Pregnancy and Your Feet

There’s a lot going on in a woman’s body during pregnancy. One change that may not be apparent until it happens is the effect on the mother’s feet. Many women complain about their feet throughout their pregnancy. These changes can impact the feet in a few different ways, but can all lead to conditions like overpronation and plantar fasciitis.

One part of the problem is the sudden weight gain women undergo when they become pregnant. This lowers their center of gravity and adds more force on their knees and ankles. This can manifest itself as pain in the feet, ankles, knees, or back. This sudden change can also lead to overpronation (flattening of the arch). Excess pronation can then put more of a strain on the plantar fascia and lead to that dreaded plantar fasciitis. Overpronation is also common in people who already had flexible flat feet before they become pregnant.

Another component adding to foot pain is the hormone changes. The natural pregnancy hormones that cause pelvic ligaments to relax can also cause the foot and ankle ligaments to relax and stretch out a bit. This takes away from the support structure of the foot and can also cause pain.

But there is good news in all of this. There are a few ways to prevent or minimize the effects. Elevate your feet as much as possible. Make sure you are wearing proper fitting shoe gear that is also supportive in nature. Orthoses can also help support the flattening of the arch. Wear seamless socks that don’t constrict circulation. If after pregnancy you still have foot pain, come by and see Dr. Grimm or Dr. Pattison. Remember that foot pain is never “normal,” even after pregnancy.