From swollen ankles and itchy feet, to your feet growing a size bigger, here are the physical changes that may happen to your legs and feet during pregnancy, plus how to deal with these pregnancy discomforts
“During pregnancy, a variety of common complaints can arise, but one of the most overlooked issue is foot ailments,” says Margarita Atieh, from The Baby Planner. “Due to natural weight gain, your centre of gravity is altered, which adds further pressure to your knees and feet causing all different types of complaints.”
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Can pregnancy change the size of your feet?
Your feet may get bigger in pregnancy, and it’s not unheard of to go up a shoe size.
“The ligaments in your feet can stretch and widen your feet during pregnancy, and this can sometimes be a permanent change after you’ve had your baby, too,” says Podiatrist Junaid Ahmed, from Feet4Life. “Although the swelling of the feet will disappear with a month of giving birth, the other changes may be permanent.”
“It’s to do with the relaxin hormone, which makes joints become a little looser than before,” explains midwife Janine Smith, from Birth Basics. “This hormone makes joints more flexible but sometimes, they don’t bounce back, meaning some women may go up a shoe size after giving having their baby.”
“I was a size 3 before I had children and now I’m a size 5!” says MFM user Angie Turner. “I went a size up after my second baby,” says MFM user Eileen Teo.
A great excuse to buy a new shoe wardrobe!
