Return to exercise quicker than 6w PP?

BabeDebolt · August 2013

Just curious if anyone returned to crossfit, spinning, running, heavy lifting - higher intensity workouts - quicker than the 6w point after baby? And if you did, are you attributing it to your active lifestyle during pregnancy? Looking for some hopeful responses!

trudibell · August 2013

I started walking 2-3 miles a day at 2 weeks PP. I wanted to do other things but after having an unexpected CS I was a bit skittish. The day the doctor gave me the green light I was hitting the pavement running again, but that was at 6 weeks.

mrs.mastro · August 2013

I was running by 10 days PP. I ran my entire pregnancy, including 5 miles the day DS was born. I had a very easy natural birth, no stitches. Before I left the hospital, I asked my doctor if I had to wait until I saw him at 6 weeks before running, and he said no just do what feels good and stop if there was any heavy bleeding. I had no problems, and even PR'd the July 4th race I ran less than 2 months PP.

kcs7 · August 2013

mrs.mastro said:

I was running by 10 days PP. I ran my entire pregnancy, including 5 miles the day DS was born. I had a very easy natural birth, no stitches. Before I left the hospital, I asked my doctor if I had to wait until I saw him at 6 weeks before running, and he said no just do what feels good and stop if there was any heavy bleeding. I had no problems, and even PR'd the July 4th race I ran less than 2 months PP.

My hat's off to you! that is amazing and I am impressed!

I wish I had kept up on my running from the get go, but, c'est la vie and I will get back to it soon! Nice job though!

care99 · August 2013

I started running about 2 weeks after my first son was born and had a lot of complications. I ended up having to have out patient surgery to correct things (I had an extremely hard labor and had stitches). It sucked and I wish I had never rushed back. With my second, I took things much slower and had no problems returning at 6 weeks.

cjm724 · August 2013

I started walking at 8 days post partum, then added 3 minutes of running at the end of my walk at 13 days postpartum. On day 15, I ran 2 minutes, walked 1 minute for 30 minutes. Then on day 17 I was back running 3 miles (much faster than I was at 9 months pregnant too!). I had a 2nd degree tear also, but had no increased bleeding or soreness from the exercise.

BabeDebolt · August 2013

Thanks for all the shared stories here. Very impressed with the quick returns. I understand it all depends on how the bleeding and tearing goes after L&D. Stayin hopeful!!

Luv2Run1st · August 2013

With my first I started walking failing at 2 days postpartum then waited for MD OK to return to running at 5 weeks postpartum. I felt like running at 2 weeks though.

boymamaco · August 2013

I was on modified bedrest for the last three months of my pregnancy and then had an emergency c-section. I started walking at 10 days pp, doing power yoga 17 days pp, and then went on my first run today. I probably won't run every day or that frequently for awhile but it felt great to be out there!

mrs.mastro · August 2013

kcs7 said:

mrs.mastro said:

I was running by 10 days PP. I ran my entire pregnancy, including 5 miles the day DS was born. I had a very easy natural birth, no stitches. Before I left the hospital, I asked my doctor if I had to wait until I saw him at 6 weeks before running, and he said no just do what feels good and stop if there was any heavy bleeding. I had no problems, and even PR'd the July 4th race I ran less than 2 months PP.

My hat's off to you! that is amazing and I am impressed!

I wish I had kept up on my running from the get go, but, c'est la vie and I will get back to it soon! Nice job though!

Thanks!

I should've mentioned the really stupid thing I did too... I rode my bike for like 5 minutes in my neighborhood 10 days PP. I don't care how easy your labor is, do not ride a bike before 3 weeks!

BiscuitEater21 · September 2013

Well, I have never really been much of an exerciser but I am getting back on the horse. I decided I'm going to get a gym membership soon, I am gaining some weight and don't like it. Lol I have been very blessed with being thin, and only gained 22lbs while pregnant with my son. I also had a pain killer free birth but had to be induced from high bp. I didn't get any stretch marks either but I was super sick the entire pregnancy. However I did walk quite a bit. I've always been fond of walking. I remember walking quite a bit, and going to the mall with my mom and LO when he was 6 days old...just walking around the mall and having only had a small breakfast. I started feeling terrible and bleeding heavier.

But my bleeding completely stopped at 5 weeks, and just spotted for a week after that, so I would see no problem starting an exercise routine at 5 weeks when I felt ready

argonne · September 2013

I was running 4 to 5 miles at about 2.5 weeks postpartum. I very much attribute it to running through 36 weeks and staying very active to term.

JLMcWeeney · September 2013

I'm waiting to start crossfit back up until 6 weeks. I was on bed rest during my last trimester, so I don't think my muscles are ready for that intense of a workout. In the meantime I have been running. I started running at two weeks pp. I'm now a month pp, and this past week I have been running two to three miles a day.

LiveNLove44 · October 2013

I ran up until 37 weeks and lifted 4 days a week. I had DD at 39 weeks, and started out going for a walk at 6 days PP. She was my first and I had a 2nd degree tear. Somewhere in the first week home I jumped out of bed (reflex--unintentional) and ripped my tear open a bit more. With that said, I was back to lifting a couple days before 2 weeks PP and went from lifting 4 days per week to now lifting 4 days and doing cardio the other 3. I go for a walk each day for 2-4 miles depending on the workout I did that day. Granted, all of this is because DH has been great with helping me make time to stay active. At 4 weeks PP, I rollerbladed 12 miles and realized I could have been doing that sooner. I elliptical now and will wait a bit longer to go for runs since I'd rather not increase the amount of time my tear takes to heal.

IncogNeato · October 2013

I was back doing low impact cardio like walking and easy elliptical and small muscle weights (arms, shoulders, mostly) by 2 weeks but I did NOT start ab work or things that put pressure on the pelvic floor like squats, deadlifts, or high impact cardio until later because, even though I felt good, I knew that my pelvic floor had just gone through a lot and I didn't want to risk causing myself to have a prolapse or permanent incontinence.

Being fit throughout pregnancy can help your muscles recover faster but there is a really good reason why they tell you to take it easy for 6 weeks. Your pelvic floor is still recovering, your uterus is still shrinking, and if you have any tearing or stitches, that can really hurt if you over do it.

If you are fit now, I promise you will bounce back, and probably faster than you expect. That does NOT mean you need to overtax yourself in those first few weeks. Your body needs time to focus its energy on healing, BFing (if you BF) and you may well be exhausted.

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