Any woman who has been through a pregnancy will understand that amazing changes take place in the body. While much of this is wonderful and natural, there are some ‘side effects’ that are less welcome.

Swollen legs and feet are common during pregnancy. Your feet size may change which can mean you need to find larger shoes to maintain comfort and support. You might also suffer from pain after standing for long periods.

According to the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, many women feel under pressure to keep up with their fashionable peers and will make poor choices when it comes to footwear.

Keep One Eye on Your Shoes

The first thing you should be aware of is that your foot size may well change. Don’t worry, this is perfectly natural if a little inconvenient.

Putting on weight and water retention can make those heels and boots feel a lot tighter. There are also hormonal changes that can affect your feet. This may not be apparent during the early stages of pregnancy but later could become a problem.

First of all, it’s important to choose the right footwear. If you are in the later months of pregnancy, you should certainly look for comfort. Needless to say, you should avoid high heels as much as you can. If you do feel the need to wear some for a special occasion, choose wedge heels which are able to distribute you weight better.

Look After Your Feet

Pregnant women can suffer from specific problems when it comes to the foot area but none are particularly serious if you understand what is going on.

If your feet start to get hot, for example, soaking them in a bowl of water with some ice cubes can provide relief. Making sure you keep your feet well moisturised will also avoid problems such as dry skin and itching. Later on in pregnancy, when it becomes physically difficult to bend and deal with your feet, paying a visit to a podiatrist is one option to keep them in tip-top condition.

Common Feet Problems Affecting Pregnant Women

At the Beauchamp Foot Care clinic in Knightsbridge, we tend to see certain issues more regularly than others. The main ones are:

• Painful and swollen feet: Fluid build up and the pressure of carrying some extra weight can cause problems. We advise you to get off your feet and raise your legs to ease things and get into the habit of wearing comfortable shoes. Avoid crossing your legs as this can reduce circulation and cause additional issues.
• Arch pain: That extra weight can also cause overpronation or the flattening of the arch of your foot. This may put stress on your ligaments and cause pain. The best way to deal with this is to wear comfortable and supportive shoes and stretch the area at regular intervals.
• Ingrown toenails: If you’ve been wearing ill-fitting shoes for a while, you might well end up with an ingrown toenail. Should this be the case, we advise you not to try and sort it out yourself but visit a professional podiatrist.

Of course, pregnancy is a life-changing experience and one which is filled with joy. If you are starting to find problems with your feet, it’s important to do something about them. A visit to your local foot clinic will certainly ensure that you get the treatment you need as well as a lot of sensible advice on how to look after yourself before and after the big day.

At the Beauchamp Foot Care clinic in Knightsbridge, our trained team of chiropodists and podiatrists are on hand to give you all the support you need and we have a lot of experience helping pregnant women. Contact us today to book an appointment.

All information on this website is for general guidance only and is not intended as a substitute for the personal medical advice of health care professionals or your own doctor.