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Breastfeeding
kmd0528
member
any runners out there?
kmd0528
member
Hi ladies 
I plan on breastfeeding when my LO arrives. I also plan on running again once I get the okay from my doctor. I signed up for a 1/2 marathon in October so the plan is to get some long distance running in over the summer. Here's my question.... what type of bra do you where when running long distances? Do you wear nursing pads? Any leaking problems? Any extra advice would be helpful too! This is all new to me
Thanks!
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Re: any runners out there?
Hopefully you'll get some answers from more dedicated runner than me! I did do C25K over last summer, though. I wore a sports bra with a shelf bra tank over it. I did wear my cloth breast pads, and made sure to nurse just before I left. I would suggest waiting to see what size you are at about 4 weeks post-partum and then just buy a good, solid sports bra. You won't be running AND nursing, so it doesn't need to be a nursing bra.
Leaking problems are just generally problematic. Nothing to do with running or not running.
That said, I was at a presentation from a physiotherapist this week and she really emphasized allowing time to recover properly post-birth before jumping into impact activity like running. Make sure to stick to low impact stuff for at least the 6 weeks - even if you feel pretty good, your internal organs are returning to their proper positions. Take some time to heal. You'll get back to running like your usual self soon enough.
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I just recently completed a 1/2 marathon and starting seriously training about six months PP. I bought the Ta-Ta-Tamer from Lululemon and I then wear a regular sports bra over that. I also go out for my runs pretty much right after I nurse, especially for the long runs. That seems to help.
I never had a lot of trouble with leaking (while running or while at rest) so I can't really give you any advice on that other than if you were concerned about it I'd just stick the nursing pads in your bra before you head out.
Like Token mentioned, give yourself some time to get back into the swing of things. Honestly, for me, I didn't even really feel like getting out for a run until five months or so PP. I didn't want to be away from my DD (I went back to work at eight weeks PP) any more than I had to during those first magical months.
On another note, my tummy is still pretty jiggly (sorry for TMI). I had a c-section so I'm not sure if this is true for others too but a really good pair of supportive running pants were just as important as a good sports bra for me. I needed something that was a little higher waisted and snug to hold it all in. Good luck!
As far as sports bras go, just find something tight and supportive, it will take some trial and error to find a good fit. I can sometimes get away with a less supportive fitting bra if I wear 2 of them and I routinely wore 2 sports bras at once till about 10 weeks PP.
The first month or so (from about 6-10 wks PP) I would wear a pair of disposable nursing pads inside my bra just in case but i found I didn't really leak much at that point, especially when exercising. I now wear a type of sport bra that has an extra set of cloth breast pads inside a pocket in it and that is more than adequate so no more nursing pads for me.
The vast majority of the time I get up and run first thing in the morning so I will first pump both breasts to empty and then I go straight out for my run (or I hit the treadmill). I really prefer to run with my breasts as empty as possible. This also works well in that I then give the baby a bottle of pumped milk for her first feeding of the day so it keeps her used to the bottle and it allows me to put some milk away for a freezer stash. I usually pump about 10 oz after sleeping all night and only feeding the baby once overnight, so 4 oz for the baby to eat and 6 oz for the freezer and empty breasts for me to run with.
Just an FYI. I wanted to start running again, and thought I'd try for a half marathon this spring (I've done a couple before). Turns out that I have lost more weight than I wanted to while BFing and I am now trying to gain. I eat so much the way it is, I just don't see how I can run long distances and be healthy at this point so I am sticking to shorter work outs for now.
Not everyone has this issue, but just a heads up that for some people, a lot of extra exercise is not a great idea while BFing.