Returning to Running After Baby: When Is It Safe?

Current physiotherapy guidelines say running before 12 weeks postnatal is not appropriate for most women, and even at 12 weeks readiness should be individually assessed rather than assumed from the calendar. The 6-week check does not indicate readiness for running.

This is not about being cautious for the sake of it. It is about understanding what the evidence actually shows - and using that to return in a way that protects your long-term function.

Why doesn't the 6-week rule apply to running?

The "cleared at 6 weeks" milestone is deeply embedded in postnatal culture. But current evidence-based guidelines are clear: the 6-week GP check does not indicate readiness for running. It has never been a physiological measure of pelvic floor or musculoskeletal readiness for high-impact exercise.

In 2019, physiotherapists Tom Groom, Glynis Donnelly, and Emma Brockwell published guidelines for returning to running postnatally that have become the international reference standard. Their recommendation is that running before 12 weeks is not appropriate for most postnatal women, and that even at 12 weeks, readiness should be individually assessed rather than assumed.

What happens at the 3, 6, and 12 month milestones?

Understanding what your body is doing at each stage helps you set realistic expectations.

At 6 weeks: Uterine involution is mostly complete, but connective tissue, muscle strength, and neuromuscular coordination are still significantly affected by pregnancy hormones and the physical demands of new parenthood. Running at this stage routinely places forces through the pelvic floor that it is not yet equipped to manage.

At 3 months: For many women, this is the earliest appropriate time to begin a graduated return to running - and only if specific criteria are met. These include the absence of pelvic floor symptoms (no leaking, heaviness, dragging, or pain), the ability to perform functional strength benchmarks, and progression through an impact-loading preparation phase.

At 6-12 months: Tissue remodelling continues. Relaxin levels drop (if not breastfeeding) and pelvic floor and abdominal strength can be rebuilt more effectively. For women who had significant birth injuries, 12 months may be a more realistic timeline for comfortable return to regular running.

Which readiness criteria should you actually meet?

The Goom, Donnelly, and Brockwell guidelines include specific functional criteria for assessing readiness. Before beginning a return-to-run programme, you should be able to walk briskly for 30 minutes without symptoms, jog on the spot for 1 minute without symptoms, perform 10 single-leg calf raises, 10 single-leg bridges, and 10 single-leg squats on each side without symptoms or difficulty, and have no leaking, heaviness, or pelvic pain during any of these activities.

"Symptoms" includes not just leaking but also pelvic heaviness, dragging, pain at the pelvic floor, and any bulging sensation. These signals indicate the pelvic floor is under more load than it can currently manage.

How do you build up correctly?

When you do begin a return to running, a walk-run progression is the appropriate starting point. The Couch to 5K style structure works well postnatally - starting with 1-minute running intervals interspersed with longer walking periods, and progressing every one to two weeks based on symptoms rather than a fixed schedule.

Run on flat terrain initially. Hill running and trail running significantly increase pelvic floor load. Use a well-fitted sports bra and supportive footwear. If you are breastfeeding, feed before running (fuller breasts affect posture and gait). Monitor symptoms during and for 24 hours after each run - some pelvic floor responses are delayed.

What if running causes symptoms?

Leaking, heaviness, or pelvic pain during or after running is a signal, not a normal part of returning to exercise. It means the current load is exceeding what your pelvic floor can manage at this stage. The appropriate response is to reduce the running volume, strengthen foundations further, and seek a physiotherapy assessment if symptoms persist.

Running through pelvic floor symptoms does not toughen the floor up. It places repeated stress on tissue that is not yet ready, and can contribute to or worsen prolapse over time.

The Postnatal Recovery programme builds exactly the foundations you need before returning to running - and progresses them in the right order. Think of it as the preparation, so that when you do lace up, you are setting yourself up for a long, symptom-free relationship with running.