Swollen Feet & Ankles - Need Shoe Suggestions

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I definitely agree with the advice to drink LOTS of water. I had a lot of swelling in my hands and feet with my first baby, and even though I thought I was drinking enough water, I wasn't. With my second, I had gestational diabetes, so I really had to pay attention to my diet, including water intake. I would fill a big pitcher with water in the morning and try to finish it by evening. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself, but it really helps.

I had the same problem when I was pregnant. Make sure your OB is checking your blood pressure regularly. I ended up with high blood pressure and had to be induced at 39 weeks... this is going to sound absolutely crazy but our lactation consultant suggested this and it totally worked: wrap cabbage leaves around your feet and legs and then wrap over that with ace bandages... this totally worked for me when the swelling still wasn't going down days after I delivered and was home from the hospital. magically the swelling went away within a day. I did not try this while pregnant... but it can't hurt.

CROCS _ CROCS _ CROCS
www.crocs.com
You can wear them with or without socks, they are about 30.00 a pair, I suggest buying your normal size, b/c they will stretch out and then you can wear them when you come home from the hospital. Also I remember wearing winter slippers even to my shower, I got the old man looking ones from target they were warm and I wore them outside all the time. I had the same problem with my feet, hoping not to have it with this pregnancy (14 weeks along) GOOD LUCK!

Keep your feet elevated as much as possible, and drink plenty of water. I was hugely swollen with my first, and there wasn't much I could do about it. I could only wear slip on shoes, and I still find them the most comfortable 4 years later.

Good luck!

J.

I had the same problem when I went out of town. My feet and ankles swelled up. My feet grew one size while I was pregnant as well but too much swelling could show a problem with the pregnancy. I would contact your doctor so he can run some tests just in case. As for the shoes I bought cheap walmart slip on shoes that gave a little more stretch for those days that my feet were a little more swollen than others. You just got to try to make yourself as comfortable as possible and enjoy that little bundle being inside you for now. When he/she comes out he/she will keep you up more at night but it will all be worth it.

I bought the slip on shoes at walmart that only cost 2-3 dollars a pair. Besides the fact they can stretch a little and they are cheap as you get farther along and it gets harder to bend over you won't have to bend over to tie shoes. Congrats and definitely talk to your doctor about the swelling. I had three boys and each time I was on bed rest due to high blood pressure(PIH- pregnancy induced hypertension. Also try to cut out as much salt as you can from your diet. Every little bit helps.

CROCS!!! They are the most amazing shoes ever! They come in many colors and styles. They are pretty inexpensive, too, only about $35. Check them out at www.crocs.com. They sell a limited amount of them at the Dick's Sporting Goods stores. I recently bought them for a girlfriend who was in her last stretch of pregnancy and she LOVES them! She even washes them off when she gets home and wears them around the house as slippers!! You can even decorate them, if you're into that ... www.jibbitz.com. GOOD LUCK & HAPPY FEET :)

waling in the pool. doing laps of walking in the poll helps a little

You could try smartwool socks and birkenstock clogs. The reality of your situation is that you're probably going to have cold feet. Have you tried UGG boots? Whatever you do, bring the shoes that work to the hospital...my sister in law's feet actually swelled more right after she gave birth. They went down pretty soon after, but she needed shoes to get home in.

Congrats, F., on your first pregnancy! I didn't have to buy extra shoes, as my pregancies stetched into the summers where I could lounge around in flipflops or barefoot. :) I figured out during my third pregnancy that drinking plenty of water, as backwards as that sounds, might help reduce swelling. I read it somewhere, but I couldn't quite tell you where. I could begin to tell if I hadn't drank my water "allotment" for the day, as my skin would feel tight and itchy as the day and night wore on. I wasn't a petite little pregnant mom each time...I felt like a balloon! The water drinking helped tremendously...I guess it helps to flush out the toxins. I still drink tons of water throughout the day, and my baby is 7! Check it out, anyway, even if you think what I'm telling you is nutty!

Try to soak your feet in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and a couple tblsp. of white vinager. Also, load up on bannanas and v-8 to keep swelling down.

If you are able to go swimming at all, that was a lifesaver for me when I was pregnant. I swear, almost the second I hit the pool, my ankles would shrink down again. My dr said it's something about being submerged in the water--reverse osmosis, I believe is the more scientific term.

The Centre in Elgin has a great pool that's only a few dollars to use if you live anywhere near there. Otherwise, see if there's a YMCA or something with a pool near you. I swam at least 5 times a week during my last trimester and it was the only thing that helped my elephant ankles.

GOod luck!!

F.:

when you are home - wrap your feet in green cabage... eat apples and green grapes... dandelion tea.. .all of these things help reduce swelling.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

Hi, i dont know personally if this would work since i was pregnant in the summertime, but have you tried a pair of those stretchy *ballet* slippers? They seem to be pretty comfy and i imagine would feel not as sweaty on your feet? This is just a suggestion, so i cant swear on it. Now if it was summer, oh my goodness flip flops are the best! Good luck!

Hi there-

I am so sorry to hear that you are miserable. I too develop horrible swelling when I am pregnant- to the point that my feet grew 3 sizes during my first pregnancy. With my second, they didn't grow too terrible- two sizes but after I gave birth it actually got much worse to the point that everyone was calling me Princess Fiona.

My suggestion is two-fold. Go out and get some support stockings. They are ugly but they made my life bearable and I was so much happier with them on. For me, I had swelling in my legs too and so I got the kind that went up to my thigh but if you don't have that much swelling, I wouldn't worry about it.

The other suggestion is shoes that fit that just slip on- much like slippers. I had one pair and wore them out like crazy. Fortunately, I was able to wear them most of the pregnancy but if you have this kind of swelling now, you are almost certain for it to continue so I would go and buy another pair of shoes that will allow you to grow and hopefully, the support stockings will prevent much more swelling.

Hope this helps. Good luck!
N.

Ps. Please check with your doctor to make sure that you don't have Pre-eclampsia- which could cause your feet to grow significantly.

I have had four winter pregnancies, so I can relate and feel for you. The only solutions I know are to make sure your clothing is non-restrictive (Waistband and underneath of the belly, especially, because it will decrease circulation to the legs) and that you take as many walks as you can fit into your day. One twenty minute fast paced walk can do wonders. Lotsa of green leafy vegetables can help too, as a natural diuretic, and maybe an herbal tea, I'm sure someone will know of some good ones, there are some herbal savvy moms in this group! I bought a pair of velcro fastening black leather boots with my fifth child and they turned out to be a life saver, I could fasten them easily, even when I couldn't see my feet. They were ankle high, so I have worn them year round, even after the pregnancy. God Bless! L.

F. -

I am a physical therapist who has a specialty in treating patients with swelling issues. A couple of things you may want to try. Keep you legs elevated as much as possible. You may also want to try some support hose - you can get some low grade compression stockings at Walgreens - they are called TED hose - they are easy to measure for and cost $20. As far as shoes go, Crocs are relatively inexpensive, provide good support and are very roomy.

I am in week 34 of my second pregnancy so I can sympathize. Best of luck to you - it will be over before you know it!

B.

I feel your pain. I had the same issues when I was pregnant. I finally broke down and purchased a pair of Merrells. They were so comfy and felt like I was wearing slippers. Infact, it's been 3yrs since I had my daughter yet I still buy Merrells. I'm on my third pair and couldn't be happier. I found them at Nordstroms and I had the kind that are like mules/clogs.

I don't know how valuable my imput is but here it is...It doesn't pay to buy more shoes cause you're gonna go back to normal size after that little bundle is born. Sometimes it takes a while and other times your feet may not go back totally to their original size. However, buying shoes that you may not wear for more than another few weeks and maybe other pregnancies doesn't pay - You may want to just stay in clogs and watch out for the water and snow when you're outside. Good luck and I'm so jealous! Enjoy these last few weeks cause you're in for the most wonderful experience of a lifetime. (I just miscarried yesterday, pregnancy #2) Being a mother is a dream. Congratulations!!!!