Foot discomfort while pregnant is a common problem with up to 50% of women who are pregnant having foot pain at some phase during the pregnancy. There are various factors during the pregnancy which could be a reason behind this. The most obvious would be the increase in weight. As pregnancy progresses, your body increases in weight to support the developing baby. This extra weight might place extra stress to the feet, bringing about pain and discomfort. Hormone changes, particularly the hormone relaxin, can bring about the relaxation of ligaments and joints in your body, including those in the feet. This would bring about lack of stability and bring about foot pain. Puffiness or oedema, is a common symptom when pregnant. Water retention leads to the feet to swell, ultimately causing pain and discomfort in addition to complications with the fit of the shoes. The hormone variations may also affect the arches of the feet. A lot of women that are pregnant experience flattening of the arches, which can bring about overpronation (rolling medially of the foot) and lead to problems. As a result of alterations in body weight distribution and hormone impacts on joints, women that are pregnant can modify their walking gait, that can bring about foot problems. Wearing shoes which don't have proper support or are far too tight fitting can aggravate foot pain while being pregnant. When the uterus increases, it might put pressure on nerve fibres within the lumbar region and pelvis, that may bring about referred symptoms to the feet and elsewhere. Pregnancy can raise the chance of getting varicose veins, which often can bring about pain and discomfort in the legs and feet.
A few of the conditions that can cause foot pain in pregnancy may include stress fractures. In some instances, the extra weight and changes in bone strength and density when pregnant can bring about stress fractures in the foot. Heel pain is a very common condition involving irritation with the plantar fascia, the ligament which runs across the bottom of the feet. Pregnancy-related increase in weight and hormone variations might play a role in this condition. The water retention causes leg edema, and that is swelling in the extremities, along with the feet. This can easily contribute to discomfort. There are a range of things that can be done to ease foot pain and discomfort during pregnancy. Opt for supportive and comfy shoes with decent mid-foot (arch) support. Elevate your feet when resting to lessen puffiness. Complete gentle foot stretches and physical exercises recommended by your medical professional. Steer clear of standing or sitting for extented periods. Use cold compresses to lessen inflammation. Practice healthy posture and body mechanics while walking and standing. Look at putting on compression stockings for increasing blood circulation. If your pain is severe or continual, talk to your medical professional to rule out any primary disorders.