Mums Running Club

After children you find that your body shape changes. After my first I got back to pre pregnant weight but I still have some hot pants that I couldn't get done up on the waist and anything high waisted. After the second I went back to pre pregnant weight and my waist returned back as it had with number 1. Low waised jeans are great and not a problem and my hips/legs were slimmer than before number 1. Now with number 3 nearly 8 months old the weight is creeping off so slowly (i'm now 35). Still 5lbs to go and it loks like if I keep going as I am it will be a year before I am at pre pregnant weight(before all 3). I don't think I will ever have a 24 inch waist again and I have spoken to other mums about this and they have had similar experience with waist size.

I agree, Tracey - anything I wore before that was low-waisted still fits fine. My hips are no bigger but my waist definitely is. After 4 months I'm sure I will probably still lose a little more weight, but the chances of me getting back into some of my smallest clothes seem fairly remote. But you never know.

I've stopped stressing about it now though - I am fully prepared to accept that my body shape may have changed permanently ... although it won't stop me having a shot at getting back to somewhere close to where I was! If I still don't get back there once my weekly running mileage equals what I was doing pre-pregnancy, then I'll just accept that I'm as slim as I'm going to be and that's it. I'm definitely not dieting - never have and never will. I like my food too much!

Someone mentioned (when DS was 4 months old) to me about wearing a corset pretty much as soon as you are out of hospital. Something to do with forcing the ribs and soft tissue back to where it should be. Apparrently it is something that celeb mums have done.

Note: I have no idea if it works or not or if it is just one of those crazy rumours that are started and someone mentioned it who haddn't tried it either.. I wouldn't want to try it as breast feeding was hard enough in mormal bras without wearing scaffolding too and I like to be able to breathe!!!

I don't think I'd want to try it either - especially not after having a C-section! I couldn't even wear 'normal' knickers for a while (i.e. non-Bridget Jones style) lt alone anything that compressed me still further!

I did get a flat stomach back after my first 2 doing lots of crunches, planks and aerobics teaching etc....just the waist was never the same. DH recons I actually looked better at 33 tone wise than when 23 when I had the tiny waist. But at 23 I was a gym bunny aerobics queen and never ran above 1 or 2 miles.

At 33 did more running than I ever had and a lot of weights as the gym I used to use offered a creche(now closed is the creche). Trained for a half marathon when most runs before this taianing had never been over 3 miles. And took part in local triathlons. In fact I never though of myself as a runner till the gym creche closed and my only constant training now is running with the pushchair or the turbo trainer in the garage.

I have never been less than a size 8 (only fell to that size when half mara training before i fell pregnant with no 3) and I will be happy when all my clothes fit not just the size 10 ones although there is not much left I can't wear now only a couple of paits of jeans.

I need to train for a half mara again as the last one I did was completed in 2 hours and 1 minute. I want to do under 2 hours so I'm not a super fast runner. Maybe when DS is in nursery I can do a marathon one day. My long run (with pushcahir) is back up to 8 miles so I will be building from there for our local half in October.

Oh dear I'm rambling now so I need to go as it is my tur to get the beer. Nice quiet eve in kids asleep and DH and I are treating ourself to a beer or too.

Hi all.

Tracey just wondered which buggy you use to train with? I'd be interested to know how you've got on!

Don't think I'll be trying the corset!!!

I useed a teutonina 3 wheeler style pushchair for the first 6 months with DS that I had for first DD who is now 6. It has a lie flat possition so it was Ok to start with and we were only going around a very flat steady block.

It was fine then for DD as then I only ran up to 2 miles with it maximum with the oldest and the rest of the time it was fab for dog walking but very heavy and big to lug in and out of the car. So for car we use a mothecare cheapn cheerfull buggy.

When I stared running 4 and 5 miles and was regularly coverind 3 miles 3 times a week I appealed for DH for a lighter pushchair specifically designed for running. So for DS at 6 months( this jogger is only suitable from 6 months+) we got a babbyjogger performance with the 20inch wheels.

It has a really long wheelbase, reclines for an older child to sleep, has a good firm harness and the sun cannoppy is very good as it is in 3 pieces and you can almost pull it over them completely. So no worries if the hat won't stay on. Ours came with a raincover and some sheepskin covers for the straps. For running it is great, if the wind is behind you it runs itself (so I always attach the saftey strap to my knickers). It is hard to jog into wind but more streamlined than my other. In my first month I have taken 3-4 mins of the longer run times and my 5k best this year is 25.20 without 26.19 with pushchair and it was nearly 30 mins with the older jogger.So I recomend it for running and dog walking. I managed to get it for around £250 online with the accessories but I think money well spent as 4 of 5 runs each week are with it.
Nugative side it is quite big and you would need a big boot to drive it anywhere and the front big wheel gets in the way when I nip to the shops but I have a small buggy to do this job if needed.

Must go DS ready for bed now and crying. Feel free to ask further Q's if needed

Thanks Tracey - that's really worth knowing about, you start looking into these things and find that you haven't got a clue what to really look for! Didn't want to spend a fair amount of money and find that it was useless. I don't have family close by to look after the baby when it arrives so a baby jogger is a really good option.

On a separate note - has anyone tried the pushymums classes? They're just starting up in Cardiff and wondered if anyone else has any experience of them.

Janie - what are Pushymums classes?

Tracey, your baby jogger sounds really good. We haven't got one, mainly because we have to keep Kit's main pushchair in the boot of the car due to lack of space in the house so definitely wouldn't have room for two buggies! Also, I decided once he was born that running time would be time out for myself - I guess I'm fairly lucky though in that hubby is happy for me to run three evenings during the week when he gets home from work so I don't have to worry about having to find time during the day. If I did then I would certainly look into the idea of a baby jogger.

I took Kit on the Tube yesterday. Hubby's colleagues have been demanding that he take Kit in at some point, so I decided to bite the bullet. He was a little angel! He slept most of the way and was charming everyone with his smiles and gurgling noises while he was in hubby's office. Made me realise though how bad the Tube is in terms of access for disabled people (and mums with pushchairs!) There are stairs EVERYWHERE. I simply had no choice but to rely on the kindness of fellow passengers to help me up and down flights of stairs. I hate appearing helpless but there's no way I could have managed on my own. More ramps are needed!! I won't be doing that again in a hurry though ...

Hi Mitts - it's a post-natal exercise class with your baby and buggy. The website is http://www.pushymothers.com/Pushy%20Mothers.html don't know how gentle/strenuous it is and wondered if anyone had had any experience. Thought it could be a good way of meeting other mums locally too. Thought it also might be a good way back into exercise - it was mentioned in an article in 220 (triathlon) magazine recently.

Sounds like the tube must be a nightmare with a young baby. You don't realise when you're running through on your own how bad it must be with a small child.

Been back to the mw again today and all is fine - hurrah! Hoping that everything can continue to be ok for the birthing centre, my normal mw had a really good feel to ensure that the head was still cephalic and is happy that it is starting to engage. It's not engaging yet but the area is very tender so she thinks it probably is fairly imminent.

Sounds good Janie! I have to say that IF I ever have another baby I will find it very hard to believe any midwife who tells me my baby is cephalic and engaged - I had three midwives all tell me that and Kit was undiagnosed breech. There's no way he turned at the last minute either - there was absolutely no room for him to do so as I was literally all baby, and I definitely would have felt it. But I hope yours have got it right!

Apart from my waist, I am pretty much back to how I was pre-pregnancy now. I tried on clothes I couldn't get done up a month or two ago and they now fit fine - if anything are a bit loose again. I can even get into my smallest jeans but have to say I've completely gone off them! Had them a good few years before I got pregnant and they just look kind of wrong now. I wanted to be able to get back into them just to know I could get back to where I was pre-pregnancy so mission accomplished - now it's time to go shopping I think! It's amazing that in the few weeks I've been back running (four now) my figure really seems to have come back - and I've only been running about 10 miles a week as have had to build up slowly due to hurting my back by trying to do too much too soon. So glad I can run again - I really missed it!

Well done Minks, good to hear you are back on the road and comfortable with your shape, not sure I'll ever reach that happy place ;-)

I'm running the Wycombe Half Marathon in 2 wks, my goal is to try and run a half in under 2hrs by the end of the year, so I’m looking forward to this.
Apparently you are supposed to be able to run faster Post-Natally, I've not found it to be true althoughI might have the odd spurt when I think about how much my babysitter is costing.

Almost back to my post-pregnancy weight I just have to try and be a bit more disciplined with the junk food.
I love biscuits and cakes and used to be able to get away with it when I could train for longer.

Me too Tonia; realised the other week that I was eating as though I was running 40 miles a week, not 10! Have stopped buying biscuits and cakes, which I craved towards the end of my pregnancy. Interestingly I've now gone off them again.

Actually, I've found looking after a baby is great for the waistline - I barely have time to think about food. Certainly no time to sit around snacking - I'm lucky if the little fella lets me get lunch in some days!

Good luck with the half marathon. I haven't even thought about racing yet - probably won't do so until the beginning of next year as I feel my fitness has a long way to go before I feel able to do myself justice in a race. Not expecting PBs when I first start back but would like to manage a decent time for my own self-esteem.

Hello, please may I join in??

Just starting running again after a 10month break due to having a wee little baby! Completed a 49.22 8K the day before I found out I was PG but finding it hard work/...like starting all over again!

Need a good support crew!

Viki

Hi Viki,

Think I'll know exactly how you feel in a few weeks time. I've got just under three weeks to go but know I'm going to need to do something very soon after having the baby. My biggest worry is going out to fast too soon. There's a few of us who'll be 'graduating' from the Pregnant Runners Club within the next few weeks so I think the forum may have few people in the same boat!

There's some real inspiration on here already from various mums so hopefully we can get going together!

Viki (and Janie) - DON'T try to do too much too soon, or worry about pace or what you were doing pre-pregnancy. How soon you can start again will depend on the kind of birth you have and how you feel in the first few weeks after the little one arrives.

I had great intentions of being Superfit Supermum - back running within a week or two of the baby arriving - but the reality was rather different. I had an unexpected C-section which, looking back, really knocked the stuffing out of me. I tried to carry on as normal, not really resting much or allowing others to wait on me, and in retrospect I was really shattered. Started back running after about 6 weeks - despite being advised by the hospital to wait 4-5 months! I was shocked at how slow I was and how unfit I felt, especially as I'd managed to carry on doing a small amount of running until 32 weeks pregnant.

Rather than taking it slowly I launched straight back in to doing 4 runs of 3 miles each per week. This lasted two weeks before I strained my back. I don't know if I did it running or if I did it lifting Kit in his car seat and the running exacerbated it, but on the advice of an osteopath I stopped again completely for two weeks. Lesson learned, I built up much more gradually as soon as I started back again.

I completely forgot about what I was doing before (I ran a 3:23 marathon the month before I conceived) and went right back to basics following a beginners' schedule. I'm much better when I follow a schedule and am not tempted to do anything other than what is down in black and white. I've now been running again for four weeks and am happy to report no further back problems. You have to remember that the hormone relaxin that softens all your joints and ligaments in preparation for the baby's passage through the birth canal can remain in your body for about 6 months after the birth, making you much more susceptible to injury.

My first few runs were at around 9:30 minute miles, and now I'm able to run 7:45 pace once I'm well warmed up. I haven't pushed it though - I've let the pace return naturally as my fitness slowly returns.

My advice would be to take it slower than you think you need to. You have the rest of your life to be a runner again - why rush it?

Hi Jane and Minks, thanks for the welcome.

Jane, good luck for the impending addition to your family. Dont worry too much about rushing out the door to get back to running. You will need to take it easy for the first couple of months, if not just due to lack of sleep!! My little one is 9 weeks old today and I haven't slept for more that 3hrs at a time for 2months! It is surprising how quickly you get used to so little though and they are all worth it.

Minks, I hear what you are saying about the aspirations of being a superfit supermum. I also have a 2.5 yr old and it took me 18months before I started running again after he was born so I have been committed to not leaving it so long this time around. I have been taking it really easy and mainly doing run/walk sessions to ease my body back in. That first post baby run is a real eyeopener for the reality of the effects of pregnancy. I felt sooooo unfit! I do agree though that there is no rush and there is no shame in taking it slow and easy.

Hi
I eased myself soooooo gently back in to running but I think it is paying off now. I started at 7 weeks post birth after I had got the all clear from my gyno. Even though I have been running since I was nine(with a huge break from 18 - 30) I started back with walking breaks. I never felt like I really needed to walk (and had to swallow my pride to do this)but was ultimately so excited about getting back into running that I didn't want to jeapordise things. I am now running normally (6 months on) 5 times a week and have done 2 races which have gone well. I think come Autumn I will be back to where I was.
I was also surprised at how unfit I was but it seemed to come back quickly. I had a natural birth to a heavy baby and I remember it feeling weird down below the first time out as if something may fall out. I was fairly good the first 6 weeks at doing pelvic floor exercises.
I love my running "me" time...I have to fight for it at times and have become an opportunist...I will run at the drop of a hat whether the sun is beating down, it is late at night, I have just eaten etc otherwise I would probably only manage 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I wish I could just shut my eyes while I am running!

Thanks everyone - that's really good advice from all of you - if I give any inclination of starting out too soon can you shout at me please??? (I mean that too!)

Minks - seem to remember you mentioning a programme that you used to get back into running - it sounds like it has really worked - I'd be really grateful if you could let me know what it is. I can then have it ready to go when I'm given the all clear and won't be trying to battle round for a decent programme or worse still trying to do it myself! It's so easy to forget what it was like when you first started... Oh and very good tip about having the rest of your life to get back to being a runner...

Austro - I can't believe your little one is 6 months - it doesn't seem like yesterday that we were speculating on whether you had had him! Time flies so quickly...

With regards to regaining fitness - it's amazing how quickly it can come back isn't it? I took twelve years of swimming and was back to comparable form within 3 months, muscles are quite amazing....

Thought would join in. Not much time for forums as my two are so mobile now am rushed off my feet, presently sitting quietly playing together so nows my chance!

I started back at 4 weeks, but was very hard. I jogged until 26 weeks then walked and swam, but even so. Started off with 10 minutes, of run 3 mins, walk 1min. then progressed up to 20 mins before I attempted to run without without a break. Am now up to 50 mpw, and entered a half in October when boys will be 1.

I find it hard though as the boys are exhausting, even though they sleep very well, I fall into bed by the end of the day.

Good to hear you are doing so well Minks. I am still 7lbs heavier (now 7 stone 13) than before pregnancy but can live with that for now, am useless at dieting as love my food far too much!

My two are still pretty small for their age 16lb and 18lb at nearly 9 months, but that just means being so light they get themselves round the room rather quickly!!