How soon after delivery to start running?

Kim-n-Eric

I'm 4 weeks post partum, feeling great, and I'm dying to get back on the treadmill! I really really dislike just walking... How soon did you Return to running?

NativeNyer

Doctor visit at 6 week PP.

Tri-mama

Hi, I'm a runner too! With DS, I was back working out 2 weeks PP (easy easy elliptical, like resistance 2, 0 incline) and "running" again by 3 weeks. I use running loosely, the first time I ran a quarter mile on the TM at 5 mph. However I was able to increase that day by day and getting a bit faster and faster each time. I felt this was pretty conservative although I think my doc probably would have been horrified (if she had known). I think I was not officially cleared to to anything beyond walking for 6 weeks. I also had a C/sec, but felt fine working out, really never pushing it at all and just enjoying 45 minutes on my own, sweating a little bit. At 3 months exactly I ran a 1/2M without doing much training beyond making sure I could go that distance. One thing though, if you are nursing, you may want to take it even a bit slower. I got mastitis 4 times, and each time I attribute it to doing a bit too much workout- wise and getting worn down and dehydrated. I'm currently 10 weeks pg now, grappling with the inevitable slow down in pace and distance. I also haven't told many people yet so I keep getting all the "what are your race plans for the spring/summer" Ugh!

blu-eyedwife

I started back at 3 weeks, when all my bleeding had stopped. I wasn't officially cleared, but my doctor said if I had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery I could run after a couple weeks. I took it really easy the first run back, just 2 miles to see how it felt and make sure there wasn't any spotting. There wasn't and it felt great. So I gradually increased the mileage, keeping it under 5 until my 6 week appointment.

At the appointment I told my doctor I'd been running and she said there was no problem with that because of the uncomplicated delivery and because I ran the entire pregnancy. I started training for a half marathon that week and ran it 2 weeks ago 3.5 months pp.

fostermurphy

I started running 1 week pp. I ran up until the day I gave birth and my Dr. said I could start up right away.I did not feel great the first week of runs but, by week 3, I felt great. I ran a 10k race at 5 weeks. This morning (8 weeks pp) I ran 4 mile relay with my husband in 26:00 (PR). 

mmonkey151

I was past 6 weeks PP. I had gained a ton of weight and hadn't worked out at all though. I suspect if you're feeling up to it, you could give it a try. I will say this much though, I'm not sure about the rest of the girls out there but my blatter control was not quite as ready as the rest of my body so I leaked a bit during my first few runs. It might be worth wearing  a panty-liner for the first run.

reederah

I started running at 4 weeks pp... my midwife gave me the go ahead for whenever I felt ready, and that was it! I definitely started out with very short distance walk/running (I had to stop running towards the end of my 2nd trimester b/c I'd get contractions when I ran so I was definitely out of shape after delivery), but was able to build back up fairly quickly. Do what feels right for you!

uncharch7

i started 3 weeks to the day after my c/s. i wasn't cleared until 4 weeks, but i had felt physically fine since a week PP and the bleeding had stopped. i ran up until the day before i went into labor. another doctor in the practice had told me i could start at 2-4 weeks PP if i had a vaginal birth, but we never discussed the c/s. 

i wouldn't necessarily suggest it (not being cleared after a c/s) and i know it wasn't the smartest thing for me to do, but i had a small breakdown and i knew the only thing that would make me feel better was to get out and run. while it was slow, it made me feel 1000x better.