though I didn't feel like I sweated much. My baby was a lot fussier than usual after I ran and I think that running somewhat negatively affected my supply. Once I started drinking double what I would ordinarily it helped.

Good luck!