Tips To Help Swelling & Foot Pain During Pregnancy

Wouldn’t it be nice if that baby bump was the only part of your body that grew during those three long trimesters? Good luck with that! That belly of yours isn’t the thing swelling. During pregnancy your body produces and retains more fluids than it normally would. As your baby grows, the added pressure on your uterus and pelvic area slows the circulation to the lower part of your body. The result? Swelling in your feet and ankles.

Along with swelling, the added baby weight puts stress and strain on your feet in ways that you may never have felt before. What can you do to ease those sore and swollen feet?

Find a Flat

Nix the notions of walking around in stilettos. After your first trimester, your feet may not be able to handle the super-flexed arch of a high heel. Your shifting center of gravity (thanks to your growing baby) also makes the teeny tiny point of a high heel tricky to manage. Instead of feeling pinched and pained or running the risk of a tangled foot fall, switch over to flats.

Get Support

You’ve temporarily broken up with the 3-inch tall peep-toed mules that cost more than a week’s pay in favor of flats. Now what? Ultra-flat shoes (such as the ballet variety) don’t offer the support that your feet need. Yes, they look chic – but, they won’t make your feet feel fab. Paper-thin flats won’t give your stressed arches the boost that they need under your shifting baby weight. If you’re feeling confused and asking, “If I can’t wear heels and I can’t wear flats, what can I wear during pregnancy?” don’t worry. Maternity and orthopedic shoes are ouchless options that offer simple style and super support!

Orthopedic and Maternity Shoes

The words “orthopedic shoes” may bring on images of unfashionable clunkers popular with old-school nurses and senior citizens. However, these picks are highly helpful when it comes to making your tootsies feel pain-free. Put the notion of chunky-looking footwear away and check out the possibilities that the contemporary versions offer.  

Shoes fit for the growing mammas feet are a novelty that you can’t be without. Footwear designers have hit on this trend, making fashion-forward models that also include orthopedic elements specific to the pregnant woman’s needs. For example, if you’re begging for a cute pair of ballet flats, Propet makes a solution that melds style with doctor-created orthopedic benefits. The company’s Rejuve Motion Technology™ is biomechanically designed to provide hours of comfort and includes cute (and totally comfy) ballerina pumps and loafers, created just for your swelling pregnant feet.

Tips and Tricks

With so many options out there, picking the ‘right’ shoes for your pregnant feet isn’t always easy. Along with footwear, how you treat your tootsies can also help the strain from swelling. How can you make your feet feel better during pregnancy?

• Find the right size. Your entire body is changing. Get your feet sized periodically by a pro to make sure that you’re buying the one that really fits your feet. Don’t be a ‘Cinderella’ – trying to stuff your swollen feet into too-small shoes. It doesn’t matter how gorgeous the shoes look if you’re suffering from miserable foot pain.

• Look for support in every season. You don’t need to make your feet sweat during the summer months. Instead of barely-there sandals or flimsy flip-flops, stick to supportive versions. Look for summer-time sandals with thicker soles, arches and straps that hold your feet in place. Likewise, ditch the heels and completely flat cowboy boots in the winter and opt for supportive designs.

• Elevate your feet. Take a load off, put your feet up and go shoeless until you feel better.

• Limit salt. Salty foods contribute to swelling. Striking out some of the added salt from your diet may reduce the water-weight gain and make your swollen feet shrink.

• Try an insert. If you can’t find a pair of orthopedic shoes that meet your tastes, add an ortho-created insert to your regular pair. Doing so gives support in a totally discrete way that no one else sees.

• Make time for a massage. Ask your spouse or partner for a foot rub and work out some of that toe tension. Don’t have a personal masseuse? Foot rollers, balls and massagers are do-it-yourself options.

There’s enough to worry about during pregnancy without stressing over normal swelling and the tips and trips mentioned above can keep that pesky foot pain in check. That said, if your feet and ankles are suddenly extremely swollen, you feel pain or you’re experiencing swelling in other areas (such as your face, neck and hands) call your doctor/medical professional right away. This could indicate a serious condition called pre-eclampsia, and requires immediate medical attention.

**It is advisable to consult a health-care professional such as a doctor or podiatrist before taking action based on any information found on our website. Our goal is to provide information and educate others on a number of issues relating to foot health, not give medical instruction.

About author:

Derek Roach is a foot health specialist and has worked in the foot health industry for over 10 years. He is knowledgeable in various foot conditions and shoe features to help with those conditions. Also, he has been quoted on CNN, The Penny Hoarder, HuffPost, Dapper Confidential and other popular publications for foot and shoe-related topics.