The second tip is to invest in your shoewear! I am someone who tends to walk around barefoot in the house, and most of my shoewear is not very supportive. If this is you, you are going to want to adjust your lifestyle during pregnancy. When you are pregnant, you are more prone to develop foot pain. This is for two main reasons. The first is as you gain weight; more stress is placed through the tissues on the underside of your foot with each step you take. Second, there is a pregnancy hormone called relaxin that circulates through your body. This hormone’s job is to relax the ligaments in your body to allow for your pelvis to accommodate your baby as you give birth. Since it circulates through your entire body, however, all of your ligaments will have more laxity. If you are not wearing supportive shoes, the tissues on your foot’s underside can stretch out, causing pain. This can leave a long-lasting effect even once pregnancy is said and done. Women may even develop plantar fasciitis, which makes standing and walking a painful task.
So what to do? Find shoewear that has both cushion and arch support. There are many ways to accomplish this. I chose a tennis shoe that has a thicker sole and provides good shock absorption. I paired this with a moldable insert that supports my higher arch. The orthopedic insole I used can be molded up to three times in the oven. This is helpful as it accommodates your foot as it changes during pregnancy. In addition to having something to wear out in the community, it would be beneficial to find something you will wear around the house. This will be helpful, especially as that nesting urge takes over, and you find yourself organizing, cleaning your home, and maybe not taking as many rest breaks as your body needs. Pick something that you will use. I gave myself the option between a “house only” tennis shoe and a flip flop with cushion and arch support. Your feet will thank you in the long run if you show them a little TLC during pregnancy.