Running when breastfeeding

[TooImmature2BMum]

I've been asked to do a 5k race for cancer research next June. Baby is due on 3 March. I would like to do it - it would give me a goal for losing baby weight! - but I'm not sure if it's going to be practical or comfortable. Has anyone tried this? I have some major concerns. Will it make my milk dry up? Will it hurt to run with milk-inflated boobs? Will running damage the breast tissue and make them sag? Will I actually leak a lot while running because of bra-friction?

I've never been a runner before (not since the age of 15, anyway), so it will already be a shock to the system before factoring in recent childbirth and breastfeeding. Should I be saying thanks, but not right now? Any advice welcome!

[mousymouse]

I think it will be a bit tight, recommendation is that you only start running very slowly once your insides are back, at least wait until the 6 week checkup and then start slowly.
bf is not the problem, proper bra (or 2 bras over each other) and you can run. but I would be cautious because your bit take a beating during childbirth and running too soon can cause further injury down there.
I started running again when dd was 4 months old, but I was running before pregnancy anyway and was relatively fit. running did not have any effect on supply and if you wear a proper supportive bra you should not get anymore "damage" to the tissued than you already have through pregnancy.

[Ishtar2410]

DS was born on 17 March last year and I ran the race for life at the beginning of June. It was tight for training, and in retrospect I don't think I should have pushed myself quite so hard.

I waited for my six-week check before starting training, and got the OK from the doctor, but have to say things did feel a bit loose - belly, bits (sorry if TMI!) and joints. I used to run before I was pregnant and I still run now, but I probably wouldn't repeat that experience!

I wore two bras my old faithful shock absorber, plus a new one, to minimise bounce. I also fed DS just before running.

From my own experience, and if I did it again so close to giving birth, I would plan to walk it. I'd probably say to wait until next year to run - or perhaps enter a Race for Life later this year?

[TooImmature2BMum]

That's interesting - I had forgotten about waiting for 6 weeks after the birth before starting exercising. Even if the baby is born by 3 March (and it might easily be late, especially as it's my first), that's still mid-April before I could get started, and as you say, I would need to take it slowly to avoid damaging myself. I'm beginning to think it will be a case of too much too soon. I was reasonably fit pre-pregnancy, doing Body Combat classes etc, but I stopped that when I found I was pregnant and didn't replace it with anything, so my fitness levels have dropped a lot!

[slimyak]

Sounds a bit too soon to me unless you are already an experienced runner. I agree with what mousy says but would add that when my DD was 3 months old I was carrying round a 36G rack and I wouldn't have liked to run anywhere with that (I was 36C pre pregnancy). Pregnancy boobs have nothing on breast feeding ones in my experience.

As far as loosing the baby weight it will happen easier if you're breast feeding so don't give yourself too difficult targets. Enjoy the extra slice of cake a sit down and a cuddle with your little one, these times don't last long at all, and the race will be there next year!

[Ishtar2410]

Meant to say enter a Race for Life towards the end of this year - I think they run until September/October. Will give you a bit more time.

[TooImmature2BMum]

Thanks, guys - I think I will say no this time! I didn't want to say no just because I'm a wimp, if you see what I mean, but your posts have convinced me that it's not about wimpiness, there just isn't enough time for me to get into training safely. I'll look for a later one and aim for that. DH will have to do this one on his own!

[gillykins2011]

I would agree with slimyak - unless you are an experienced runner you shouldn't really embark on that as you need to be careful about the relaxin hormone in your body and pushing it too hard otherwise you will end up with joint problems.

On the boob front, I ran from 2 weeks after birth [I am an experienced runner] and just used to wear 3 bra tops to control the beasts!!

[bogie]

hahaha I really thought when I read the thread title that you ment running whilst breastfeeding :o I just had a picture in my head of you running with a baby attached to your boob

[mousymouse]

bogie been there done that (not in full running gear though)

[bogie]

:o mousy never quite managed a run but have done some power walking, dashing around when the window cleaners have put a ladder up and I have just got out the shower feeding dd with just a towel wrapped around me.

[Muser]

Lots of people actually walk the Race for Life, when I did it there were plenty of mums with pushchairs and kids walking round, as well as the runners. If you did fancy taking part you could walk it with your new baby instead. I bet you'd raise loads by including cute baby on your fundraising stuff!

[Meglet]

I was on the treadmill 3 months after having DD.

My sports bra could not keep my bf boobs under control and I got off their sharpish and slunk off to the rowing machine.

If you are going to do it wear 2 sports bras.

[TooImmature2BMum]

Ha, have visions of boobs and baby bouncing around! Was 34D pre-pregnancy and am now 32F and counting, so think perhaps not (although will do some exercise so will take 2 sports bras advice!).

Might walk the race - DH's cousin will be taking part in wheelchair. Have to find out more details, anyway! Not sure if it's Race for Life or not.