Pregnancy Foot Care

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.

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.