how long after you give birth.....

[Jellabella]

I'm due in less than 2 weeks, first pregnancy, health has been pretty good. Before I got pregnant I loved my running, just half an hour a few times a week. I stopped round 5 months as it got really painful for me. I'm hoping for a natural birth and was wondering how long before the pain 'downstairs' goes away. Also, if there's any runners, how long after they gave birth did they start running again? I know I might not feel like it but I'm hoping to get back to it as quick as I can!! Thanks :)

First pregnancy, I wasn't a runner but did regularly exercise and took it up again about 6 weeks after the birth, which in retrospect was maybe a little early. By my second pregnancy I was a runner, and it was about 6 months before I started running again - breastfed baby who didn't sleep well, really hard to find the time/energy to go out regularly, but I think physically I would have been OK - apart from giant norkage - from about 2 months post-partum.

Thanks Emma :) I'm really chomping at the bit to get running again!!! Signing up a half marathon next week, am thinking of doing the London Marathon to give myself a goal. Have put quite a bit of weight on since being preggers and it's not just baby weight!!!

The answer is, it depends on your labour! If you're lucky, then all should be good by 6 weeks. Don't panic if you are really swollen and bruised at first - I had a bad delivery, and couldn't believe how swollen I was, but it was mostly healed by 6 weeks.

Cool!! 6 weeks sounds ok (tho I'm secretly being totally unrealistic and hoping for 2 he he he)

Silly not to wait until you've had your 6 week check, unless you want to risk starting bleeding again, or realising you've got a weaker pelvic floor than you thought and leaking urine as you run or feeling everything prolapsing into your knickers... Better to concentrate on very gentle muscle exercises, of the sort you ought to get advice on, to strengthen your pelvic floor again and strengthen the muscles in your stomach that will have been slightly stretched apart, and then start running again when someone confirms all is looking OK... Also, running with hugely engorged, painful breasts would probably be as painful as running with a large baby inside you.

I think it'll depend on the type of birth you have to a large extent. I reckon 6 weeks is quite realistic - after your 6 week check-up so you can be sure your stomach muscles are coming back together ok. I was like you, pulling my hair out in frustration because I wanted to run while I was heavily pregnant, and hoped I would quickly be able to start again. I ended-up having an EMCS so have had to wait until now (2 months on), but I wouldn't have been able to find the time and energy to do so before this anyway. You'll know when you're ready.

I still had fairly heavy lochia for at least 4-6 weeks after all three of my uncomplicated deliveries, and it tended to be heavier after increased exertion. Had pret much all finished by 8 weeks.

i wasnt a runner but ran 20 mins as part of my gym routine (an hour routine 3 times per week). Both dds were natural births and i was back doing normal gym 6 weeks after dd1 and 2 weeks after dd2! The second was probably too early but i couldnt wait to feel normal again and it did no harm physically and mentally made me feel great! See how you feel.

I started running between my two pregnancies. Loved it, but wouldn't have been very good or doing much in the way of speed/distance

After DD2 was born I asked my post-natal physio (standard practice in Belgium) when I could start back running again - bearing in mind I wasn't doing long distances. Poor lady nearly fell over in shock "running? No no no. Not for 6 months. Maybe a year. Do some other exercise instead. Do you know, women who run marathons have very bad pelvic floors"

But then the Belgian system does seem a little preoccupied with pelvic floor muscles . DD is nearly 5 months and I haven't started back yet, mainly because I've been too busy moving house, but I'll be starting soon. Luckily I won't have scandalise my lovely physio with the news.

Thanks ladies