Nursing Running Mommy

I'm on training today. "Maximizing Pivot Table" it says. I need to fill up my work training quota, and this is the official training quota for this year, despite it being the 3rd quarter of the year already. And I do love pivot tables. I like excel (and I think I'm good at it, at least to my surrounding). So reinforcing your knowledge on that area is a blessing.

So with the training on, and with the multitasker me (I simply find stuff to do, while doing other stuff), updating my blog seems like a natural thing to do. And let's hope that it will actually get finished by end of the day. But do I have anything worthy to write on? Hrm..I've been wanting to share about my nursing and running experience. So I think, here goes.

I have long benefitted from online sources for all my running knowledge. Be it the general fitness matters, or things associated with pregnancy, nursing and running. And not that I think mine would have a much better guides or reference compared to other. But if someone would have bumped into it and find it useful, I am so happy that I have done my part in spreading the goodness that comes with the 2; Nursing and Running. I had quite various sources after delivery, to prep me up for running, but the one that I can easily recall for now is definitely the one by Mile Post's Nursing and Racing. I was quite moved by it. And I only bumped into her page by accident (same way I bumped into NYC Running Mama). Only then that I know that she's very big in the running blogging sphere, and has followed her since. And every mommy's experience is definitely differs than others. So why not share mine.

Preparation.
I knew that I had to prepare my come back post pregnancy, before I actually delivered. But of course, not much research was done in that regard, as I was very much into running while pregnant. Once delivered, the thought of running kicked in just as fast. NYC Running Mama started hers like 5 days post partum. That is way to crazy for me. I got back into exercising after baby number 2 right after confinement (40 days). Was hoping that I could do the same after baby number 3. But things were not on my side. I had tingling ticklish pain at the area. Once the doc gave a go at 2 months, only then I dared myself enough. Plus I couldn't afford to take any risk. Hubs would be furious if I ran before I should. I even had some pain on the ribs. Was so worried about the possibility of slipped disc and whatnots. It wasn't that slight. It was quite worrying actually. But perskindol helped to remove it slowly. So lucky that the pain wasn't permanent. Ok, this has less relation to nursing. But it serves a point that I had some hardship, other than the nursing, but I still pursued my running endeavour.

Before that, I had prepared things like, a new phone pouch (I got my new Note 2 while in confinement. So running essentials need to be updated) and of course more research on how to handle your nursing needs while running and nursing.

For those that's not too familiar with nursing (those single bees and the mommy's who are less privileged to take up nursing), nursing is not an easy task. It, on its own is already complicated. With running, it's made even worse. And I salute those who bring their babies on stroller runs. I don't think people who see me running with a newborn be ok with the sight of me doing it, and hubs will totally be against it. So, reduced complexity for me, but less running flexibility for me.

1. Babies' wake up time is never predictable. At least to mine. and 6-7 is always the time that he has more tendency to wake up. And he would want to sleep again. With no milk, he will wake up, sleep deprived and be grumpy. So running plans totally rely on this so much. 
2. Newborn drink often. So only short runs are acceptable at this point. Lucky I was just recovering, so longer runs is not advisable as well.
3. It's always a choice of whether to pump before a run, or not. If u don't, then you'll be quite engorged while running (of course this is not a big concern anymore once the baby is bigger). If you do, the baby will wake up, and you will have to cancel your run.
4. Once you're back from your run, you'll be all sweaty, and the baby is ever in need of milk, and you'll be wondering whether is hygienic enough to give your sweaty boobs to the baby.
5. The milk quality and composition with running. I only came across this through the readings (that's why research is always important. There's so many sources of information available). Your hormonal level differs with running and any physical activity for that matter.
6. With races, how long will it take, where to store the milk, where to pump. How to ensure you will not get engorged once the race ends.
7. Once you're back to work, juggling training, nursing, work, finding time and the balance in between.

Those are one of those issues that I can think of at this point.

So the solution for those issues:

1. You need to be flexible. The baby related issues, of course will only happen if you are at home and not yet back to work. Hence, if you cannot do it in the morning, shift it to the evening. If both fails, move it to night runs. That's what I did. Of course with night runs, you will be limited to the route available. This is one other main consideration as well. Which running route will be safe enough and at what time. So you will always end up around your neighborhood area. So do your hamster loops. Some of my runs were done at 11 pm, some were at 9.30 ish. Depends. And of course, pray along your runs that your baby won't wake up, or will be fine with whoever looking after them that time. Trust me, I pray more with running. And there's so many reasons for it
2. I guess there's no solution for this. If you plan on longer runs, feed him more. If shorter, you can easily leave without filling him appropriately. And make sure you have readily available milk at home. I always reserve around 1 bottle at least
3. It's always better to pump before your run, especially if you are engorged. if you are not, then you might as well quickly do your run. Once you're back, get ready to do tandem nursing; direct latch 1 side, pump 1 side. It helps with the milk production boosting, help to have more stocks and helps to relief the engorgement. Being engorged can be nasty. Once it's blocked, it will be hard to relief it. There were a lot of mastitis cases. For my case, i think they were only clogged ducts. Multitask where u must
4. It's ok to be sweaty. The baby don't mind it 1 bit. Even until now (my baby is already 17 months, so he very much has his own preference, but he never minds it 1 bit). I didn't even bother to wipe (I had to make things quick). Of course it will be better if you can comfortably dry yourself up, change your clothes. But I didn't and it was fine. 
5. Maybe my baby was not that picky. But I never have this problem. To him it's indifference. So stop worrying too much. There might be some difference. But let's not teach them that, they'll get the hang of it. Whatever that can be simplified, simplified. But for certain, there must be some difference in taste. Just how different you urine looks, especially with long runs. But it's nothing harmful.
6. For races:
1. Prepare all your running and nursing essentials the night before. If you need gels and whatnots, have them ready. Nursing parts, have them safely packed and ready to go (I put it at the door, or anywhere reachable). Only leave the chiller in the freezer. Remember to bring them the next day
2. This is at least for me. Maximise your time at home. My timing is always just enough to reach race venue. Except for complex races like SCKLM. Motherhood and running are 2 important things for me. So I don't want things to be at the expense of the other. I choose both. It removes the guilt at the same time as well. hence it's super important.
3. Once you are in the car, pump first. I have the luxury of having my hubs with me on most races, so this has lessen the complexity. But there was time that I was on my own. So I pumped while driving. It's not advisable for safety reason. But if you use freestyle, it's very much possible. Explore the utmost potential of your Medela Freestyle. That's why I love it so much, that I had purchased it for the 2nd time. Whether you have a lot to pump or not doesn't matter. Just extract it out. It better be empty than engorged later. You don't know what't the timing like. And I don't have the luxury of having my baby waiting for me at the finishing line (unlike Michelle here).
4. Don't worry about washing the pump parts. as long as it's with the chiller, they should still be good and don't need to be cleansed. Just stuff it along your milk inside the cooler bag.
5. Back from the race, pump as soon as you can. Maybe you can have wet wipes and sanitizer around, to clean your dirty running hands.
7. Back to work, schedule the nursing time, so as not to clash with your running time. Adjust along the way, if somehow things don't go as planned. I just had a clash yesterday. Was supposed to do my normal lunch time run, but my meeting took longer than required, clashing into both nursing and running time. So, move the running afterwards. Always adjust and don't succumb.

All in all so far, I had 16 races, almost 250 km race mileage, ~2100km overall mileage, 3 half marathons all while nursing. It sounds too cliche, but really, nothing is impossible. If you are very much into something, you'll find your way around it. The moment you find the excuses, that's when your heart is not in it. 

My best buddy, running essentials