This story is all over the news—a woman gave birth just hours after running/walking the Chicago marathon. She was 39 weeks pregnant with her second child and decided to run the race anyway.
What do you think? Crazy? Selfish? Awesome?
Here are some thoughts from twitter, some in support, others not so much:
I can see both sides of the fence on this one. I’ve run pregnant and it just hurts. I did the Disney 1/2 marathon at 18 weeks pregnant and that pretty much did me in for the rest of my recent pregnancy.
Then again, this woman has been running all the way through her pregnancy and she got the OK from her doctor to run the first half. She ended up walking the second half (her finish time was 6.5 hours) and she says she didn’t feel the first contraction until she finished. This is also the second marathon she has run during this pregnancy! She completed the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha in four hours and 23 minutes at 17 weeks pregnant, so clearly she is an experienced runner.
I’m curious gang, what do YOU think?
{ 21 comments }
I don’t see the issue. She was healthy, well trained, had a normal pregnancy, and was under doctor supervision. Every doctor will tell you that as long as you’ve been doing whatever exercise prior to/during pregnancy, there is NO reason why you can’t continue.
Heather´s last [type] ..The 5K Zombie
I’m all FOR running pregnant. I have run up to my due date with all three of my children. The longest run I did during my 3rd pregnancy was 13.1 miles. I had my dr’s approval. I listened to my body. Some days I walked a mile – others I ran 5. Any woman who has been 9 months pregnant knows that trained or not 26.2 miles is beyond hard on the body. Not to mention what the baby is going through. Is a suprise that she went into labor immediately? This should tell us something. I’m not juding this woman. To each is own. In my opinion it’s wrong and I’m sticking with that opinion.
@Mile Posts by Dorothy Beal: I agree that people should not run a marathon while this far along, but based on her time –i think she walked most of it? I was told to walk to get labor moving on my first (and overdue) baby. I definitely didn’t go 26.2 but it got labor moving along finally!
Totally agree with walking to get things moving
I’ve done it myself. I also tell other soon to be mommies to try it! I just don’t suggest 26.2 miles of walking.
She was obviously fit (cardiovascularly) and I’m sure she felt comfortable enough running or I don’t think she would have continued. I am all for women exercising/running during pregnancy. They just need to listen to their body (not compare with other pregnant women) and understand the stresses that are put on the body. Women should also know when to modify exercises if needed. Every woman carries differently, has different muscle/tissue strength and body alignment (which can improve with certain strengthening exercises/stretches)
As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist… my concerns would have been:
1) Was she wearing a belly support/back support? All the up and down motion with a big belly at 39 weeks would put a large amount of stress on the abdominal/back ligaments, muscles and connective tissue. Women wear sports bras…why aren’t they wearing belly supports?
This is the main reason I designed the Maternity FITsplint.
2) Even with excellent alignment and running form, it is still a lot of pounding on the pelvic floor muscles at 39 weeks.
Overall I’m impressed…she obviously got the okay and felt fine, I just hope her body (core) recovers well
@Celeste@MomBodFitness: I wish I had it when I ran the Princess half in February! (ouch!) Such a great point on sports bras vs. belly supports!
I am not a runner but I am a mom of 3. I think what she did was between her, her husband, and doctor. The baby was healthy, born at a normal time, and with no complications due to the exercise. What are we questioning here? There hundreds of things that can wrong in a pregnancy. Nothing did go wrong here, did it? If she didn’t run it would that baby have been born on the same day? As soon as someone can accurately predict what happens during any pregnancy then maybe I will listen to them. Until then I don’t think any opinion matters on this situation. The end result was good. Healthy baby and healthy mom. That is all we can ask, right?
@Kenna: yes, all that matters now is the end result of a healthy, squirmy baby!
The question though is was it worth the risk since so many things could have gone wrong? Someone on twitter mentioned that a crowded marathon course was NOT the best place to go walking/running at 39 weeks pregnant. But like you said, it doesn’t matter now because she and baby are fine. Hopefully people (who are not trained) won’t try and do this just for publicity!
Was it worth the risk? That’s the question that is being asked, right? Well, she knew what she was doing and she went to her doctor and the doctor said it would be fine. What gives us the right to sit here and judge her decision? I’m sure she got in a car almost everyday of her pregnancy and she could have been in a horrible accident. No one is judging her for that act. I mean, really? Don’t we have so many other issues going on in this country that we don’t need to worry about what could have happened. We should be ecstatic that she is not some lazy ass that weighs 400#+ and worried about the health risks that puts on your body and the baby.
@Lobs73: hmmm…I’m not sure anyone is judging…or at least I didn’t mean for this to be a “judgy”post! Sorry if anyone is reading it that way!
Granted I have never been pregnant or run while pregnant but I think she was well trained and had the go ahead from her doctor to do it. He time suggests she walked the majority of it and I remember my best friend walking around the mall for hours trying to get her little boy to join the world.
As a slightly related example: Most of the world would say someone who has had major back surgery should never run again…in fact most literature says so. But my doctor and physical therapist say I’m a-okay because I was physically fit before the surgery and worked hard on my recovery and to maintain my fitness now.
Is it going to be the same for every woman, No. But for this woman it was good and she followed doctor’s orders.
Cynthia (It All Changes)´s last [type] ..Kuhn Rikon Squeezable Decorating Kit
I understand that for many pregnant women this would not be advised but the woman had the approval of her dr. and felt fine. There are risks, yes, but she was okay because she trusted her instincts.
While I personally think she is absolutely nuts, it is every woman’s choice to put their body through whatever rigors they want as long as they are monitored by medical professionals, and knows when to stop (listening to her body). I would never run races while pregnant because I am not an elite athlete. She obviously is. Cool that she completed a marathon in my neck of the woods
I’m not a runner, but I do yoga (inversions, arm balances, the works) while pregnant. This pregnancy I hiked the Grand Canyon in August. All the way down, all the way back at 7 weeks pregnant. Baby and I did just fine.
If a woman doesn’t want to work out while pregnant, fine. But when we do, what’s with all the judgment? She’s not a derelict, she’s awesome!
Emily Tales of Fruit and Cake´s last [type] ..Grandma & Grandpa
@Emily Tales of Fruit and Cake:
Not that YOU are judging, but looking at the comments in the original article is downright painful. Accusing her of knowingly endangering her baby…. really obnoxious stuff!
Emily´s last [type] ..Grandma & Grandpa
@Emily Tales of Fruit and Cake: oh i’m so jealous of your Grand Canyon hike, I’ve always wanted to do that!
Anyway, I went hiking in Snow Canyon at 7 months pregnant and every person thought I was insane. There are a lot of people who really don’t think pregnant women should exercise at all!
I am sticking with how I felt originally on this — that it’s just not commendable. If she’d run, say, a 5K, I’d be all, “Damn, you go, girl!” A marathon is a whole ‘nother can of worms, and the argument that being active is beneficial is bunk. Being active and running marathons, which are truly hard on a body are two totally different things.
I’m not judging her. I’m just not going to applaud her. I will say people taking the leap that she’s not a good mother, etc., are just stirring the pot.
Kristianna´s last [type] ..Creeking
I ran a 5K and then 18 days later my baby girl came. 26.2 miles as has been stated is a bit different.
No matter, what a tale that mom has to tell her new baby girl. Although it must be her first one too-cause any 2nd timer or more mom would know that you ought to get as much sleep as you can before the baby comes cause it ain’t happening after!
Lorri Randle´s last [type] ..Preschool Report Card Lesson
I think each woman needs to be treated as an individual. This obviously worked out well for her. It would have been a horrible idea for me. I ran through two of my pregnancies and ended up with a nearly disabling hip flexor injury because of running on my super-lax joints the second time around. But not everyone has my mechanical issues so I say that’s great that it works for her. I would just hope that other women watching her don’t automatically assume that because she did it, they should.
charlotte´s last [type] ..What’s Your Comfort Food When You’re Sick? [Is there such a thing as a healthy comfort food?]
I don’t get why some people are so upset over this?! Yes a marathon is a big deal, but she was under close doc supervision. I’m sure that included safety equipment like a heart rate monitor/watch, support bands, etc. I’m assuming this since she did have the Doc okay (hopefully no doc would okay this without it) and she’s in incredible shape and very experienced. Plus she WALKED the last half! What do you people think our ancestors did when they were 39 weeks pregnant? The did NOT sit on the couch eating ice cream and watching Real Housewives of OC/NJ/NYC/Alaska. How many of our ancestors went into labor in the barn because they were milking cows or taking care of livestock? How many were bent over a fire or stove? How many KEPT cooking dinner through their contractions? Maybe they were chopping wood?! Or sitting in a crazy uncomfy wagon traveling a hundred miles in the winter?! This gets me pretty riled up I won’t lie! As you can tell! lol I will probably never run a marathon, let alone at 39 weeks pregnant. But good LORD pregnant women are not crippled nor incompetent! And our culture holds healthy lifestyles as a such a weird thing, no its not! It’s perfectly normal!
Thanks for the post!
Wow! Great post and discussion!!!
Brooke/ Bitchin’ Nutrition´s last [type] ..Food and Facebook
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