You may have heard conflicting advice on when to return to running postpartum. Some feel ready to run within days of delivery, while others are only given the all-clear after their 6-8 week check. And many professionals advise doubling this time and waiting until at least 12 weeks postpartum.

That’s because research shows that our body takes longer to recover on a deeper level from childbirth than you may initially expect. The pelvic floor muscles – which widen during pregnancy and stretch during a vaginal delivery – can take up to six months to fully recover. For caesarean mothers, abdominal fascia (that’s the stuff holding your belly together) is understood to regain just over 50% of its original tensile strength six weeks post-surgery, That increases to 73-93% by seven months.

Now, those numbers might sound slightly depressing, but we can still engage in exercise before we pass these time stamps. In fact, exercise can be a great way to support your body during recovery – so long as you know what you’re doing. The most important thing is to be aware of the fact that your body is going to be in a state for healing for some time post-birth.

“I’m a postnatal PT and mum of 4 – here’s how to get back into running after giving birth”