Running 6 mths post-CS?

[pendulum]

Had my second CS in September and got out this evening for the first run in a year and a half.

Did 30 mins gentle running- really enjoyable but my abdominal wall felt (and still feels) a bit tender and stretched around the scar.

Is 6 months a reasonable amount of time to leave after the CS before doing impact exercise? Has anyone else had the same and did it wear off as you got out more frequently?

hi

yep, i had this problem, I ran 8mths after my 1st c section and 5mths after my 2nd csection and felt EXACTLY the same.

The thing that totally solved the problem was running in super tight support knickers! Seriously, it really helped, felt very supported and muscles didn't feel stretched.

I just used my Bridget Jones 'sucky in' pants I sometimes wear to weddings. Very unflattering but totally sorted me out!

thanks lucylala, that's a great idea. Was thinking about getting some of those pants anyway for an unforgiving new dress I have!

Makes me feel a bit squeamish to feel the scar area stretching but I guess it must be normal to have a bit of pain/ discomfort. Amazing in fact to think that 6 months ago I couldn't lift my legs out of bed and now here I am running around the park!

I ran 8 weeks after both and felt fine. If you're not using your abs on a regular basis gently (ie LOTS of walking), then running will be a bit of a strain for a while. You'll have scar tissue around the scar - you can always ask a physio if it's possible to be manually broken down.

i went out for my first run post-CS the other day, ten months after birth of DS2. mentally it felt great but physically it was hard work. 4 years since my last run, so the scar was the least of my worries!

i think you overdid it. (i am a physio). You should have started with 10 mins only and moved up from there. It is just as much the time on your feet, not the intensity of the exercise that is important in this case, because it is the postural muscles, not the sit up muscles which will stop your scar pulling. Go again, but drop back to max 20 mins and be conscious of pulling your belly button towards your spine throughout. If it fatigues, there is your limit, but if no perceivable fatigue, just add a few minutes each run.
IMO massage to the scar would not be beneficial unless already sore. Same ultrasound.

BTW the sucky inny spanx pants will do the same thing as using the postural muscle (ie provide support), but better still to actually use the muscle, it will then shorten and flatten the stomach without the need fro bridgets.

thanks suey

I didn;'t run it all I confess- did 2 mins running, 1 min walking alternately for 30 mins (under strict instructions from DH). Interesting what you say about the postural muscle- presumably that is the one I need to work to rediscover my washboard stomach Is it really a case of "shortening" it?

yep. If you imagine it is like a girdle, the fibres wrapping around your abdomen from your spine to your belly button, from ribs to pelvis. It is very stretched by pregnancy (as you can imagine) so unless you ahve been extremely diligent it will still be stretched now. Therefore it needs to physically shorten- this is why women still look about 5 months gone after they have given birth- manage to shorten the muscle, and your belly won't stick out. And, you won't get pulling around your scar