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Babying Your Feet

Preventing Foot Problems During Pregnancy

By Kate Prior

r your baby is born, though some women are likely to notice a half size difference.

Relaxin and tight shoes aren't the only cause of foot pain. During pregnancy, women carry an additional 20 to 30 pounds of weight. To support this, most women adjust their walk by tilting their pelvis forward and curving their lower spine. Because this stance changes the amount of pressure on your feet, you may experience over-pronation, a condition, also called "flat feet," in which your arch flattens and your feet roll inward when you are walking. This agitates the fibrous tissues that run from the heel to the forefoot and can cause pain.

In addition to flat feet, many women experience edema, a condition in which the extra fluid in your body is stored in the soft tissue of your hands or feet. In the last trimester, many women notice the effects of edema at the end of the day and during the warmer months. While edema may make your ankles look abnormal, this condition is a natural part of pregnancy and subsides after delivery. If the puffiness is sudden, appears greater in one foot or occurs in your face as well as your hands and feet, however, you should contact your doctor or midwife.

Other problems, such as bunions and calluses, can also cause pain. If you have had problems with your feet in the past, the condition may flare up again during pregnancy. After studying karate for years, Vicky Bilaniuk had a variety of problems with her feet. As her pregnancy progressed, her feet became sore again. "I didn't realize how bad they were until I finally decided to start dealing with the problem," says Bilaniuk. Fortunately for Bilaniuk and other women, you can do several things t keep your feet healthy and pain free.

Want to see more?

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• The Art of Prenatal Massage
• A Positive Adjustment: Is Chiropractic Care Right for You?
• Talk about it!