Do’s and Don’ts to Protect Your Feet During Pregnancy

If you’re expecting, your feet may be the last part of your body that you’re thinking about, but at NY Foot Health, we want pregnant patients to be aware of podiatric issues that can occur and how to make this happy time more comfortable. Weight gain (which is a normal part of pregnancy) and hormonal fluctuations can create some challenges for your feet and ankles. Below are some do’s and don’ts to help you through.

Do: not chalk up foot pain as a “normal” part of your pregnancy. Current foot conditions that you have may be made worse with the additional pounds you’ll put on. Excess weight can also cause your arch to flatten which may lead to heel pain and other problems associated with flat feet. If you start to experience new or worsening foot pain, make an appointment with your podiatrist to get it checked out. Don’t have a podiatrist? We can help you find a qualified one in your area with our online directory.

Don’t: insist on continuing to wear your usual footwear if your feet start to hurt. A hormone known as relaxin lives up to its name by loosening the ligaments in your body. Although this is meant to ease the baby’s passage through the birth canal, it also relaxes the ligaments in the rest of your body, including your feet. This may actually make your feet bigger and wider and require you to buy shoes in a bigger size for the last part of your pregnancy. For some women, the increased size will be permanent.

Do: put your feet up throughout the day. Not only will your body appreciate the rest breaks, you’ll reduce foot pain and swelling.

Do: drink plenty of water throughout the day. It may be the opposite of what you’d expect but drinking lots of water will actually help flush out excess fluid from your body. This can go a long way toward reducing painful swelling, also known as edema.

Don’t: forget to moisturize your feet before bed. Hormones can wreak havoc with the moisture and sweat glands in your feet and leave you with dry skin and cracked heels. Apply a rich, emollient cream to your feet before bed and cover with a pair of soft socks.

To learn more about foot conditions, contact us.