When it comes to returning to running postpartum, there is a lot of confusion out there on what to do and when to do it, how much to do and what not to do.

Here are some tips to clear those things up.

What NOT to do:

Don’t do what I did after the birth of my second by starting with too much too soon. I ended up prolonging my overall recovery in the long run. I just wanted to be able to run and feel normal again, and so I pushed the mileage and the frequency…and I paid for it.

As a runner, I found it difficult, frustrating and upsetting reading posts in the running facebook groups I was in about moms who were returning even earlier than 6 weeks!!

And now, when I see those kinds of posts, I think:

No, just no.

Don’t head back before your body has healed and is ready. It’s not safe or sensible to head back to the road or trails too soon.

How to return to running postpartum safely

My own return to running journey has made me super passionate about helping other moms. I want moms to return to running safely and in the BEST way possible.

Since the birth of my third baby, my recovery and return to running postpartum has been SO much better. I’m able to run more consistently a LOT sooner than I was with my son a few years ago.

I’ve done research and applied the principles and I can say for sure that following these 4 tips works!!

Don’t muddle your way through it and try to figure out what you need to do. Here’s your 4 step plan on returning to running postpartum. AND here’s how you can do it without injury and rehab your pelvic floor safely:

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Start as soon as you’re ready after birth with easy walks. Build the intensity, frequency and duration as you’re able. Read more on how to build your aerobic base HERE.

Do NOT skip this part! You HAVE to make sure that all the muscles involved with running are strong enough to support you before you actually start running. Otherwise, you are at risk for injury AND pelvic floor symptoms.

At 12 weeks, if you’ve done #1 &2 you can begin a gradual return to run program.

Healing takes a lot longer than most realize

When you go for your 6-week check up after giving birth, your body is hardly ready to resume regular activity.

The “all clear” at your 6 week follow up is actually old advice. Read more about why you should wait longer than 6 weeks here.

Most doctors are not familiar with proper rehab and recovery after having a baby. Sure, things might look/feel ok by their standards.

However, that doesn’t mean that your pelvic floor is healed enough to return to your prior level of function or other high impact activities like lifting weights, running or HIIT (high intensity interval training).

If you delivered vaginally, total healing time for the muscles, connective tissue, nerves, joints, etc. involved in the birthing process actually takes between 4 and 6 months.

If you delivered via cesarean, your abdominal tissues take 6-7 months to regain 73%-93% of it’s previous strength.

Point being, our bodies are still healing even when our little ones are already learning to sit up and crawl!

To really make sure your body is ready to withstand the forces and demands of running, get checked out by a PT.

A physical therapist can do a full assessment of your strength, your balance and your body’s overall ability to return to running safely.

Get started with these postpartum exercises

Start healing your pelvic floor and get ready to return to running with a comprehensive PDF guide of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Exercises. You can start doing these exercises as early as the day you give birth! They're perfect for ANY stage of motherhood. These exercises improve your posture, realign your spine and help with your pelvic floor health so you can get back to running without injury without pelvic floor issues. Click HERE for your Guide.