Is it impossible to find classy and comfortable shoes to wear to work and at home while pregnant? You have swollen feet. You need good footwear to provide stability and support as your weight increases and your center of balance shifts.
The growing uterus puts a lot of pressure on the veins of the pelvic region and slows down the flow of blood from your legs back to the heart. This forces the fluid from the veins into the surrounding tissues of your feet and ankles leading to swelling.
You require the right kind of pregnancy footwear to not only give you comfort but also keep your baby safe.
Due to the increasing weight, the arch height of the feet reduces. The arch flattens out and touches the ground causing your footsteps to roll inwards. This places an unusual strain on the plantar fascia ligament (tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes) leading to pain in the heels and ball of the feet.
Your shoes aren’t just carrying you, they’re carrying baby too!
No wonder you’ve lost all patience for pinchy toes, blister-provoking heels and hard, flat soles!
Your swollen feet deserve more.
Here are some tips for how to choose and look for shoes:
- It is important you choose footwear that is easy to put on without the need to bend (your belly may make that hard!).
Slip-ons without any laces are most suitable.
- Choose shoes which support your arch and ankle.
Your ankles and feet become sore and the condition worsens if you are not wearing the right shoes. Shoes with good support and comfort will reduce the joint pains you experience when walking.
- Consider buying footwear that is a half or one size bigger than your actual size. This extra room is needed for your feet as they would swell at some point in pregnancy.
- Choose flat-soled footwear during pregnancy. If you do not want complete flats, you can choose heels, but which are low and wide. Wide heels will help distribute your weight over your soles as well as prevent or reduce foot pain. Low heels will reduce your chances of falling or tripping. Make sure that the heel size is not more than two inches. The heel should not be pointy.
Just to make your life a little easier we, at The Pulse, have you covered with a list of cute pregnancy-friendly shoes for those moms-to-be whose feet grew just a bit.
The comfy sandal
Just because sandals are comfortable does not mean they aren’t cute!
A great example of comfortable sandals is Birkenstock sandals. Birkenstocks have been around for decades, and for good reason: They’re amazingly comfortable courtesy of their contoured cork footbeds, which claim to mimic the shape of your foot for superb support. They also come in metallic, and print patterns as well making them a chic and surprisingly modern choice.
The laceless sneaker
A great example would be the TIOSEBON WOMEN’S ATHLETIC WALKING SHOES. An almost perfect rating from 3,000 Amazon reviews makes these slip-on sneakers really stand out.
We recommend them as pregnancy shoes because of their breathable mesh upper, stretchy elastic topline, supportive arch insert, and overall lightness—the last thing you need right now is for your feet to feel even heavier. Bonus: These affordable maternity shoes also come in tons of stylish colors at only 20 dollars on Amazon.
A supportive slip-on
Tom’s classic flats are the perfect example. Very comfortable and breathable, Tom’s are one of the best shoes for moms with swollen feet.
Clogs or Mules
Backless shoes with support are also doubly comfortable for moms with larger feet than normal!
Also, not to mention the ability to take your shoes off and let your feet breath throughout the day!
Clogs like Dansko Clogs are revered in the nursing community for having amazing support and for looking super cute and comfy at the same time.
Mules are also a trendy option- all the kids are doing it these days!
Dr. Scholl’s mules are comfy shoes for pregnancy that claim to cradle your feet in all-day, cushioned comfort. Many Dr. Scholl’s shoes are made of knitted fabric making them super breathable.
