Sore Feet in Pregnancy

Make them more comfortable

Sore feet in pregnancy are very common.

Especially in the last trimester.

But there are ways to lessen their pain and make you more comfortable.

Let me show you how I did it.

I don’t particularly like my feet. They are size 10 and are much wider than I would like them to be.

But I lived with them for 30 some years so I learned to accept them on daily basis.

And then I got pregnant…

Not only my feet got bigger, wider and puffier, but also they were quite sore almost all the time in my third trimester.

I couldn’t even get them to fit into any of my regular shoes. I had to buy a couple of pairs that were a size bigger to accommodate my pregnant tootsies.

Why does that happen to our poor feet?

First of all our bodies release a chemical called Relaxin. Its purpose is to loosen the birth canal so your baby can pass through it. Along with your birth canal, it also relaxes all the ligaments throughout your body, including your feet.

There are many ligaments in your feet therefore your feet expand and your shoes seem to be shrinking.

Fortunately, in most cases, after the baby is born your feet go back to their original size.

But that’s not the only cause of sore feet in pregnancy. Your feet are also carrying additional 20-40 pounds of weight.

Besides adding extra pressure on your legs and feet, extra weight causes some women to change the way they walk resulting in “flat feet”. In this condition your arch flattens and your feet roll inward while you’re walking, causing pain.

So what can you do to lessen the burden on your feet?

Put your feet up as much as you can throughout the day.

This is especially important if your work requires you to be on your feet most of the day.

If you’re able to lie down, lie on your left side and elevate your feet.

If you’re sitting majority of the day, keep your feet elevated and stretch them on regular basis by extending, flexing, wiggling your toes and rotating your ankles.

Also it is a good idea to get up every hour or so and take a brief walk to improve the overall circulation.

Wear comfortable shoes. You will more than likely need to invest in at least one good pair of new, comfy shoes with good arch support.

If you keep wearing your old ones that are too tight, you will only make things worst and add to your discomfort.

The best time to buy shoes is at the end of the day when your feet are their biggest.

Gentle rubbing is OK and it will make you feel like a million bucks.

At home soak your feet in nice warm water with special foot soak products or essential oils of your choice. Then apply nice peppermint (or anything of your own choice) lotion.

If you can’t reach your feet, ask your partner to give you a gentle foot rub.

I hope this page was helpful to your sore feet. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please, contact me.

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