Are you pregnant? Congratulations! At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center, we know how excited you must be. We also want to do our part to help ensure that your pregnancy proceeds as comfortably as possible. Hormonal changes and weight gain that occur naturally during pregnancy can play havoc on the health of your feet. Below are some common problems pregnant women encounter and what to do about them.

Arch and Heel Pain—these are perhaps the most common complaints pregnant women have about their feet. As your pregnancy progresses, the added weight can have the effect of flattening your arch, resulting in symptoms similar to those of patients with flat feet. Pain in the arch and heel pain due to the strain put on the plantar fascia (the long band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot) are not uncommon. To combat this type of discomfort, look for shoes with extra arch support. In some cases, our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria M. Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas will fit you with a custom orthotic device to wear in your shoes.

Ingrown toenails—hormones released by your body toward the end of your pregnancy to help relax ligaments to make birth easier can affect your feet by causing them to spread. Your shoes may start to feel too tight. When toes are pressed up against each other for long periods of time, ingrown toenails can develop. It may be necessary to buy shoes that are a larger size or wider width for the last trimester.

Swelling—excess fluid in your body, and the position of the baby may result in swollen feet and ankles. This can lead to discomfort and pain. The best way to reduce swelling is by putting your feet up frequently. Stretching, not crossing your legs when sitting and drinking lots of water will help too.

If your feet are giving you trouble during your pregnancy, make an appointment at our Long Beach office in Douglas Park CA by calling: (562) 420-9800. Our podiatrists will help get to the source of your discomfort and prescribe a safe and effective treatment.

Being pregnant is a joyous time but here at Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we often find that patients who are expecting a baby weren’t expecting the foot woes that can go along with this condition. Knowing what to expect and taking a few precautions can increase comfort and decrease the risk of injury. Follow these 6 tips while pregnant and your feet will thank you!

1. Change your shoes. As your pregnancy progresses and you gain more weight, the stress on your feet increases as well. You may need larger or wider shoes to accommodate these temporary changes (although some women do find that their feet are permanently a larger size, even after giving birth).
2. Avoid tight socks and stockings. These, in conjunction with shoes that are already getting a little snug, can increase the risk of developing an ingrown toenail by constantly squeezing your toes together.
3. Ditch the heels. Low, wide heels are the way to go now. Your center of balance will shift as your baby grows and this can throw you off balance, making a fall more likely. Wider heels will increase stability.
4. Pay attention to where you are walking. Your body releases a hormone called relaxin when you are pregnant that does just what its name says: it relaxes the ligaments in your body. Not just the ones necessary for giving birth, however, but all the ligaments in your body get looser. For your feet, this means a greater likelihood of twisting your ankle. Watch for changes in pavement height and don’t carry a lot of packages at once so as not to obscure your view of where you are walking,
5. Stay hydrated. Swelling and excess fluid are normal during pregnancy and when you’re vertical the fluid tends to pool in your ankles leaving them bloated and sore. Although it sounds counterintuitive, drinking more water will actually help you flush excess fluid from your body.
6. Put your feet up! This is always good advice when you are pregnant, but for your feet, elevating them above the level of your heart several times a day will reduce swelling and give them the much-needed rest they need.

If you experience symptoms that you think are not normal in your feet (such as excessive swelling that doesn’t go down or pain in one specific part of your foot) contact our Long Beach office at (562) 420-9800 and allow one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Omelas to examine your feet and make sure all is well and that your pregnancy proceeds smoothly.