22 Weeks + What are My Running Plans After I Have the Baby!

22 weeks is HERE!

I’ve definitely been thinking about my post-pregnancy running plans and goals lately.  Andrew is the absolute best supporter of my running dreams every step of the way and when I asked him about how in the world it will be possible to train and race with another child in the mix, he just responded that running around to see me at races 6 times along the course was getting too easy with just three kids… He is excited for the challenge of doing the same thing with four.   He is the best.

With Brooke, I started running way too soon after I had her.  I raced a half-marathon at 6-7 weeks postpartum and was on my treadmill running so quickly after having her that I learned my lesson and will never do that again.  I struggled with pelvic pain for a while after I had her and did not properly give my body the time it needed to heal before running.  I had so many injuries during that first year of her life and it definitely was not worth it to start running so quickly!

With Skye, I waited 6 weeks to start running.  I did do some walking leading up to that but did not run.  My doctor cleared me to start running again at 6 weeks and I did play it very smart and didn’t have any pelvic problems or injuries on my return.  I started out with short runs and slowly built up again with an amazing coach (MARY) that understood what I needed to do to make a healthy comeback.  I really recommend having a coach if you tend to come back too quickly because she kept me patient and still took me to my goal.

With this one, I know that the recommendations have changed a bit on when to resume exercise postpartum and I will work with my OBGYN closely (I wish you could meet her, she is incredible) on my return back to running after I have the baby BUT I think the biggest difference this time around is that I really have a strong desire to get strong first which may mean putting off a marathon for a year or so.  I would love to focus on racing some shorter distances as I build back again but I think that part of the equation to reaching my long term goals (OTQ) will be to really learn how to strength train and do it often before I jump into marathon training again.   Skye was 9 months old when I ran my first marathon back but with this one I am definitely planning on waiting just a bit longer!  Long story short, the baby is due in November and I’m planning on racing up to the half the following year but really spending that year getting strong and building some muscle.  I’ll work with the Runner’s Corner team again and Hawk and I can’t wait to see what happens with a lot of patience, hard work and the combo of strength with my running.

I would love to hear your experiences on this!

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Just three things from the last week!

*I need a foam pit at my house so that I can sleep on my stomach again.

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*The panini craving has been going on for a few weeks now and I’m happy about that.

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*I reached over the counter to grab something and forgot that my body has changed and ended up with strawberry jam all over myself.

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Tell me about your experience with your return to exercise postpartum!!

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20 comments

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Haha, that jelly belly so cute!

Oh my word, I did a mix with all three. My first I waited until 4-6 weeks. I was smart coming back! Started of walk/running and I quickly regained my speed and endurance.
My 2nd, I waited maybe 2 1/2-3 weeks. However, the first week postpartum, I spent on the couch–I barely moved.I had a spinal headache, ended up in the ER and had to spend 48 hours flat on my back once they figured out what was wrong. I think that week of complete rest did WONDERS for my body. I felt fine returning to running after 3 weeks.

After my 3rd, I returned to running after 7 days (maybe less)–that was not smart!!! I had a very easy pregnancy, labor and delivery, but running 7 days postpartum was awful, but I pushed myself to do it. I continued to run even though it felt so miserable! I have no idea what I was thinking! I had a half marathon on the schedule 4 months postpartum. I did make the half marathon. However, I know I could have ran the half marathon even if I had waited 6 weeks to start running after giving birth. I had to take about 6 weeks off of training during my 4 month “training cycle” because I was dealing with so many injuries (surprise, surprise;-))

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You definitely did a mix with all three! A SPINAL HEADACHE… that sounds terrifying! I can’t imagine. I’m so so sorry you went through all of those injuries after your third. I think I just need to forget about all races so that I don’t jump back in too quickly for my recovery. Thanks for sharing friend and I hope you have a great day!

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100% want to try to do it right. My marathon this past April got deferred to 2021 bc of Covid. That will be around 3 months out, 1 1/2 running (??‍♀️). Really hoping I can either defer for another year or switch to the half or 10K. Luckily I only had registered for one race this year because I knew were thinking about trying after my marathon and I’m not in the same boat as my husband and running friends get excited to train and have races canceled.

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You are going to have to keep me updated with what ends up happening with the race and I really hope they let you defer or switch! I’m really excited for you and you have to keep me updated with how you are doing! Have a beautiful day Jenny.

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Okay you’re cute as a button in those overalls! I just want to squeeze you!! And your hair, SO LUSCIOUS!! Looking beautiful. I started doing some mommy and me exercise classes after I had Allie 1-2X per week. I also did light walking and that was all I could handle. She was up 7-8 times per night till she was 8 months old so I was exhausted in every way imaginable. After about 2 years I got back into the groove!!

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I want to give you a squeeze! Thank you so much Andrea. I would love to try out a mommy and me class, that sounds amazing. I don’t know how you survived getting up with Allie 7-8 times per night. You are amazing. I hope you are making up for the lost sleep now and so glad you are back in your groove. Have a beautiful rest of your day!

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Ok you are the cutest preggo ever. Those overall are so sweet

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Thank you so much friend! I hope you are having a beautiful Thursday Ashley!

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Where did you get those overalls? They (and you:)) are so cute!!

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Hey Monica! Thank you so much! I’ve been searching to find where I bought them (they were a random facebook ad and my transaction on paypal is showing a company name that isn’t showing up online… AHHH sorry) BUT I found some very similar ones here: https://amzn.to/3iWW9l8

I hope you have a great day!

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Andrew’s reply about needing to up his game to spectating with 4 kids was perfect!! He sounds like a good one!
I follow quite a few women athletes who have had babies in the past few years, and many of them love coaching by Brianna Battles for core/pelvic floor/diastatis recti work. I don’t have any connection to her, just read positive feedback from others who follow her guidance.
I’m still so excited that you’ll find out whether this baby is a boy or girl at delivery :)

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I agree! It will be fun to see him with four little ones along the route of courses. THANK YOU so so so very much for the recommendation. I will absolutely be checking her out because I will be needing this big time. Thank you so much friend and I hope you have a beautiful day!

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After my first son, I started walking within a few days postpartum and started running at 6 weeks, and then began what I thought was a gradual increase in mileage but wound up with severe SI joint issues at 5 months postpartum after getting up to 10 mile long runs. So, after my second son I took a much different approach. I started walking at 1 week postpartum and strength training at 6 weeks, and didn’t start running until 2 months postpartum. And even then, I eased back in with 2 months of run-walk intervals before resuming straight running. I didn’t race anything longer than a 10K until I was 1.5 years postpartum. MUCH better result. No SI joint dysfunction or any other injuries.

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THANK YOU for sharing your journey with me Laura and I feel like I’m going to take a similar approach to what you did the second time around. I am so glad you didn’t have any SI join issues or other problems, you are SO smart. Thanks for sharing and keep me patient, please:). Have a great day Laura!

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You are absolutely adorable! I waited 3 weeks to do light exercise, and 5 weeks to run….and took it slow coming back. On one hand I was really disappointed about all the Spring races being cancelled this year, but on the other I feel like it was a blessing. I always push myself to do a lot of races, but with racing not being an option, I haven’t had a reason to dive back in too fast :-) I had my son in October 2019, and honestly feel stronger and faster than ever before!

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Congrats April on your new little one last October and how cool that you are stronger and faster than ever.. you are amazing. I totally think that is a blessing for you too. Can’t wait to hear about your first races back when you are ready to go and congrats again.

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If I could go back and do it all over again, I would do strength training before running after having a baby. It wasn’t so bad with my son, but when my daughter was born my running became a fiasco. I peed uncontrollably every time I ran- not sure why i thought that was okay!- and ended up having every injury you could think of over the next few years. I was doing some light strength training, but obviously not enough and nothing for my pelvic floor. I finally got it together, but those years of injuries could have been avoided if I had gotten strong first. Your plan sounds very smart, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes! (P.S. You’re also a lot younger than I was- I was 42 when my daugher was born and I’m sure that played into it.)

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Jenny, thank you so much for sharing your story with me! I am SO sorry about what you went through after having your daughter. You are so so right and I really think that strength training and pelvic floor work needs to come before running for me once I have this baby. I hope you are having a beautiful day and thank you so much!

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After my older son was born, I did NOTHING for six weeks. I had an easy, vaginal delivery, but I my son was a terrible sleeper and I was exhausted. Then at 6 weeks, I was given clearance to run, and I definitely did too much/too soon. I remember those first few runs feeling horrible, but pushing through. I also did zero strength work. I, too, struggled with pelvic pain and even mild urinary stress incontinence (I pee’d when I ran or sneezed).
This time around (my baby is 3 months old! Another easy, vaginal delivery), I was a little more active almost immediately after giving birth. I did some diastasis recti exercises, and walked quite a bit. Plus, I was chasing after my two year old! I started running at 6 weeks post partum, but took it slow and kept the runs short. I have been focusing on alternating run days with strength days and am trying to build up my glutes and abs. I never had any pelvic pain, and have no issues with incontinence.
Your plan sounds very smart, Janae. And, you look beautiful!!
By the way, I’m a November baby and so is my older son. I’m the 15th and he is the 3rd… maybe one of us will be a birthday twin with your baby :)

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Hi Janae, love the baby updates! Writing from the U.K. here, check out @physiomumuk , she and her team of women’s physios have written some really helpful return to exercise guidelines for new Mums. It has taken me a long time to be comfortable running again and a lot of pelvic floor exercises but I am finally getting there! I started a couch to 5km program at 4.5months postpartum but still struggled with stress incontinence following a difficult delivery. I’m 11 months postpartum now and it has got much better but is still present if I run too hard! So my main learning is patience and definitely agree that supportive husbands are vital too! All the best!

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