Pregnancy Foot Care

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Pregnancy Foot Care Services in Ottawa

“If there is one thing I remember about each and everyone of my pregnancies is the pain in my feet. The extra weight gain, the hormonal changes, the water retention, the cracked heels, the gestational diabetes,… and mostly not being able to reach my own feet left me aches and other problems. After my cesarean births (which is an invasive surgery!), I had so much fluid retention; my foot health got even worst. I wish I had taken care of my feet then to keep them healthy and comfortable. Now being a Registered Foot Care Nurse, I’m happy to provide medical pedicures and advance medical foot care services to expectant mothers and new mothers so their feet can remain healthy and strong!”

Sarab Dormani, RN and Foot Care Specialist at NSWC

Foot problems during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is often accompanied by many changes in our body, so there is not doubt that the feet will also go through some changes of their own. The additional weight of carrying a baby and the hormonal changes can often lead to a variety of foot related conditions:

Swelling in the lower extremities

During pregnancy, our body produces more blood volume. The blood flow returning from our legs back to our heart is slowed due to the weight of the baby on the veins in on our lower extremities, but also due to pregnancy hormones that relax our muscles, including vascular muscles, to prepare our body for labor. This leads to a build-up of fluids and pressure in our legs due to gravity. Many women experience edema, leg cramps, varicose veins, and spider veins due to these changes.

*In some cases, swelling and pain in the legs may be signs of more serious conditions such as blood cots, preeclampsia, etc. If you experience sudden swelling, persistent pain, warmth, and/or redness in your lower extremities, you should contact primary health care provider right away.

Foot structure changes

Many women report seeing changes in their shoe sizes during pregnancy. The width and length of our feet can increase due to the accumulation of excess fluids in our lower extremities. Pregnancy hormones can also contribute to these changes; these hormones relax the ligaments in our body, including the ones in our feet, causing them to loosen and not hold the foot bones as tight together. As we gain more weight during pregnancy, our body puts more pressure on the arches of our feet. You may also notice a decrease in your arch height, meaning your feet become flatter and tend to over-pronate. These problems can lead to excessive inflammation and pressure to the feet causing bunions, heel pain, arch pain, and other foot related discomforts.

 Changes in joint mobility and stability

Ligaments are connective tissues that hold the bones together and keep the joints strong and stable. With the laxity changes in our foot and ankle joints, this can lead to joint instability. These changes, along with postural changes and shift with our center of gravity, can alter our balance and gait. Many women compensate by walking with there legs further apart.

Ingrown toenails

Although it is not uncommon for women to experience changes in their feet during pregnancy, conditions such as ingrown toenails are not normal. The pressure from tight-fitting shoes, excess fluid build-up in the feet and the toes, and over-pronation are all factors that can cause ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails can lead to inflammation and infection, which can be particularly dangerous if there is an underlying condition such as diabetes.

Cracked heels

Many women noticed their heels crack over the course of their pregnancy. While it can be difficult to reach our feet and moisturize our skin, the added weight from our growing belly can also contribute to cracked heels. While cracked heels may appear as a cosmetic concern, they can lead to many health problems. Not only can cracked heels can make it painful for us to walk, but they can lead to inflammation and infections.

How can we help?

If you are pregnant and are experiencing foot related concerns, a consultation with our Registered Nurse can be beneficial to learn how you can keep your feet in good health and prevent any complications. Our Nurse will perform a thorough nursing assessment of your lower limbs, determine a nursing diagnosis, and provide you with a personalized treatment care plan. We offer conservative medical foot care services:

  • Medical pedicures
  • Diabetic foot care
  • Non-invasive ingrown toenail care
  • Cracked heel treatments
  • Compression sock fitting
  • Footwear assessments
  • Custom orthotic therapy

As a part of our multidisciplinary approach, our Nurse may refer you to other practitioners at the clinic or send a report of her findings to your primary health care provider.  Call us today to book your Initial Consultation and Treatment.

Pregnancy Foot Care Treatments

Initial Consultation and Treatment - 60 Min.

The initial appointment includes a complete medical history, nursing assessments, footwear inspections, nursing diagnosis and personalized plan of care. The initial appointment also includes a first treatment for your feet (medical footcare/pedicure, diabetic footcare, ingrown toenail care, thick toenails, corns and callus removal etc.).

*All new patients must book an initial consultation prior to any treatment listed below.

$105

Medical Nursing Foot Care / Follow Up Appointment - 30 Min.

We recommend routine advanced medical foot care every 6-8 weeks to keep your feet healthy.  Here is what we offer:

  • Toenail trimming and debridement
  • Cleaning nail folds & edges
  • Corns & callus care
  • Cracked heels and fissures care
  • Diabetic foot screening & care
  • Footwear Assessment
  • Ingrown toenail care (Non-invasive)
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Thick toenail care
  • Fungal toenail care
  • Health teaching
  • Hot towel treatment

* Note: Our Foot Care Nurse does not soak feet or apply nail polish.

$75

Additional fees may apply for wound care and foot padding/strapping/offloading

Please note that this is a medical service and is hst exempt.

Coverage may be available with your private insurance company under Nursing Care OR Foot Care offered by a Nurse in Clinic OR Extended Health Spending Account. A receipt with the Nurse’s license # will be provided. This service can also be put towards your income taxes as a medical expense. 

Our Nurses are Veterans Affairs providers: Direct billing with Medavie BlueCross is available for In-Clinic Nursing Foot Care. 

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