THE DEMANDS OF MOTHERHOOD CAN PUT YOUR RUNNING ON HOLD FOR A WHILE. HERE’S HOW TO COME BACK STRONGER – WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR YOU

WORDS: LAURA FOUNTAIN

Becoming a mum can put your running performances in perspective

Click on the hashtags #fitmoms or #postpartumfitness in Instagram and you’ll see plenty of pictures of toned abdomens next to swollen bellies depicting the changes women have achieved post pregnancy. But you’ll very rarely see anyone talking about working on their pelvic floor or practising breathing.

Whether you’re counting the days until you can run again or not, it’s important to spend time working on your pelvic floor and core muscles. Though they might not feature heavily in fitspo, they’re essential for both your general health and for a successful return to running. Focusing on these areas can mitigate against back pain and help with the general physical stresses of motherhood.

Dr Jessica Howitt is a GP with expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology. She’s also a new mum and a runner training for her next marathon. Dr Howitt explains: “The pelvic floor is a sheet of muscles that runs from your tailbone to the pubic bone at the front. It’s essentially the floor to your pelvis and helps to support the organs inside: the bladder, uterus and back passage. If it weakens, the organs aren’t so well supported and can start to move out of position, causing uncomfortable symptoms and leakage of urine.”

A lot of women think that if they’re not experiencing incontinence, they don’t need to worry about their pelvic floor, but this isn’t the case says Dr Howitt. “Your pelvic floor has been under a lot of pressure during pregnancy and delivery. Even if you feel normal, it’s likely to be weaker than before you were pregnant.