Pregnancy Brings Issues for Your Feet

04 May Pregnancy Brings Issues for Your Feet

If you are pregnant, you will find that your feet are also affected by all the changes going on in your body. At Great Neck Family Foot Care, our board certified foot doctors, Alec Hochstein, DPM and Diana Gagliano, DPM are available to help you deal with any discomfort to your feet caused by pregnancy. These include:

• Changes in foot shape and size. Sometimes women will tell us that their feet have grown a whole size or more during pregnancy. While this may certainly appear to be the case—as shown by the fact that they can’t fit into the shoes they wore before they were pregnant—it is not exactly true. During pregnancy the same hormones that are released to relax ligaments to make birth easier also relax the ligaments in your feet, making them spread and appear larger.
• Lack of balance. There are also ligaments in your ankles and when these get relaxed, they are more likely to “turn” when you are walking or running. Also, as the baby grows, your center of gravity will change, making it easier to lose your balance. Wearing shoes that have good ankle support is key and it is also advisable to avoid high heels.
• Heel and arch pain. The ever growing weight of your pregnant body puts additional pressure on your feet. This can cause the arch to flatten leading to pain in the arch and heel. The foot doctor can prescribe arch supports or other orthotics to help keep the weight properly distributed and reduce pain.
• You may notice that your feet and ankles are swollen, particularly by the end of the day. Retaining fluid is a normal side effect of pregnancy. You can help minimize this symptom by drinking lots of water to flush out excess fluid and limiting the amount of caffeine and salt you consume. Putting your feet up periodically throughout the day will also help decrease swelling.

Taking care of your feet is important for a healthy pregnancy. If you have additional concerns about your feet while you are pregnant, contact our Great Neck office by calling 516-482-5999. If you are experiencing complications with your pregnancy and are unable to come into our office, we can schedule a home visit.