Running and BFing moms

[Susie]

Yesterday I got out for a 3 mi run/walk, and it reminded me how much I miss running, and miss feeling fit (and, let's be real, my pre-baby, or even pre-2nd-baby weight).  I really want to figure out how to fit it back into my schedule.  Unfortunately I have a lot of scheduling limitations:  I work full time as an attorney, have two kids in daycare (ages 3 months and 3 years), carpool to work with my H (which makes working out on the way to work or way home hard), don't have a shower at work (or a gym branch near work) for lunch time, and am EBFing the 3 month old.  Oy.

In between kids, I transitioned from being a "right after work" runner to early morning.  Like I see posted here a lot, it's basically the only time I can guarantee it'll happen between kid needs, client needs, and life generally.  DS is starting to STTN (last night made 3 nights in a row!!) so I feel like I am getting to the point where I could at least have a contingency plan:  as in, going to bed with the plan that if I STTN, I'll get up to run, and if I have to get up MOTN, I adjust the alarm time to snooze later.  I'm not trying to PR or finish a marathon here, I just need to DO IT a few times a week.  Start somewhere, you know?

So anyway, this all sounds great except that if I STTN, when I wake up my boobs are super full, and I can't figure out how to manage the bounce to run without pain.  Pumping before running would add a whole 20+ minute precursor that I'm not interested in, plus I hate pumping and don't want to pump in lieu of morning nursing.  I also don't want to wake up DS to nurse before my workout because that would probably be self-defeating.  

My current running bra is a Moving Comfort C/D style that I got when I was BFing DD.  There may be something more industrial-strength out there, plus larger cup size.  I'm guessing I'm at least a D, maybe DD cup first thing in the morning, although I haven't done that specific measurement (logistics on this are so annoying).  

Is this something a better bra could solve?  Or am I doomed to keep trying to fit running in elsewhere in my life (or ride my bike on the trainer in the AM to cut bounce) for now?

[arch01]

Do you have to pump at all now? What about pumping for a few minutes, building a stash, run, then BF DS? I had supply issues, but I'd get up and pump (hands free bra so I'd walk around and do other stuff), run, then go about my day.

[Susie]

Sept 9, 2019 14:38:35 GMT -5 arch01 said:

Do you have to pump at all now? What about pumping for a few minutes, building a stash, run, then BF DS? I had supply issues, but I'd get up and pump (hands free bra so I'd walk around and do other stuff), run, then go about my day.

You mean before work in the AM?  No.  I pump 2x/day at work, plus a 3rd time at my bedtime.  Sometimes he gets up around 2-5am, other times he STTN, but either way I nurse in the AM before work and don't pump until I'm at work.  On the weekend I only pump a max of once/day (at my bedtime).  I'm really trying to avoid adding a pump session in the morning.  I really hate doing it, plus I have 200-300 oz. stashed and add more every week, and don't want to do anything that will increase production further.  I dealt with oversupply with DD, and am trying not to do that again.  I felt like it really (unnecessarily) stripped my body of resources.

[arch01]

Susie, that makes total sense. I'm sorry, I'm no help!!

[keweenawlove]

Is it an option at all to drive seperate from your H 1 or 2 days a week? It might be worth if for the mental boost even if it doesn't make 100% sense logistically.

[brooke77]

My schedule was similar to yours. I usually ran 3 times a week (Sat/Sun/1 week night).

In my experience, you will have to either nurse or pump before you run. Running with full boobs is the actual worst. Super painful and I think can lead to infections. Don’t do it. I would nurse DS, then pump (he only nursed one side) and then run. I’d leave DH with the pumped milk for when I was gone. Come home and immediately shower or at least wipe off and get out of my sports bra. It was time consuming, which is why I only ran on weekends and one week night.

Your DS is still so young. When he’s older, you can probably skip the pumping/nursing, but not now. You don’t want to end up with a clogged duct or infection.

[gigem]

I’m not sure my situation is similar enough but I can story tell. ds2 is 13mo and I still nurse although I have recently stopped pumping. My only time to workout is in the morning before work, dh does drop-offs so I wake up early and try to leave early. Ds2 still nurses a bit at night but if he hasn’t then sometimes I do get him for a quick sleepy nursing session, also this helps him sleep in later, giving more time for dh to prep the older kids. This happens at about 515 max so that I can be running by 530. I do like 5’ per side just to be a bit less full. Obvs now my body is adapting to no longer pumping 2x/day so things are a bit off.

For you, I wonder if with the sttn maybe in a few wks you won’t be waking up full because you’ll start adapting to not “needing” milk during the night?

Otherwise I think for bras and I am sure you know this but running shops always seem to have better/different stuff than I find online maybe you can find a really sturdy bra in store? Or hand pump off just a little bit for a few mins on each side?

ETA is it matters, I’ve been back running since he was 6mo but only in the morning since he was 8mo so he was older than your ds. I run 3x a week which is 2wk days and one extra long run on a wknd days.

Eta2: when ds2 was the age of your ds I rode my spin bike in the morning due to unpredictable wake up/not wanting to leave milk or did weights at home for the same reason. Not that you shouldnt try to go run but I get that at that young of an age things are much more complicated than maybe 9+ months.

[Susie]

Sept 10, 2019 8:24:18 GMT -5 keweenawlove said:

Is it an option at all to drive seperate from your H 1 or 2 days a week? It might be worth if for the mental boost even if it doesn't make 100% sense logistically.

H and I have been trying to figure out how this could work.

There is a city bus that goes from a park & ride that's 2 mi. from my house, to basically across the street from my office (which is walking distance to daycare and H's work too).  The bus comes at :21 and :51 after the hour outbound from downtown in the PM, and I think similar timing inbound in the AM.  There's also paid street parking, but we'd have to feed meters.  

We used to use the bus + dropping a car at the PNR in the spring when I was taking prenatal yoga after work.  We'd drive in together, drop a car at the PNR in the morning, and in the PM I'd drive to class and he'd take DD on the bus back to the car at the PNR.  DD loves the bus, so it'd be a neat fun thing for her.  But I feel like it is a really big ask to have H take both 3 yo DD and 3 mo old DS in his bucket seat/stroller on the bus.  

We could do the same morning routine, except I could take the 4:51 or 5:21 bus home, and he could use the car to take the kids home.  I'd beat him him by a little, and could run from home and be back in time to help with the evening routine.  That works, except that I'm already stretched so thin to finish work at the office, leaving early is hard.  But 1-2 days/week should be doable.  

I also thought about, just starting running from downtown toward home (there is a trail) and having H meet me somewhere since I'm nowhere near ready to run the whole 9 miles home.  But I need a way to bring my pumped milk home cold, among other things.  Plus the "toward home" direction is uphill and I am not yet in that kind of shape!

So ultimately yes, there are options -- they just require creativity!  Morning is simpler.  But I am afraid brooke77 is right that 3 months is too early to try for those if I am not willing to pump.  I was just hoping someone had a magic solution!

Last night I ordered myself some new crops for running from Old Navy.  My pre-baby stuff does not fit/make me feel good, and running is supposed to be for me.  I am really excited to make this a thing in my life again.

[Mrs.flang]

This is the reason that it actually works out better for me if DD2 wakes in the MOTN. Right now she's waking at around 230 and 530. I typically try to wake at around 4 for a run. If she doesn't wake up at 230 it throws a wrench in my plans. I haven't ever pumped before a run though - it hasn't happened often enough and the one time I remember I just powered through. I'd double up on your sports bra and give it a try to see how you feel before ruling it out completely. FWIW I'm also a D cup.

ETA - or maybe you could hand express a little bit to relieve some pressure and not have to go through the trouble of hooking yourself up to the pump?

Also, I just looked back at my log and I didn't start doing this with consistency until DD2 was around 6.5 months.  Before that, the only time I got out was in short spurts on the weekend daytime whenever I could squeeze it in.

[gigem]

Sept 10, 2019 9:30:40 GMT -5 Mrs.flang said:

This is the reason that it actually works out better for me if DD2 wakes in the MOTN. Right now she's waking at around 230 and 530. I typically try to wake at around 4 for a run. If she doesn't wake up at 230 it throws a wrench in my plans. I haven't ever pumped before a run though - it hasn't happened often enough and the one time I remember I just powered through. I'd double up on your sports bra and give it a try to see how you feel before ruling it out completely. FWIW I'm also a D cup.

Wow you put my 530 to shame!!! I totally commiserate about motn wake ups having the benefit of not being too full to run. Sigghhh- cant win either way haha

[Mrs.flang]

Sept 10, 2019 9:34:29 GMT -5 gigem said:

Sept 10, 2019 9:30:40 GMT -5 Mrs.flang said:

This is the reason that it actually works out better for me if DD2 wakes in the MOTN. Right now she's waking at around 230 and 530. I typically try to wake at around 4 for a run. If she doesn't wake up at 230 it throws a wrench in my plans. I haven't ever pumped before a run though - it hasn't happened often enough and the one time I remember I just powered through. I'd double up on your sports bra and give it a try to see how you feel before ruling it out completely. FWIW I'm also a D cup.

Wow you put my 530 to shame!!! I totally commiserate about motn wake ups having the benefit of not being too full to run. Sigghhh- cant win either way haha

I should have added that I typically only do this once a week because I have the advantage of a gym in my building.  I don't think I could do it that early consistently!

[jade]

This is also my life right now. DD is 13 weeks and STTN most nights so I wake up with super painful boobs most mornings. I have been struggling with finding time to run as well. And I don't even have the constraints you do (shower at work, no carpool with DH, older DS). Yesterday, the stars aligned and DD woke up at 6, nursed, then I ran after she fell back asleep and DS was eating breakfast. But her schedule is still so over the place I can't count on any consistency right now as every morning is still different.

I am resigning myself to becoming an after work runner again, since like you I have absolutely no desire to pump in the mornings and would rather nurse. Tonight I am going to pick up both kids and take them to the Y childcare after work so I can get my workout in. I hope you can figure out something that works. I signed up for a 5 week run into the school year program to give myself some more motivation to figure it out.

[dearprudence]

I was you - attorney with 3 yr old and 3 month old. The only difference is that I didn't carpool, but I did need to leave work at a specific time to drive 40 minutes to make it to daycare/preschool pickup.

I couldn't do the early morning runs with the night wakes, I was exhausted all the time and couldn't give up the sleep. Also morning engorgement is no joke, I don't think I ever ran in the mornings before nursing.

I'm not sure what kind of attorney you are (I did litigation at the time), but I tried to do my "lunch" late in the day and use that time for my run, even without showers at the office or a gym nearby. That way, I wasn't super sweaty for the whole afternoon, just a portion of it. Then shower wipes and dry shampoo in the bathroom. If i had to meet with clients or opposing counsel in the afternoon, I'd leave half an hour early at the end of the day, run, then jump in the car and head home.

[mrshandy]

My two suggestions and what worked for me.

Pumping while drinking coffee/breakfast. I need half a cup of coffee and a banana before most runs. So I would set up my pump so I could pump while drinking coffee.

Run during lunch, use baby wipes and dry shampoo. This works better as the weather gets cooler. This didn’t work for me when I was pumping because pumping was my lunch break.

Otherwise I would use your weekend mornings and try to get once during the week.

You’re in the trenches. To me this is some of the toughest times you will have when you have two kids. Don’t stress too much. This too shall pass. My kids have a similar age difference. Now they’re in elementary school and getting more independent. It’s quite cool. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[gt7301b]

Could you try a dream feed before you run?  It doesn't eliminate the time aspect of nursing/pumping, but I found breastfeeding a far more pleasant experience than pumping. 

[Wines Not Whines]

What time does the baby wake up, and what’s your general schedule in the morning? I used to nurse in the early morning and then workout, but my son was usually up by 6 am, so I could be out the door at 6:30.

[Susie]

Wines Not Whines, there's been a lot of flux in his schedule since I went back to work, but the last few days he's been sleeping really late. I have to wake him up around 7:45 to change his diaper, nurse, and then get in the car to leave around 8. I do his fresh outfit at bedtime so diaper + nurse is all I have to do in the morning, and he's basically the last thing I take care of before leaving. My DD did pretty much the same schedule as a baby.

In a way that's great because he leaves my hands free to get myself ready/do other things before he's up. OTOH, it means my boobs are really full until just before I leave for work.

[Wines Not Whines]

Sept 10, 2019 15:28:53 GMT -5 Susie said:

Wines Not Whines, there's been a lot of flux in his schedule since I went back to work, but the last few days he's been sleeping really late. I have to wake him up around 7:45 to change his diaper, nurse, and then get in the car to leave around 8. I do his fresh outfit at bedtime so diaper + nurse is all I have to do in the morning, and he's basically the last thing I take care of before leaving. My DD did pretty much the same schedule as a baby.

In a way that's great because he leaves my hands free to get myself ready/do other things before he's up. OTOH, it means my boobs are really full until just before I leave for work.

Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem for an early morning workout. I would probably do a partial pump, so I was more comfortable, and then nurse when he wakes up. But there are drawbacks to that approach, like needing to get up earlier to fit that in. I had an oversupply, so I would nurse in the morning and still need to pump afterwards, so doing both seems normal to me.

[Mushe]

Susie, I feel you on trying to work this out. Yes, you are in the trenches and this is going to be hard (or damn near impossible) to work out for weekdays for now, but it also stinks because running is for you.

I had to EP with DD (just gave it up last months woohoo!) but EBF’d DS. There’s no way I could have run without pumping first. What I ended up doing with DD was pumping for comfort just a bit, while I woke up and got myself steeled for a run, and then pumping while I got ready, like during my hair drying. Since you’d be nursing your DS, that might work! I know you’re being careful not to throw yourself into oversupply, but 2 days a week of a quick comfort pump shouldn’t do that.

Other than that, I used weekends and an occasional evening to get my running fix for much of her first year.

[clseale]

I always had to pump for comfort, but mainly I ran at night or during my lunch break. What time do they go to sleep?

[Susie]

Sept 11, 2019 19:01:35 GMT -5 clseale said:

I always had to pump for comfort, but mainly I ran at night or during my lunch break. What time do they go to sleep?

Generally by 8pm, sometimes earlier for the little guy if he's tired and isn't gassy.  If he napped well at daycare we eat as a family (he hangs out in a RNP with us in the kitchen) before kid bedtime; if he's a hot mess I go straight to putting him down and eat with H after the kids are in bed.

I could fit a run in then, and just eat at like 9pm+, I'd just have to really really steel myself for it.  That time in the day is when I usually get life done -- pay bills, open mail, order clothes for the kids in their next size/season, review the month's amazon subscribe & save, blah blah blah.  It's so hard to juggle it all!

[scm1011]

Sept 12, 2019 8:50:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

Sept 11, 2019 19:01:35 GMT -5 clseale said:

I always had to pump for comfort, but mainly I ran at night or during my lunch break. What time do they go to sleep?

Generally by 8pm, sometimes earlier for the little guy if he's tired and isn't gassy.  If he napped well at daycare we eat as a family (he hangs out in a RNP with us in the kitchen) before kid bedtime; if he's a hot mess I go straight to putting him down and eat with H after the kids are in bed.

I could fit a run in then, and just eat at like 9pm+, I'd just have to really really steel myself for it.  That time in the day is when I usually get life done -- pay bills, open mail, order clothes for the kids in their next size/season, review the month's amazon subscribe & save, blah blah blah.  It's so hard to juggle it all!

I so get this. I don't really have much to add that's already been said, I just wanted to sympathize that its HARD. If I didn't have a gym/locker room in my office building to utilize during lunch there was no way I'd be able to get in weekday runs. Evenings are such a sprint, and early mornings are nearly impossible and/or extremely undesirable.

How far do you live from your office? I used to do a run commute home once in a while too because my commute is 5ish miles. Its tough logistically with STUFF (I'd leave the pumped milk and my laptop at the office that day), but since my subway commute home took essentially the same amount of time it was a really efficient way to get in a run (and fall is a great time of year for it!). 

[Susie]

scm1011, I live about 9 miles from the office, with significant downhill AM direction/uphill PM direction. I have bike commuted in the past, especially on spring and fall (casual) Fridays. As an alternative to running, I could do that some days. (I have a long way to go before I'm ready to run 9 miles.) H would just have to leave early enough to do the kids' drop off/pickup since DS isn't old enough to go with me in the bike trailer, and even if he was, I don't think I'm comfortable pulling a double bike trailer downtown amid the buses, parallel parked cars, etc. (It's also debatable whether I'm fit enough to tow the double Burley home up hill! But that will come.)

Biking isn't running, but it IS exercise, and it's easier to carry my backpack/stuff/milk on a bike than running. I should check tomorrow's weather!

[MrsE]

Honestly, I’m sorry this is not at all helpful, but I just haven’t done any morning workouts because I’m usually engorged and refuse to pump more than I absolutely must. Plus, sleep always wins IMO.

DH travels a ton for work (he’s in Australia right now) and 90% of the time I do both daycare drop off and pick up. I really just started getting back into a workout routine (anything more than random workouts here and there) within the last month and DD is 11 months old.

I’ve found it easiest to fit in workouts on the days I work from home (sorry, also not helpful) and either over lunch or I sign off a little early, workout, then do daycare pickup - even if it means she stays a little later than usual. Then I log back online after DD is asleep and I wash bottles etc to catch up on work.

I’m consistently getting in 4 workouts a week now and I’m calling it a win. Am I as fit as I once was? No. But after struggling with this for a while, I’m reminding myself this is a small period of my life and trying to give myself some grace about it, honestly with some help from advice from ladies here.

[clseale]

Sept 12, 2019 8:50:27 GMT -5 Susie said:

Sept 11, 2019 19:01:35 GMT -5 clseale said:

I always had to pump for comfort, but mainly I ran at night or during my lunch break. What time do they go to sleep?

Generally by 8pm, sometimes earlier for the little guy if he's tired and isn't gassy.  If he napped well at daycare we eat as a family (he hangs out in a RNP with us in the kitchen) before kid bedtime; if he's a hot mess I go straight to putting him down and eat with H after the kids are in bed.

I could fit a run in then, and just eat at like 9pm+, I'd just have to really really steel myself for it.  That time in the day is when I usually get life done -- pay bills, open mail, order clothes for the kids in their next size/season, review the month's amazon subscribe & save, blah blah blah.  It's so hard to juggle it all!

I get that 100%. It’s part of the reason I barely ran much her first year. After pumping so much during the day while at work, it killed me to have to pump again if I wanted to work out. The morning runs really picked up after we fully weaned at 21 mo. Probably not the solution you are looking for. LOL I’m sorry. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

[thom]

I haven’t read all the replies, but you are at a hard age. The full breasts/ pumping /feeding question complicates morning exercise so much. At that age with baby #2 I think I was only managing to run 1 or possibly 2 times per week. I would just run before feeding or pumping because otherwise the run wouldn’t happen. I do not have much for boobs though so it was manageable. If it’s too uncomfortable in your best bra option I would probably opt for cycling and try again in a few months. I know how precious those morning minutes are.

Eventually my supply really tanked around 5 months and I quit breastfeeding around 6 months. So now my mornings are less complicated. I feel sort of sad I didn’t make it to 1 year for my 2nd baby, but I think my body just couldn’t do it anymore.