45022211 L Footstretch Feet Toes Tip Toes

Swollen Feet during Pregnancy

With all the changes that your body is growing through to grow a baby in your belly, a most noticeable one will be edema. The swelling becomes more obvious at or around 20 weeks into your pregnancy, when your hands, breasts, butt, calves, ankles, and feet begin to swell. Uncomfortably, it will show at least a little bit in the beginning but will last until you give birth.

The swelling happens because your body shifts to protect itself. The fluid it retains softens the body to allow for expansion of the different areas of the body. Blood flow and blood pressure also increases near the uterus due to the baby’s growth and the increase in weight that your pelvic area is carrying. Pregnancies have a reputation of giving you “giant clown feet” because of the excess fluid that does not return back up to the top half of the body as the baby’s growth restricts fluid movement.

Most of these changes and swelling is normal. However, if you are concerned about excessive swelling in your feet or ankles during your pregnancy, make an appointment at our Clark, NJ office with our board-certified foot and ankle doctor, Brandon Macy, DPM. He will help you manage swelling and make sure that there are no further issues that may affect your mobility during pregnancy.

Managing Edema during Pregnancy

  • Avoid high sodium and caffeine.
  • Eat foods that are high in potassium
  • Try not to stand for long periods of time or have long days of activity, especially on hot days.
  • Use compression socks and ice packs to reduce swelling.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Keep your feet and ankles moving to increase circulation.

Remember: Excessive swelling can be a sign of other issues. Be vigilant about any uneven swelling on one side (arm or leg) as this may be a sign of a blood clot. Also, if there is excessive overall swelling, especially in the face and hands, it may be a sign of pregnancy complication.

Our team at Clark Podiatry Center will do their utmost to care for your feet and ankles during your pregnancy. Since pregnancy is an important time of many changes, we want to be a source of consistency for you to keep you walking. If you have any questions or concerns about edema during your pregnancy, make an appointment today!

Similar Posts