Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Back to running after baby

6 replies

NatMoz · 19/03/2022 18:59

I had a caesarean just under 14 weeks ago and have been running after an absence of 11 months for the last 2 weeks.

Gosh it's hard. I remember when running a 10km was effortless and now after 6 runs the most I've managed is 4 miles.

I know I'll get there but it just feels so hard right now.

Ran my first Parkrun this morning and pre baby I was running 5km in under 30 mins, today I ran it in 36m 26s so a way off my old time.

Am I expecting too much too soon? How long does it take to get back into running again after a baby? I'm also trying to be sensible and not damage myself (a runner I know prolapsed)

OP posts:
lady725516 · 19/03/2022 19:10

I think your being a little hard on yourself. Your body has been through the massive trauma of growing a baby to then having major abdominal surgery. It will take a while to get your fitness back, but you will get there. Slow and steady.

You should feel really good about getting back to running. I've got a 6 month old and have done workout ( I nearly died 😂) I need to pull my finger out and move my lazy arse!!

lady725516 · 19/03/2022 19:11

@lady725516

I think your being a little hard on yourself. Your body has been through the massive trauma of growing a baby to then having major abdominal surgery. It will take a while to get your fitness back, but you will get there. Slow and steady.

You should feel really good about getting back to running. I've got a 6 month old and have done workout ( I nearly died 😂) I need to pull my finger out and move my lazy arse!!

1 workout Confused
konasana · 19/03/2022 19:15

This might not be what you want to hear but I took six months off to recover post birth, but did have a standard vaginal delivery with no intervention, maybe it's different for a CS? I just felt like I needed everything to heal well for a long time before stressing my body again.

DuchessSilver · 19/03/2022 19:21

Apparently 6 months is about average to be able to start running again...but there's huge variation and for some women it will be much longer.
I would focus on making sure you feel ok during and (the next day) after running (especially pelvic floor) and on enjoying it, rather than on timings!

fellrunner85 · 20/03/2022 16:44

Apparently 6 months is about average to be able to start running again
Do you have a source for this please?

I started running very soon after both my pregnancies and births, but I also ran throughout my pregnancies so I hadn't lost that much fitness. It probably took me a year to get back to "normal" after each, and then I also got stronger and fitter after that. My 5k PB after 2DC is faster than before them; not sure how!

LaPufalina · 20/03/2022 21:14

I started when DD2 was about 4 months old, never did much serious running before that. Got down from 33 min 5k to 25 mins in eight months (age 40). Buggy running helped, once she was six months! I had two c sections (in under two years.)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page