When you’re pregnant, you’re not only growing a tiny human – your body will also undergo a range of amazing (and not-so-amazing) changes, as well. One common change experienced by expectant moms is weight gain, which tends to make your feet swell and ache. If you’re pregnant with sore feet, then you’ll know exactly how uncomfortable this can be. So, the best thing that you can do for yourself during pregnancy is to invest in some comfortable, supportive shoes.
Why is the Right Footwear Important During Pregnancy?
Even if you haven’t gained much weight as a result of being pregnant, the additional weight from your growing baby bump can make your feet swell up. As your body grows and changes shape, your center of gravity will also change, which affects the way that you walk and impacts your back, ankles, and feet. The right footwear is crucial for getting the best support and avoiding symptoms such as feet and leg swelling, varicose veins, heel pain, ligament trauma and sprains, and back pain.
What to Look For:
When your feet are comfortable and supported during pregnancy, you’ll also feel happier. So, take the time to choose the right pair of shoes for your needs. When shopping, it’s worth buying footwear that is a size or at least half a size bigger than the one that you would normally go for. This is because if your feet do swell up during pregnancy, your normal size may become uncomfortable or even painful for you, so give your feet some extra room. And, it’s a wise idea to opt for shoes that offer a good arch and ankle support. They will provide comfort along with helping to reduce joint pain and aches that you may experience during pregnancy.
Wearing Heels During Pregnancy:
You’ve probably seen glamorous photographs of celebrities wearing heels whilst heavily pregnant, but bear in mind that wearing heels for too long or too often during pregnancy isn’t always a good idea. This is because the changing center of gravity of your body will mean that you walk less steadily when pregnant. In addition, loosened ligaments can make you more susceptible to muscle and joint instability. As a result, most pregnant women are at a higher risk of suffering a fall from wearing heels when pregnant. If you need to wear heels for an event, it’s a wise idea to opt for a more supportive style, such as block or wedge heels.
Top Tips for Selecting the Right Shoes:
When shopping for shoes to wear during pregnancy, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice, so keep these top tips in mind:
• It’s best to opt for flat shoes, but if you need to wear heels, wide and low ones are the best option.
• Avoid footwear with stiletto heels or more than two inches of heel.
• If you are unable to find footwear with the right kind of arch support, consider wearing additional insoles to offer extra support and comfort to your feet.
• Opt for footwear that allows your feet to breathe and does not make them sweat. Mesh and canvas are great options.
• Opt for footwear that has a wider toe area, rather than narrow or cinched.
• Loafers are usually a safe option; they are both smart and trendy along with being extremely. comfortable.
• For the summer, flat sandals are a great footwear choice.
Opt for High Quality:
You will be pregnant for nine months and if you expect to be on your feet a lot, you will want to get footwear that’s going to last you for the entire duration of your pregnancy and beyond. If you are in the early stages of pregnancy, choose shoes that you know are able to continue offering the support and comfort that you will need as your bump grows. High-end sneakers are a great choice as many designs can be paired with both smart and casual outfits, whilst offering superb comfort and support thanks to the quality of materials and craftsmanship used. Gucci sneakers are a popular choice; they are stylish, whilst very comfortable to wear. You can look for sneakers on the SSENSE website; there’s a large range of sporty and trendy styles to choose from on this designer footwear site
Choosing Shoes for Work:
If you are working throughout most of your pregnancy, it’s a wise idea to avoid wearing heels for work. Unless your place of employment has a relaxed dress code, wearing comfortable sneakers may no longer be an option. In this case, you may want to consider supportive flat ankle boots, dolly shoes or smart loafers instead.
It’s important to choose the right footwear to support you through your pregnancy and lessen the impact your growing bump will have on your feet. Do you have any shoe recommendations for expecting moms? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.