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Babying Your Feet

Preventing Foot Problems During Pregnancy

By Kate Prior

Growing up in a large family, Angie Campbell always heard her mother and aunts complain that their bodies always felt out of control during pregnancy. When the northern Michigan woman became pregnant herself for the first time, Campbell couldn't understand why they complained. "I didn't experience morning sickness," she recalls. "I was never exhausted. The first six months were a breeze."

In her seventh month, Campbell began to experience pain in her feet after taking her daily walk. "My heel and the inside of my foot began to ache constantly," she says. "Nothing seemed to help."

As her pregnancy progressed, Campbell noticed her ankles swelling. For the first time in her pregnancy, she understood how her aunts and mother felt. "I knew swollen ankles were part of pregnancy," Campbell says. "But I couldn't believe how big my feet were. They didn't even fit my shoes anymore."

While most women can handle the downsides to pregnancy, many, like Campbell, are concerned when foot problems occur. Swollen ankles and aching feet cause many women to seek relief. Although most foot problems are a natural part of pregnancy, expectant mothers need to take care of their feet so these problems don't continue after their baby is born.

There are many reasons why women experience foot pain during pregnancy. After the second trimester, the female body produces a chemical called relaxin, which loosens the birth canal so the baby can pass through. Relaxin also causes ligaments throughout the body to slack. Because many ligaments are in your feet, your foot size may expand, causing even your most comfortable pumps to pinch. In most cases, your feet will return to normal afte

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