Pregnancy should be a joy, but sometimes it can be a real pain in the… foot. The average length of a pregnancy is forty weeks or 280 days. During this time a woman’s body goes through many changes. Some of these changes are, like weight gain, are obvious while others are not. The changes that happen during this time can have lasting effects on your body and it is important to address any issues as they happen. In honor of International Podiatry Day, check out the expertise of today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Elizabeth Piselli, the current President of AAWP. From her perspective as a podiatrist, she shares her expertise on how pregnancy changes extend to the feet, and how you can manage them!

1. Weight gain: Any weight gain to your body will add pressure to the feet. Every pound on your body can add multiple pounds to your foot during certain phases of the gait cycle. This can mean that during pregnancy you will need more supportive shoes. A good test for shoes is the “Bend and Twist” test. If you can bend your shoes at the toe-box more than 45 degrees or twist the shoes in any direction, they are not providing enough support. Be sure to continually test shoes as materials can fatigue with time. Also of note, during pregnancy your weight distribution will change to accommodate the baby or babies. This can put more stress on your lower back, knees, ankles and arches. An evaluation by a podiatrist can diagnose the differences in your gait cycle and recommend a good shoe or orthotic for you.  

2. Ligamentous Laxity: To allow safe passage through the birth canal, your hormone profile changes  and creates ligamentous laxity. This means your ligaments (the soft tissue that connects bone to bone)  will become more flexible which can result in wider and more flexible feet. The increased flexibility can cause muscles and tendons to overwork, leading to pain and fatigue. If this sounds like you, try getting evaluated by a podiatrist to see if braces,  orthotics or shoe gear changes would be right for you during pregnancy. 

3. Increased Susceptibility to Infections: On the foot this can show up as painful ingrown nails, warts or fungus. One preventative is to go to reputable pedicure spas. A well-run salon will sterilize their instruments and not dig out ingrown nails, or cut cuticles. They should also be checking clients’ feet before they are in the water to make sure there are no contagious fungus or warts present. If you are getting polish,  bring your own base coat. Two nail polish companies that are toxin free and have antifungal ingredients are “Dr.’s Remedy” and “DaniPro”. If you are concerned you have an infection please seek a podiatrist’s care immediately. 

   Pregnancy can cause many changes in the body and the feet. Listen to your body and adapt accordingly. Most issues can be solved with preparation and vigilance.  If you have any concerns please contact your local podiatrist to get an evaluation right away. Make sure to mention you are pregnant. Be well and good luck
   

Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your expertise with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network! 

Bio: Dr. Piselli is the current President of AAWP. A graduate of Stanford University and the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, she is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Piselli has shared her knowledge through speaking engagements on critical topics such as Nutrition for Injured Athletes and RelativeEnergy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). She is also currently splits her time as an associate podiatrist for Dr. Karen Langone in the Hamptons and Balance Podiatry, which she co-founded and is in Nassau County, Long Island. Dr. Piselli has two children ages 4 and 6.