r/fitpregnancy • u/RevolutionaryRoof886 • 1d ago
25+2 and running isn’t fun
Hey everyone, I love this group and trying not to totally compare to some of you baddies that are making me feel super inadequate 😂I’ve been struggling the past 5 weeks or so with pelvic floor discomfort when I run. I started pelvic floor PT and use a belly band but it’s just not comfortable anymore, and run-walk for 3 miles is pretty much my max. Pre pregnancy I was in a marathon training cycle and even if I wasn’t training I was generally getting about 20 miles per week. I guess I just see a lot of you still talking about running until 30 weeks plus and so is this really abnormal? My plan is to transition to elliptical and swimming over the summer, but I want to keep running “as long as possible” if it’s not painful. Thanks for your takes!!
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u/Franzy48 1d ago
Honestly, I am being humbled myself, I was pretty active my first pregnancy and ran a little up until like 35 and also weightlifted until 38 ... This pregnancy I haven't run since the end of the second trimester because it would just wreak havoc on my pelvic floor and even WALKING is now killing me, even short walks I'm often dying of round ligament pain and other random sharp muscle cramps. Who even knows. Apparently not all pregnancies are the same.
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u/ohnoitsroro 1d ago
Had to stop running at 25 w in my second pregnancy, but still going strong at 27 w now. I am hoping to keep going until 30 w and then transition to the elliptical/bike. In my second pregnancy, I was stopping to pee every .5 mile and was just so over it. This time around, I am still able to do 2-3 miles before needing to pee as long as I run in the AM.
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u/peacetea2 1d ago
I’m in the same boat! I stopped running I think around the same time, by 30 weeks even a mile was too much pressure. I figured I’ll get back to it after, I don’t want to risk any damage to my pelvic floor or anything by pushing myself. I’m walking, swimming and doing heavily modified CrossFit still but that’s it!
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u/SubiSforzando 1d ago
I'm 19 weeks and my run yesterday was the first time SPD got me during a run. It was awful! I was able to run/walk the rest of my 5k by focusing on engaging my pelvic floor while running and relaxing it while walking, but man it sucked.
Still, even if this keeps happening and I have to stop running soon, I managed to keep it going for 19 weeks! That's a whole 19 weeks I could've made excuses and sat on the couch for, but I was able and determined to show up every week. I'm proud of myself! And I'm proud of you!
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u/pineappleandpeas 10h ago
I had SPD pain for like 10 days around 18 weeks and then it went, and now i'm at 22 and able to run again even downhills and not get it, so i think it can come on phases. Just don't rule out running, i rested for a few days till it settled and hiked for a week then got back running.
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u/SubiSforzando 9h ago
Thank you!! I'm supposed to run again today and I am dreading it tbh haha. I do have a belly band now, so fingers crossed that helps, but now I'm really hopeful that it'll get better overall with time/stretches!
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u/pineappleandpeas 9h ago
I think it was like my relaxin peaked a bit and it took a while for my muscles to catch up to support everything again. Wel that's my theory 😂 since it did get better.
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u/No_Independence_282 1d ago
Was the SPD only an issue during the run? Or did you have issues after
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u/SubiSforzando 1d ago
The actual pain was only during the first mile; I start walking (and then running again) after that and the pain went away almost immediately. I also did the happy baby pose for a couple minutes right after I finished my 5k. I still had some mild discomfort for about 30 mins after, but by the time I got out of the shower I felt better.
That said, I've had some pain right in my pubic symphysis for about a full day or two after running very early on in pregnancy (around weeks 4-6). I've always had a tight pelvic floor (peeing during deadlifts sucks let me tell you haha), so I assume that was mostly due to not relaxing/stretching enough.
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u/Effective_Net_9145 1d ago
Remember that every week is different. Pregnancy is unpredictable. U might feel this way for couple of weeks then fine for the next .
Also listen to ur body . The more u care about its need the better/fit/healthier u r even if it didn't look like it . Its a mental game at this point
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u/Slacklark 1d ago
I just turned 23 weeks and starting week 22, running became suddenly way more uncomfortable. More pelvic and bladder pressure which was causing me to change my gait. More fatigue, harder to run even at my usual slow 10-11 min pace. I'm not even an aggressive runner--2-4 miles at this pace, hitting 2-7 miles weekly.
,I'm still going every now and then because it's still fun, but it's definitely harder and I think I'll have to stop in not too long.
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u/obstinatemleb 1d ago
Dont feel bad about not running anymore, every body and every pregnancy is different. Remember that a lot of women dont work out at all during their pregnancy! Personally Ive been running a lot less than pre-pregnancy and mostly on the elliptical, which helps a lot with the discomfort.
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u/Icy-Dealer 1d ago
I have a similar due date and running is hit or miss for me right now. I’ve found that it’s easier earlier in the day, but end of day when I’m otherwise full and bloated it adds pressure. I’ve told myself I’m going to only do it as long as it’s comfortable - I live in nyc so I’m sure I will be limited by the summer heat soon anyways!
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u/blueskyblue3y3 1d ago
I’m a former D1 runner and felt the same disappointment when I had to stop running around the same time as you. I went to pelvic floor PT and she was very reassuring - she assured me that, very commonly, running just isn’t comfortable for people when they are pregnant. I would think of those who are still keeping up substantial mileage as the outliers, not you
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u/No_Independence_282 1d ago
Ran for an hour an 15 weeks and I think I’m done already. This is my second pregnancy and my belly popped a lot sooner and my body is really struggling to adjust to the new center of gravity. I’m very disappointed because it seems like a lot of people can at least run through their second trimester but this means i won’t be able to run again until I’m 12 weeks post partum and even longer until I get to run for a full hour. I’m going to just do 12 3 30 on a treadmill and enjoy being out of the heat this summer.
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u/Ill-Atmosphere-2738 1d ago
My last pregnancy I pushed through the discomfort until 32ish weeks. Unfortunately that resulted in postpartum pelvic floor issues despite me doing PT all throughout pregnancy. Everyone’s body is different, so I learned to just listen to mine 🤷♀️ this pregnancy I switched to walking, Pilates and weightlifting only after like 11 weeks
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u/Display-Dry 1d ago
You might have seen my post about feeling like I rode a bike for over a week after my last little 2 mile run which I ran/walked (16 weeks). I really had high hopes for running just 1x a week through pregnancy as I made it through the first 12 weeks keeping that up without issues. But I’m just choosing to set my ego and pride aside and listen to my body.
Side note, anyone follow justmissamanda on IG? She was a former Ultra runner before pregnancy and ran an Ultra and one (two?) marathons really late into pregnancy. I’m dying to know if she really felt fine the whole time or was dealing with issues behind the scenes
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u/Top_Asparagus7 1d ago
I’m with you! I felt great running a week or two ago and was so optimistic that I could continue for at least another month or two. then at 16 weeks it just felt like way too much downward pressure. it feels so early but I guess I’ll just keep up with biking and hiking from now on.
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u/Every-Butterfly-3447 11h ago
Hi! I am 23w right now and still have my mileage up but am def starting to feel it in my back and lower belly (not honestly sure if its my pelvis or what lol) so am coming to terms i may not be a run till labor kind of girl.
Ive always been interested in potentially doing a tri so if and when I do need to start incorporating those more I am going to view it as an exciting opp for me to develop those skills with the idea that eventually I will run a tri 😄 idk if that mindset helps you but im prepping myself for the eventual sadness of cutting back running by thinking like that!
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u/mishkamorris 1d ago
I had to stop running at about 23 weeks. It was incredibly uncomfortable in my pelvic floor and just didn’t feel good anymore. I kept up walking and strength training - I’m almost 35 weeks now and will keep both activities up for as long as they feel good. I don’t think anyone should be pushing themselves to run if it doesn’t feel good whilst pregnant!