Former pregnants (esp runners)

[ebeth]

Tell me about your return to activity post partum. When did you resume? How long did it take you to get back to new normal activity wise? Did you breastfeed? If you run when was your first race post partum? First marathon?

I'm still running a couple times per week (slowly, with walk:jog intervals) but I think I'm quickly approaching the time I need to stop even doing that. But then I'm looking at like 3-4 MONTHS of no running. I've never taken that much time off before. And I'm worried I'm never going to be able to run again.

I know this is irrational and many of you have done this before, so I need you to tell me it will be OK. I'm just feeling sad that I'm missing fall marathon training this year and getting down on myself.

[hannahb]

I was cleared to start running again at 6 weeks. Before that I would walk with the baby in the ergo. I think I went up to maybe 3 miles with him. I was cleared to run at 6 weeks. I started slow and easy. Gradually added in some speed work. Ran a half 6 months after DS was born.
I breastfeed as long as I could (which wasn't very long) but I didn't notice that running affected my supply at all. My issues and DS issues were firmly in place before 6 weeks. I will say that I was sooo stinking hungry while breastfeeding.
Don't worry if you need to take the next 3 months off. It will come back! Walk, swim, do the elliptical. That will help maintain some fitness.

[lucky3]

I also liked the stair climber when I was too big to run but wanted cardio

[kams]

You'll be just fine to stop now and return whenever. I stopped running at ~20 weeks, but did hot yoga until 35 wks .

I am not getting out there much, but not because of fitness. My Hs schedule is really weird, and so it's just been logistically really challenging for me. And, he can't seem to get the baby down for a nap, so that makes it a challenge for me to get anything done . *not trying to rag on him, because he is amazing in every other way, but gosh dang it, sort it out H!!*

When I do get out there, I feel pretty good. No challenges with breastfeeding. With dd1, I didn't run a marathon until she was almost 2, but it was my first (I didn't start running until she was 1). I bf'd until 16 months and noticed no problems with supply.

I don't personally have supply issues, but I DO notice that I get really lightheaded and weak as a result of too few calories. I'm trying to find my sweet spot for weight loss, which is challenging since my exercise isn't super consistent yet.

[Deleted]

I've had no supply issues going back to working out, but I've stuck to cycling and crossfit. Running is a huge mental block for me, so I'm avoiding it

[mrshandy]

I'm only going to talk about DD since I was not really running much before DS.

I took my first run 4 weeks or so after DD was born. I had an easy vaginal delivery with minimal tearing so the MWs said that I could start running when I felt up to it and when I stopped bleeding (not very fun to run in pads). It was SLOW (like 3 minutes more than my typical pace), and only 3 miles, but I was able to run the whole way. I had stopped running probably around 27-30 weeks since it sucked and it was hot. Plus we were really busy after moving. So I hadn't really done much fitness wise all summer (other than chasing a 3-year old). I did yoga once a week.

First real race was a 5K 3 1/2 months after she was born, but I was just going for fun. Even though I did push myself.

I started training for a half when she was 5 months.

I was nursing the whole time. I would usually run after she went to bed (around 7). Weekend or weekday mornings I would pump before my runs. I set up my pump on the dining room table and eat breakfast and pump at the same time.

You will get it back and you will not be at square one. Losing the baby weight really helped me pick up my pace and get it back. The more I ran, the more i lost, the faster I ran and the more I added mileage.

First marathon came when she was 15 months. I was finally able to stop pumping for morning runs at like 14 months (that was great). We're still nursing mornings and evenings.

[skwcm80]

You will be fine.

I had no fitness base whatsoever when I started running after DS was born. I got the all clear at 6 weeks PP, ran my first race ever at 5 months pp, and my first marathon when he was 2.5. I nursed DS until he was 2, and had no supply issues to speak of.

Please don't get down on yourself, I have no doubt that you will bounce back.

[jeaniebueller]

i was running 15-25 miles per week prior to getting pregnant with DD. I stopped all together once I became pregnant because of being high risk and some other factors. I did my first pp run 4 weeks postpartum (after a C section). I didn't really start running consistently until 4 months pp and even then, I didn't start feeling like myself fitness-wise until more like 6 months pp. I did my first race (5K) at 5 months pp, a 10 K at 10 months pp and a half marathon at 12 months pp. Even now, my pace is about 2 minutes slow than it was pre pregnancy and I need to work on it.

Getting back to where you were is a process.

[runblondie26]

Another "you'll be fine" ebeth. I'm impressed with how long you managed to keep running. Races and double digit mileage, at that!

I started low impact stuff around 6 weeks, then running at 8 weeks after my 1st c/s. It was hard at first, really hard, but I was setting new PRs by DD's first birthday. I exercised moderately (walking, elliptical, etc.) late 1st tri and throughout 2nd tri of that pregnancy.

This past pregnancy, my mom was in town and we ran/walked a 5k while I pushed the double jogging stroller at 3.5 weeks post c/s. I finished 3rd overall at a local 5k at 7 weeks post c/s. I stayed very active and worked out at least 5x a week that entire pregnancy, including hour long spin classes up until the very end. Boston at 5.5 months PP.

Yeah, that's totally not happening this time around. It's pretty disheartening to think about how much better shape I was in last time. My recovery will probably be similar to my first pregancy this time. (I hope. Juggling 3 kids will be interesting.)

But you know what? It comes back. Try not to stress. You know how to train and love the feeling you get from it. It'll be a little hard as you feel out a new schedule, but you'll figure out a way to make it work. Like many women here, all my running PRs were set after I became a mommy. I bet you'll experience that phenomenon too.

[tacosforlife]

Nothing to add, except:

1) I love the use of the term "pregnants," and
2) You're going to be fine

[chw57]

When did you resume? 3 weeks, with both kids

How long did it take you to get back to new normal activity wise? 3ish months?

Did you breastfeed? Yes

If you run when was your first race post partum? I ran a 5K about 5 weeks postpartum the first time, still haven't raced yet after kid 2

 First marathon?
7 months postpartum



The first few weeks back will totally suck, but you adjust, and you may end up faster! I wrote this post when DD was 5 months old. cateskitchen.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/running-after-baby-im-faster-now/

[Wines Not Whines]

I'll echo everyone else and say you'll be fine. My son was born in early August. I ran during pregnancy, but I slowed down/cut back big time, and I think I stopped altogether in late June. I switched to walking for the last few weeks. I started "running" again around 4 weeks pp, but runs were slow and short (I started with 3 miles). I managed to run the Army 10-miler that year, which was about 2.5 months after my son was born, but I was slow. My only goal was to finish it. I was still on maternity leave at that point, which made it easier to fit in some short runs during the week.

Fitting in exercise got much harder when I went back to work. I had a whole new routine/schedule, plus I was was pumping 3 times a day, so I really had no free time. I tried to run 3 miles 3 days a week, plus a longer run on weekends (longer meant 6-8 miles). That was all I did until my son was a year old. Then I stopped pumping at work, so I suddenly had a free hour where I could go out for a run or go to the gym on my lunch break. I felt like I really got back back into the swing of things when he was around 18 months old. My first marathon was 2 years after he was born.

[G22]

I'm kind of glad you asked this ebeth! Since I'm not running at all during pregnancy, it helps to see what realistic goals are in terms of slowly easing back into it. I slightly dread my first run post pregnancy, but at the same time I can't wait for it too. We'll get back to being awesome in no time, I'm sure

[jene]

I was able to run regularly through the first half of my pregnancy, and then tapered off once I hit the 30-32 week range. I switched to trainer rides for the last few weeks. I did great with running during the second half of my maternity leave. DS was born in April, so by the time I was cleared to run at 6 weeks, the weather was perfect for it.

Once I went back to work, I struggled to find balance, but was still able to get out 2-3 times week and run 2-3 miles. My running dropped off around the same time that DS's sleep went to shit, and I got a new job. Right around the time he turned one his sleep got better, and I was able to get out on a more consistent basis. He's 14 months now, and I am usually able to get out 4-5 times per week and am planning on doing a half this fall. I am pretty sure it will be a monster PR, and it seems that I can recover much quicker than I did before from my runs.

I promise, it will come back, sometimes not as fast as you would like it to, but it will come back!

[arch01]

I ran until 39w2d, went into labor at 39w3d and had DS at 39w4d. Some of my best pregnant runs were at 37-38 weeks.

3w PP was my first run. My OB told me I could return to running when I felt up to it. I had had a particularly hard night with DS and came downstairs after putting him down for a nap, dressed in my running clothes, and announced to my mom and DH that I'd be back. DH knew better than to stop me LOL

I did BF-or at least attempted to. I battled a low supply and eventually EP'ed til 11m.

I was back to normal by 8w. Not necessarily pace-wise, but schedule-wise I had it set up and transitioned back to it at the same time I went back to work (c/s).

My first 5k was when DS was 14 weeks old. I pushed the stroller. It wasn't stellar, but it was decent. My first half was at 9m PP. I have never run a full

You'll be OK. Listen to your body. 

[cinco]

My answers vary a little b/w pregnancies. I was on bed rest with my first so I stopped exercise (or being vertical at all) completely at 27w. I resumed exercise at 6w pp. My second pregnancy was the same, except I was on a modified bed rest. My third I was able to exercise the whole time, and resumed once the pp bleeding stopped at 3.5 w or so. I started with 2-3 miles and was into double digits by a few months. My first post partum marathon with #2 was 18m, #3 was 10m. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself to chill and not stress about getting my speed back, but I am no worse for it. Running helped me feel like myself and with the baby blues.

You will most likely be fine with breast feeding and exercise. I have run more than half of my marathons while breastfeeding. I had to eat and drink more to keep my supply up when running longer distances. Eating more has never been a problem for me though. I had huge time improvements when I stopped breastfeeding, but my younger two also didn't consistently STTN until then.

[arch01]

Jun 30, 2015 12:55:43 GMT -5 cinco said:

My answers vary a little b/w pregnancies. I was on bed rest with my first so I stopped exercise (or being vertical at all) completely at 27w. I resumed exercise at 6w pp. My second pregnancy was the same, except I was on a modified bed rest. My third I was able to exercise the whole time, and resumed once the pp bleeding stopped at 3.5 w or so. I started with 2-3 miles and was into double digits by a few months. My first post partum marathon with #2 was 18m, #3 was 10m. If I could go back in time I'd tell myself to chill and not stress about getting my speed back, but I am no worse for it. Running helped me feel like myself and with the baby blues.

You will most likely be fine with breast feeding and exercise. I have run more than half of my marathons while breastfeeding. I had to eat and drink more to keep my supply up when running longer distances. Eating more has never been a problem for me though. I had huge time improvements when I stopped breastfeeding, but my younger two also didn't consistently STTN until then.

So much this. Running has always been my "escape" (at least since I started running 7 years ago)...and even moreso after DS. Those first runs were a savior mentally for me.

[osulori]

I stopped running around 32 weeks and started just walking and going to the odd spin class after that. I started again at 4 weeks pp (the OB I saw in the hospital after I had AJ said I could start back up then as long as I wasn't bleeding anymore). It was slow going there for a while, but I feel like I was back up to what I considered "normal" (5-6 miles at 10 min/mile pace) around when I went back to work at 12 weeks pp. I did a few races that fall/winter but didn't run a half until the following spring (AJ was born in July) and was a pacer for that so I wasn't running hard. I didn't race anything until last fall, so AJ was almost 15 months (half marathon).

I did breastfeed, and found that I was a lot more comfortable while I ran if I nursed AJ or pumped right before I left the house. Supply wasn't a huge issue as long as I ate and drank enough to make up for the calories I burned while running. Being able to run after I gave birth definitely wasn't for weight loss, more for my overall mental health and feeling like myself again.

You WILL be able to run again, I swear