post-baby return to running week 2: in which I am frightened by a pheasant, plunged into a puddle, and stunted by my stupid shock absorber

[the_tea_fairy]

Hello dear ones! So much for weekly posts then.

Week 2 went beautifully, though here are 2 lessons learned...

Lesson 1: its definitely time to charge up the headtorch (I should have learnt this, I've got form: healthunlocked.com/couchto5... - running in the woods in the dark, deserted landscape, thinking about nothing, and suddenly a terrible unquiet spirit/forest monster/banshee rises clattering and shrieking in my face. It takes a good minute for me to realise the demon is in fact a startled pheasant, and another few to get my frantic heartbeat under control. Don't run blind, folks!

Lesson 2: that beautiful flat bit of untouched snow in the middle of the field? The one that's begging for footprints? Yeah; no it isn't. It is flat because the snow is over ice, not scrubby grass. And the ice is over 6 inches of thick muddy water. And it is not, oh no indeed most emphatically not, thick enough to support your weight. Don't wear your nice socks for running on the grounds that they can't get yukky from half an hour; you are wrong.

And the slightly crummy outcome of the week: running without a proper bra is too uncomfy, but my snazzy new Shock Absorber has given me mastitis, a persistent milk blister, and a cloggy milk duct that feels a little bit like having razor wire buried in my boob. Have decided I need to give it a rest until things are properly better, and since taking it a bit easy my post-birth collapsey pelvic floor has noticeably improved as well, so I am grudgingly listening to my body and calling it quits until after Christmas - I'll be back for a second attempt with all the new-years'-resolutioners!

Have any other breastfeeding runners got bra advice? I need support (after a lifetime of beestings I have milk-induced E cups and am not keen to give myself a black eye), but can't seem to tolerate any compression: my new, well-fitting Shock Absorber is great for support but it's ruinous to my milk ducts. Do I just give in and let gravity have its merry way?

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Gorgeous photos TF. Glad week 2 went well but sorry I can't help on the boob front 😩

Have a very Happy Christmas with your new little one x

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks beauty; my husband's already finished work so we're having lovely family time walking and cooking and loafing about by the woodburner eating obscene quantities of mince pies (I put figs in the mincemeat; that basically makes them one of my 5 a day, right?).

Have a happy Christmas yourself xx

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

Absolutely! Just like fruit cake, lemon meringue pie, walnut cake, ..........🙂

[Hidden]

Funny funny post! Not sure about the boob problem, when I was at that stage of my life, there were times when I couldn't even tolerate a slight breeze blowing over my decolletage. Maybe some compromise- a regular (nursing) bra, with a light sports bra on top, rather than the full scaffolding. Also, how about feeding (or expressing) just before you head out. I just googled running and breastfeeding and there is quite a bit of info

Very intrepid running BTW

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, and goodness yes about the breeze! I think once things are settled again I'm going to try some nursing-bra layering on the grounds that they're going to end up a bit National Geographic anyway (and, you know, maybe away from the tyranny of underwires and our twisted male-gaze-addled youth-fetishising culture, that's how grown-up boobs are meant to be) and I might as well carry on doing what I enjoy and sag, rather than be bored and sad with Titian-worthy tits

I've been feeding before going out anyway but maybe I need to be more vigilant about draining fully - good thought.

Anyway, am off to find the radio 4 gem you mentioned in your last post x

[UnicornTails]

This is the second time I've run whilst breastfeeding, the compression type sports bras just don't work for me so I need the type with definite cups so each boob is supported not just squashed in to one giant mono-boob. I'm currently running in a panache underwired sports bra but my nursling is almost a year and it's one of the few that go up to a J cup so don't have very much choice. Firstly I would say make sure you're wearing the right size, this measuring method is a lot more accurate than the methods used in most places booborbust.com/bra-measurin... or if you have a bravissimo I would go there, they are great at fitting bras properly and carry a few good options for sports bras.

I hope the mastitis is clearing up, it is bloody horrible, I've ended up with it 6 times so far with this nursling due to latch issues and over supply. Thankfully I've had absolutely no issues with my panache bra triggering a bout.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to UnicornTails]

Oh amazing, thanks so much for taking the time to reply! Have always avoided underwires for running because I change easily but I'll get myself to bravissimo and see if they can fit me well enough to negate that. The wee one's coming up to 4 months so theoretically we're past the rough patch, but actually had a really lovely straightforward start to breastfeeding and it's only recently my body's realised mastitis is a thing and started getting moody about it all 🤷‍♀️ 😐.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

*chafe, not change.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to UnicornTails]

Just popping back to say thanks again - got to bravissimo today and fitted as a 30G (rather than Debenhams' verdict of 34E) and have come home with the panache one as it was definitely the comfiest. Fingers crossed it'll be smoother going now. THANK YOU again.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you and glorious photographs...

There is a lot of info on this.. some here maybe??

whatiruninto.com/sports-bra...

You are doing brilliantly by the way

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks, will have a look 👍🏼

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Oh bless you! Mastitis is horrible, being kind to yourself and recovering is priority number one. My running days have come long after my feeding days, but are there specialist sports-while-nursing bras on line?

Sorry but the pheasant and intrepid Mum in temporary field lake made me chuckle ( in a very sympathetic way of course!!)

The photos are great! 😀

[aliboo70]

i don't have any advice but well done on your running progress ! hope someone can solve it for you! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your hubby and little one

[Slinkymalinki Graduate]

I'm in awe of your post baby running! I was similar with the beestings to E cup & sympathise with your conundrum & the dreaded mastitis. I can't really give any advice but remembering my own experience of feeding I would definitely get rid of the mastitis first, aim to run post feed if you can & keep your boobs well supported. I think the structure of the bra round the sides might be key to not obstructing the milk ducts. Or you could run with savoy cabbage leaves stuffed down your bra! But you might start to get a bit of a reputation whilst out running....! Good luck & all good wishes for the coming year. x

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to Slinkymalinki]

Laughing hard at the cabbage (and only slightly actually considering it 😉) - thanks for adding amusement to the night feed and merry Christmas x

[SaskAlliecat Graduate in reply to the_tea_fairy]

I remember my mom, a retired nurse, mentioning frozen cabbage leaves when I was struggling with getting my son to latch due to over engorgement and the pain of blocked ducts. At the time I thought she was looney but there is supposed to be something about it. Fortunately we got the latch thing figured out (my hero, the lactation consultant) so never had to go there and am no longer in that stage of life. Best of luck; I really hope you're able to get it figured out.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Yes, I think there's something anti inflammatory in them or something. His latch is great; have had it checked and he feeds really well: I think it's a combination of the pressure from running in a compression-style bra, and my ongoing love affair with cheese (apparently saturated fat in your diet makes duct-cloggy milk). We'll get there in the end, I'm sure!