Crofton Office

1657 Crofton Blvd, Suite 201

Crofton, MD 21114

(410) 721-4505

(410) 721-2394

Woodbridge Office

14010 Smoketown Rd., Suite 103

Woodbridge, VA 22192

(703) 583-5959

(703) 890-4970

Chantilly Office

3914 Centreville Road, Suite 200

Chantilly, VA 20151

(703) 490-5599

(703) 583-5995

Sterling Office

46440 Benedict Dr., Suite 111

Sterling, VA 20164

(703) 444-9555

What’s Happening with Mother’s Feet During Pregnancy?

Are you growing a little one in your belly? Congratulations!

It’s incredible how the body knows to make changes to not only support the weight of the growing baby but also to help prepare for the birthing process. During pregnancy, the heart rate increases, blood flow increases, and soft tissues and bones stretch and shift to make room. As a result of these changes, the mother-to-be’s body can experience a lot of symptoms, like ligament pain, back aches, and swelling hands and feet.

For the feet in particular, here are some things that you can expect (although each woman’s pregnancy can be different):

  • Swelling – As the pregnancy continues, the body might retain more fluid to help become more malleable as needed. The feet can suffer the most obvious swelling because, being the farthest away from the heart, it has a more difficult time returning fluids to the top half of the body. When the baby is larger in the belly, it can physically be the cause of slower circulation back to the top half of the body. Exercise and elevating the feet can help!
  • Pins-and-Needles/Tingling – When there is increased swelling, your nerves might become compressed, and blood flow might be constricted. These can cause you to have a tingling or pins-and-needles sensation. This can be felt more if you’ve been standing all day or if your feet start to swell while you are exercising. Be sure that your shoes are not too tight.
  • Pressure Point and Joint Pain – Certain parts of the feet that experience more pressure can be more sensitive to aches and pains. Elevate the feet and rest them whenever you are sitting to help them recover.
  • Flattened arches – The extra weight that you carry, especially toward the end of the 2nd trimester, and in the 3rd trimester can cause your arches to become stretched out. They can become flattened as the feet work harder to support the weight gain. Wear supportive shoes and/or use orthotic inserts to help reduce pain along the bottom of the feet.

If you are experiencing moderate to severe pain in your feet during pregnancy, see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll to help you figure out the best solution. Pay special attention to any uneven swelling in the legs or feet, as this can indicate an issue with blood clots. To make an appointment, call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.

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Our Locations

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Office Hours

(We have new hours as below!)

Crofton Podiatry

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-3:30 pm

Friday:

By Appointment Only

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed