WHAT YOU
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PREGNANCY AND FEET
By: Corinne Gehegan, DPM
 “Morning sickness”, stretch marks, and food cravings are some of the hot
topics associated with pregnancy; however, foot problems are not
frequently in the spotlight despite the fact that many women do
experience them. There are a multitude of new foot ailments that arise
during pregnancy as well as some previous conditions that tend to flare
up.
Many problems can be attributed to the relaxation of joints which is a
normal physiologic process that occurs during pregnancy. Pregnancy
hormones are responsible for this process, however, which hormone or set
of hormones is still being researched. The relaxation of pelvic joints
is necessary to accommodate vaginal delivery, but this relaxation is not
limited to the pelvis. The ligaments that bind the joints in the feet
are also affected. During pregnancy, women may experience ingrown nails,
heel and arch pain, tender calluses and corns, aggravated bunions/hammer
toes, and difficulty fitting into their shoes. As the ligaments of the
feet become more lax the feet may become wider and longer. This is often
a change that persists and becomes permanent. Additionally, women may
experience edema which is better known as swelling. This is another way
that the feet can enlarge. Finally, weight gain during pregnancy will
inevitably result in more pressure on the feet. These three factors are
the primary sources of foot conditions during pregnancy.
So, what’s a girl to do? The first thing is to have your feet measured.
Many of us can not remember the last time we had our feet measured. The
dimensions of the feet can change throughout life in both men and women.
It is important to know both the length and width of the feet. Often
times an individual’s feet may be different sizes. The best advice is to
not wear a pair of shoes if they feel tight. Even the most “broken in”
pair of shoes can be tight during pregnancy. Tight shoes will aggravate
bunions and hammer toes. The borders of the toenails may pinch the skin
and result in an ingrown nail or worse, a paronychia, which is an
infected ingrown nail. This occurs when the nail has actually penetrated
the skin allowing bacteria to enter the skin and cause a local
infection.
Arch supports and supportive shoes in general can provide relief to
aching heels and arches. Women may develop plantar fasciitis which is an
inflammation of the plantar fascia. This structure is a type of
connective tissue similar to a ligament. It runs along the bottom of the
foot from the heel to the metatarsal heads. It is also subject to
becoming overstretched, elongated, and subsequently inflamed. Plantar
fasciitis pain is usually present at the heel; however, it may occur
along the arch. It is not uncommon to have only one foot affected.
Edema (swelling) can be controlled by elevating the feet as much as
possible. Compression stockings are also beneficial as long as your
medical history does not pose a contraindication to them. If you
experience one sided swelling, redness, and tenderness you should notify
your doctor immediately as these may be signs of a more serious problem
known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Corns and calluses are natural thickenings of the skin. They are
actually the body’s defense mechanism for areas of increased pressure.
The body builds up a thick skin at these areas to protect underlying
bone. The catch is that these lesions can become painful to walk on. It
is wise to have a professional evaluate and address them. Be careful of
seeking treatment at the pedicure salon as you and the individual
performing the pedicure may mistake a plantar wart or other skin lesion
for a corn or callus. Plantar warts are viruses and require different
treatments to avoid spread on your own foot or to someone else.
It is easy to forget about the feet during pregnancy until they hurt.
Being aware of the potential for problems and why they happen is the
first step in prevention. Many physiologic changes that take place
during pregnancy will disappear post-partum, however, changes that take
place with respect to the feet may stick around particularly if they are
not addressed early on.
Article written by Dr. Corinne Gehegan
To schedule an appointment call (201) 840-7373.
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