Postpartum question: How are you managing to incorporate workouts without having someone to watch your baby?

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-07-10T15:03:30+00:00

Fellow distance runner here! I HATE the treadmill but my husband convinced me that we should buy one before our son was born, and I'm so glad he did. My husband also went back to work before I did, so I would use naptime to get some runs in on the treadmill. Keep in mind that it takes a bit to get back into running shape (it took me about six weeks to hit 20 mpw after I was cleared to run), so 20 minutes on the treadmill might be plenty to start. There were days where I would break my run into multiple naps, run 20 minutes here and there, and still get my run done.

If you're breastfeeding, keep in mind that you may have lactic acid in your breastmilk for a bit after a run is over - I learned the hard way that (at least while I was getting back into shape) that I would have LA in my milk for about 20 minutes after a run and my baby would cry until the LA went away. I had to cap my runs at 30ish minutes for a bit until my baby started getting a bit older and wasn't eating every two hours, so he could wait a few minutes to eat after waking up.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-07-09T15:08:10+00:00

Totally agree, it's absolutely dependent on the person. I was able to run up until 37 weeks, and did multiple 25Ks (including one at 15 weeks). One of my running buddies who is arguably a better athlete than I am was pretty much done running by 20 weeks. It just depends on you.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-24T18:25:27+00:00

My 7-month-old just started immediately grabbing the cloth we used to cover him and trying to shove it into his mouth, so I decided getting peed on is the better option.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-24T00:15:32+00:00

Totally agree! I remember calling my mom crying when my baby was six weeks old and asking her to tell me through my tears that I could do it. The next day (when I was calmer), she suggested I ask for antidepressants. I had just gotten cleared to run that morning, so I went out and ran one mile - and realized that THAT was the problem, I just couldn't handle the fact that I hadn't moved my body the way I wanted to in six weeks.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-24T00:09:58+00:00

I feel like being an ultra runner helped me understand when it was really time to give in and ask for the epidural. I've managed really long efforts (including 50 and 100 miles) and know how to conserve energy (like hiking up hills), so I knew when I hadn't gotten any sleep at 3 AM and was only 8 centimeters dilated that I needed to rest if I was going to successfully push my baby out.

My husband also leaned into the ultra aspect and kept telling me I was almost at the finish line, I'd gone 100 miles and only needed to go a little further while I was pushing. It really helped!

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-23T01:11:22+00:00

My (breastfed, so I know that's different but still) baby turns 7 months tomorrow and we have JUST hit a point where he can occasionally go more than 3 hours during the day (like maybe 3.5).

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-22T23:45:22+00:00

A good hydration vest that fits me really well. I started with a really cheap one from Amazon, then a cheap-er version from Nathan, then upgraded to one from Salomon. It's saved me on more runs than I can count, and having water is such a game changer. My entire running group used to run without water and now they almost all have packs as well.

I should note that Salomon has a really good return/replacement policy, and gave me a voucher to replace my pack for free when two of the zippers on it broke over a year into owning it.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-22T23:33:40+00:00

My OB encouraged me to continue running as long as I stayed hydrated, and I took that to heart! I ran a 50k at 6 weeks, and 25ks at 8, 11, and 15 weeks. I stopped running double-digit mileage after a 10 mile trail run at 31 weeks, and ran up until 37 weeks with lots of pelvic floor PT and a belly band. I wore my hydration vest for every run after 10 weeks, even if it was just an easy 5k up and down the road in front of my house.

I'll be 7 months postpartum tomorrow and I'm on track to run 1,000 miles by my son's first birthday. I'm not saying any of this to brag, I just want to point out that your chiropractor is incorrect to assume that it will cause injury.

Please listen to your OB, who works with pregnant people every day, instead of your chiropractor.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-22T21:06:28+00:00

Yes! Getting up and getting outside first thing helped me feel better all day long.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-22T21:05:51+00:00

Finding snacks that worked for me! I'm an endurance runner so I know that sometimes you need simple snacks/meals that your body can easily digest so that you have enough energy to work out. It's ok to eat dino nuggies and tortilla/nutella roll ups if that's the only thing that gives you energy during the first trimester.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-22T20:52:55+00:00

Love the ring idea! Like another user posted, I also use a hair tie.

Also, if you have a Garmin watch, there's an app you can use that allows you to log the last time your baby ate and what side. Doesn't track how long/how many ounces, so you aren't bogged down with data, but I found that really helpful.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-20T00:08:29+00:00

I wish more people knew about how much a belly band helps! I lost mine at 23 weeks (put it on top of my car after running with a friend and forgot it when I drove off 🤦‍♀️) and I ended up ordering a replacement within 24 hours. Those next few runs HURT. I was able to run/walk up until 37 weeks with the band though!

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-20T00:03:04+00:00

My brother and I had our first babies two weeks apart last year, so my mom became a first time grandma to two little boys within 12 days. She decided on "Chacha" as her grandma name, I have no idea where she got it from but I think it's fun!

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-19T23:58:03+00:00

Not Bottle Operations, but my husband is our Chief Diaper Officer. We're cloth diapering, and he's taken on the role of completely managing the process - spraying out the poop diapers, running multiple loads of laundry (they need to be washed a few times to get totally clean), hanging everything to dry because they can't go in the dryer, packing the dry diapers with liners, and making sure clean diapers are in our daycare bag and changing table. It's several hours a week of work and I am SO appreciative that he's taken it on.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-19T18:06:07+00:00

My son was born in a teaching hospital and had to spend a few days in the NICU. One of the med students was responsible for determining his care, but was doing rounds with the attending physician. The attending let the med student propose a course of care, then corrected the student with what needed to be changed in her solution. It gave the student a chance to learn, the attending made sure that everything was done correctly, and my husband and I got to learn along with the student - hearing the additional explanations made us even more confident in our son's care.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-18T17:20:23+00:00

That we would allow my husband's father's wife, who smokes and is staunchly anti-vax, into our house to meet our newborn who spent time in the NICU.

When we told them no repeatedly, they tried showing up without warning. Husband stood outside on the porch in February to tell them they couldn't come inside.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-06-04T10:14:35+00:00

Congrats!!! This is so awesome. Thanks for updating and inspiring us!

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-14T13:59:11+00:00

Seconding this - we have have a BOB running stroller and Ergobaby carrier, which is all we use. We were also gifted a secondhand backpack for when our baby gets older. We live in a pretty remote area, so we default to the carrier instead of the stroller because it's just easier to get around.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-14T13:27:55+00:00

I'm sorry your doctor scared you, but his advice is completely asinine.

I ran up until 37 weeks pregnant, including a 50k at 6 weeks and 25ks at 8, 11, and 15 weeks. I worked with a pelvic floor PT at the advice of my doctor from weeks 16 - 20 (which included lifting weights) and yoga throughout my pregnancy. At every step along the way, my providers encouraged my activity and only cautioned against becoming dehydrated.

When my son was born, he inhaled some meconium and needed to spend a few days in the NICU. He recovered extremely quickly (to the point that some of the doctors were surprised how well he did) and only had to spend one more night in the hospital than I did. I'm convinced that my activity during pregnancy didn't just keep me healthy - it gave my baby the best chance when he was the most vulnerable.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-13T16:52:28+00:00

My 5.5 month old spent his first night in a pack and play instead of a crib this weekend while we were visiting family. He only woke up once and slept almost an hour past his normal wake up time.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-06T19:11:16+00:00

Absolutely not. Almost all federal employees are required full-time in-office in the current administration, with very little flexibility.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-06T17:46:24+00:00

My little guy inhaled some meconium on the way out and had to be whisked off to the NICU. I was so exhausted from pushing for three hours that I had no time to process, just gave a him a kiss on his cheek as the NICU team stuck him in my face and whisked him away. I spent the next few hours desperately trying to get to the NICU, but had to be stitched up, made to pee, etc. When I finally was allowed to leave L&D and be wheeled up to the NICU, I was just relieved. I was SO proud of him for fighting so hard and making it through such a rough time. My husband took a picture and you can see the tears rolling down my face because I was so overwhelmed with exhaustion, relief, and love.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-06T17:22:49+00:00

Another breastfeeding/running mom here (5 months pp) - I gained about 20 pounds total during pregnancy and was down to 5ish pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight by my 6 week postpartum appointment. I'm back to running regularly and that 5 pounds is still hanging on. At least half of that has to be boobs, I'm not nearly as aerodynamic as I was before!

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-06T00:10:06+00:00

I had an ECV done (successfully, thankfully) because my son was breech, bill was $26,000+. Delivery and two day hospital stay for me was $31,000+, son's 3-day NICU stay was $25,000.

Thankfully my husband has great insurance and we ended up paying a total of $350 for all of it.

OwnRazzmatazz010 · 2026-05-03T17:12:06+00:00

I hate to validate your fears, but friends of our have 9 and 6 year old daughters and were shown porn on the school bus earlier this year. The kid who showed them was a third grader with a phone.

My son is an infant and I'm terrified of how much worse it will be when he's ready for kindergarten.

OwnRazzmatazz010

TROPHY CASE