Breastfeeding?

Is it possible to train/race while breastfeeding?

Source: www.freepik.com


What the internet says: 

Yes, it is possible, there are some factors to keep in mind: 

  • Pump before you run
  • You need to eat more
  • Buy a new sports bra
  • Stay hydrated
  • You'll be tired because of hormones and lack of sleep
  • Have a milk stash ready to go
  • Don't push yourself too hard
(Carter, 2018)


What my friends say:

Gina: Yes, with both kiddos until they started taking full solid foods. 1st kiddo was around 11 months until fully weaned.  2nd kiddo was about 7-8 months until fully weaned.

Becky: I breastfed and trained for six months. 

Cathy: I breastfed my son on the start line of the Las Vegas Marathon. I found hydration and nutrition were extra important while training and breastfeeding.

Jackie: I breastfed until 8.5 months, slowly weaned by using my freezer stash of milk. Fully stopped pumping at 9 months (only pumped when I felt like I needed to) and now [the baby] is on formula at .5 months.


What to eat/drink while running and breastfeeding:

  • Iron-rich foods like meats, fish, leafy greens, and chocolate.
  • Drink milk.
  • Aim for five to seven servings of protein every day.
  • Stay hydrated.
(Heins, 2021)


My Reflection:

I would like to breastfeed if possible, although I know it is very dependent on the infant and the mother. I know that some women cannot produce enough milk. I also know that some infants have issues with latching, etc. I plan to be flexible with whatever works best for me and my baby.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog about training for a marathon post-childbirth.  My name is Alice Sherwin. I am a runner and teacher from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Running is my passion. It keeps me happy and balanced in my personal and professional life. I have run 8 full marathons (Personal best 3:00:47) and 20+ half marathons (Personal best 1:23:36). I have been running competitively since 2007. I am currently expecting my first child, due in early September and I am uncertain what that will mean for my future running. I am certainly not the first runner to have child, so my goal is to speak with other runners and medical professionals who might be able to weigh in on how the best is to return to running post childbirth. Most of the advice online is aimed towards recreational runners, but  I would like to create a step-by-step guide of how to get back to a competitive marathon in a healthy way. This is a project is based on my personal interest and I will use it to motivate m...
Read more

Putting It All Together - The Running Program

This is a tentative running plan, which means that there is room for flexibility and change. When making this program, I used previous running plans that I have used when coming back from injury. I feel that I have given myself a lot of time to ease back in to training, although I am prepared to slow it down even more if needed. In previous marathon training cycles, I have worked with my coach (my awesome husband) to come up with a plan, schedule, and workouts. I have used our regular marathon mileage and schedule in the second half of this program. I am also planning to work with my midwife, doctor, pelvic floor physio, regular physiotherapist for other issues (knees, back, shins, etc.), and massage therapists throughout this journey. When training for marathons previously, I have followed the schedule of running one long run, one interval workout, and one tempo every week. I also usually take one day off per week to allow for recovery. The other running days are negotiable. In the pa...
Read more

In Conclusion

Image
This project became a lot more extensive than I had planned. In retrospect, I think I could have interviewed my running friends OR done all of the other research, made the running program, etc. Throughout the production of this blog I have found myself in a state of "flow" several times. "Flow" refers to high levels of intrinsic motivation, concentrated effort, and positive mood  (Mehta & Fine, 2019, p.262) . It's the feeling you get when you are really excited about what you are learning, and you don't want to do anything else. I have been enraptured with this topic that I have been sharing my findings with running partners, co-workers, and family members. I feel that I have only touched the 'tip of the iceberg' when it comes to how it's going to be to have a child in September. Although I have spent [many] hours on this project, I think it will be useful for me to read and follow in this next chapter of my life and I hope it may also help s...
Read more