Why Your Feet Ache Feet during Pregnancy

May 28, 2009

Women’s bodies change a lot during pregnancy, your feet is one of them.  The most apparent reason is the additional weight gain.  As your pregnancy progresses, you will gain roughly around 25 pounds during the whole term.  This additional weight will add pressure to your feet, especially on the heel.

Pregnancy may also promote the swelling of your feet.  One side effect of pregnancy is the surge of hormones that course through your body.  This makes the muscles relax and slows down your circulation, because of this swelling in your feet may occur.

Another hormone released during pregnancy is relaxin, this cause your bones to relax as you prepare for birth, unfortunately, as this hormone prepares the birth canal, it causes some undesirable effect on your feet.  The hormone cause the connections of the bones in your feet, the ligaments, to expand.  This can misshapen your feet by making it larger and flatter compared when you were not pregnant.

A hot foot bath is one way to relax your tired, swollen, misshapen feet.  Soaking your feet in warm water with your favorite aromatherapeutic oil can help relieve those swollen , aching feet.