How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Feet

When a woman becomes pregnant, they experience many changes throughout their body. As women, when we become pregnant we think of how we will become hormonal, and gain weight, and how other parts of our body will change. In many cases, however, we rarely think about how our feet tend to change.

Hormones During Pregnancy

One of the hormones involved in pregnancy is called relaxin. Relaxin is a hormone produced in the ovaries and placenta. One of the roles of relaxin is to help your body increase flexibility, and relax muscles, making it possible for women to carry and deliver a baby.

Relaxin is a vital pregnancy hormone that mainly relaxes the muscles in the uterus and pelvis, as our bodies are made to become more flexible, to accommodate a baby. Also, relaxin increases blood flow to the uterus so more nutrients can get to baby. Relaxin also relaxes other parts of your body, like your arteries. During pregnancy, your arteries have to handle an increase in your blood volume, so the relaxin helps control your blood pressure, so it doesn’t go through the roof.

Changes in Your Feet During Pregnancy

When pregnant, you experience postural changes in your feet and legs. Since another human being is growing inside, you have to carry around more weight. The weight of your baby can cause injuries to your feet, as now your ligaments are not as strong as they once were, and are subject to more of a work load.

Foot Swelling During Pregnancy

Your feet are an important part of the body, which provide a foundation to stand on, and can also tell you if you may have any underlying conditions such as diabetes. When a woman is pregnant, swelling of the feet and ankles, otherwise known as edema, is very common. This is often due to fluid building up in your body’s tissues. An increase in blood volume, extra pressure put on blood vessels in the legs and pelvis, and increased water retention, can all have an effect on parts of the body, including our feet.

Burning Sensations in Feet During Pregnancy

Many women also commonly experience hot and burning sensations on their feet, due to hormonal changes causing an increase in body temperature. If symptoms develop, and are not treated, further complications can arise, such as over-pronation (flattening of the foot’s arch), which can cause further strain, making walking more painful. Seeing a podiatrist is of upmost importance.

Find a Podiatrist in Catonsville, Columbia, and Eldersburg

At Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, Dr. Marc Lipton is a board-certified podiatrist that can help with any issues pertaining to the health of the feet and ankles. To schedule an appointment, call (410) 644-1880 or request an appointment online right now. It is not uncommon to seek treatment for foot pain or swelling during pregnancy, and it is important to take care of the problem as soon as possible.