Moms Who Exercise and Give Blood--recovery?

I'm not a runner or exerciser LOL I am however a phlebotomist, regular blood donor and used to work for the red cross. So having said all that here's what I recommend for future blood donations.

1. Double up on your fluids for at least 48 hours after donation, so if you've doubled your normal intake of fluids for nursing ... double that. Getting extra fluids a couple of days before hand is a good idea also.

2. NO strenous activity for a minimum of 12 hours ... 24 is actually recommended. Basically take it easy for 24 full hours after donation.

3. DO NOT skip any meals for 24 to 48 hours after donation. Get lots of good complex carbohydrates and proteins. Since you're nusring especially, I'd add at least one or two extra snacks to your meal plan.

So if you give blood on a thursday afternoon I'd suggest waiting till saturday morning to resume running, as an example. Give on a thursday morning wait till friday evening. I personally always take advantage of giving blood and do the bare minimum for 24 hours :)

Anyway I hope that helps with future donations :) Let me know if I can answer any other questions about the process. I've been giving blood every 2 months (with some time off while kids were little) since I was 16 and did the job of collection tech.

I've given GALLONS of blood and each time I feel different. I do know water and eating REALLY well make s a HUGE difference.

I always was able to work-out afterwards but you have more going on than I did. Nursing ALONE will throw things off. Give yourself a few days after donating and drink a TON of water. From one donor to another--THANK YOU!

First, thank you to you and all the others who donate blood! I was really saved five years ago with two blood transfusions. As soon as my daughter hit 17 last year she began donating as well as a thanks for her mom being saved.

As long as you are non iron deficient you can return to your regular exercise regime 24-48 hours after donating. The first day should be a day of rest. The second day you need to really make sure you are hydrated.

Happy running!

My sister is an insane blood donor. Not in a bad way, at all, I didn't mean that. She has a universal blood type and she gets calls from the blood bank constantly. They even award her with things to go on her license plate every so often that say "I Donated 1,000 Gallons of Blood" or whatever.
Obviously, she hasn't donated THAT much, but it's A LOT!
She loves running and I think she takes a day off before donating if she can...sometimes she gets a call and can't plan for that, but she takes it easy a day or two after as well.
Not to mention the fact she wasn't breastfeeding when she donated.
Our bodies replenish our blood, but I think you need to give it more time before super strenuous exercise because you are also nursing.
Your body needs to use it's energy for things other than running for that window of time.
Donating blood is an amazing gift and I'm really proud of my sister.
She's been doing it so long that she knows her body.
I think you will come to know yours as well.
Don't push it too hard.

You're awesome!

Since you gave blood and are nursing and both drain you, you should probably wait more than a day before really running again. Lots of water and extra snacks and large meals will help you get back faster, but you should still probably take it easier for a few days right after! After I give blood (I'm not nursing anymore), I usually give myself a good 24 hours before doing anything like my usual exercise. I mowed the lawn and trimmed bushes a few hours after donating last time, and I found I had to rest occasionally when I usually wouldn't have had to. I'm sure it's harder nursing as well! You also want to make sure you have enough energy for your body to produce enough milk for your baby. Good luck!

I donate too and it's difficult for me since I'm anemic. Often I don't pass the prick test and I always feel sick afterwards. I wish some of the stronger folks in this world would do it, too. Anyway, an important thing to do is to schedule donations as close to right before your period as possible. That is when your iron is highest. Never donate during your period or the first 2 weeks after your period. Also, do not consume calcium a few days before donating, since calcium blocks the absorption of iron. Oysters (and most seafood) are very high in iron. Try to consume iron rich products the entire week before donating and make sure to eat and drink plenty all day that you donate, several hours before and of course afterwards. And thank you for being such an altruistic person!

Usually 24 to 48 hours for vigorous (running) exercise.
But you could do some lighter exercise.

Make sure you drink lots of water and get good sleep. Do not skip meals..

Thanks for donating, you know how important it is.

Wish you were here! I really need a good running partner!

I did some research on that last year and I think it takes 8 weeks for your red bloods cells to all come back. Everything else comes back a little sooner. I donated blood last year and had also been working on Couch to 5K. I was on week six (can't remember but close to 3 miles) and I tried it a few days after donating and it was the worst run ever! I could hardly run. I was super thirsty. I was dizzy. It was crazy. So I waited a few more days and tried again and I continued to struggle. A few weeks after, my husband started school all day and work all night, so I had to drop running :-( I'm not sure how long it would have taken me to recover.

I started running again at the beginning of the summer and am doing really well. It has made me not want to donate blood, but I may try donating in the winter when I know I won't be running as much.

Congrats on running with your little one!!! Last year was the first time I had run in years and my kiddos were 4 and almost 2 back then. I really hope I can keep it up all year this time.