The Internet Told Me To Rest So I Went Running

Running is supposed to feel harder in pregnancy, but what if it’s the only thing that makes you feel better? We dig into a handful of fit pregnancy questions pulled straight from Reddit and give you a grounded, pelvic floor PT lens on what’s normal, what’s a red flag, and what’s simply your body asking for a different plan.

We start with first trimester survival mode: why easy aerobic activity like jogging, walking, or cycling can sometimes reduce nausea and boost energy, and why lifting can feel great one day and make you want to puke the next. I also share a practical nuance athletes don’t hear enough: hard bracing and breath-holding can increase intra-abdominal pressure and may worsen queasiness for some people, so adjusting intensity and breathing can keep strength training on the table.

Then we zoom out to postpartum recovery after C-section and the common blanket advice to avoid high impact for 12 weeks. We break down incision healing, scar remodeling, and why progressive loading matters, plus the tradeoff that rarely gets discussed: the risk of doing nothing and letting your core and hips decondition. From there, we tackle brown spotting after lifting, increased discharge after workouts, and the most emotional one of all: crying because you can’t run. We talk about maintaining aerobic fitness with alternatives like zone 2 cycling, and separating “cardio readiness” from “impact tolerance” when planning a return to running postpartum.

If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a training partner or new mom, and leave a review so more active pregnant and postpartum athletes can find the show.

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