A woman’s body undergoes numerous modifications throughout and after pregnancy.
It is not only about how bigger the womb will be but the unforeseen pain that you normally don’t get when you haven’t carried an angel inside you! And foot pain after pregnancy is one of them!
However, it is not the pain that you must cope with because you’re pregnant or in the postpartum period.
Like dry nipples in early pregnancy, there are always solutions to your pain when you look out! Our recommendation of postpartum care below can solve achy feet.
Don’t let you wait any further. Let’s start now!
Why Does Your Foot Pain After Pregnancy?
But first, as always, you need to understand the crux of the matter! Why does your foot and ankle pain after pregnancy?
Swelling
Swelling, also called the scientific name edema, which occurs from the additional collection of blood, is one of the most prevalent foot disorders during pregnancy.
Natural weight increase and expanding uterus exert tension on the mother’s veins and pressure on the hip and the legs during pregnancy.
As such, it slows circulation and increases water(fluid) retention. Legs and the feet may swell, making the pre-pregnant shoes tight and causing pain and irritation in rare circumstances.
Several mother-to-be’s feet swell, especially when they choose flip-flops to wear during and after stages of pregnancy, which exacerbates the situation.
Therefore, choosing the socks and shoes that fit foot size during pregnancy is important. It will ease the swelling.
Flat Feet
Flat foot, which arises when a human’s arch is being flattened out when they bear extra weight, causes the human’s feet to turn in disproportionately or roll inward when you start moving.
It is another troublesome foot ailment that can happen during the antenatal period. In such cases, the thick band of human tissue in the foot’s arch getting strained and irritated due to enhanced flattening is to blame for.
The increase in weight compresses the feet’s normal status and foot structure and causes the arches to flatten. So, over-pronation is typical during pregnancy.
Walking can be exceedingly difficult, and women’s feet and even backs may face greater soreness and pressure. This is the second reason for the famous back and foot pain after pregnancy.
Fact
Slight swelling and flat feet are common throughout pregnancy and normally subside or go away once the baby is born.
Nonetheless, several anatomical changes inside the mother’s feet remain unchanged. It now calls for new comfortable shoes or supportive shoes and the avoidance of any high heels beyond a particular height.
Don’t worry if reading this information makes your heart skip a beat. There are some solutions to avoid chronic pain.
You can start doing several things to renew and support your limb and tootsies in postpartum. Swelling, flat feet are like hips widened.
They are just physical changes in pregnancy. It changes if you are aware of it and start acting!
How To Solve Foot Pain After Pregnancy
Short Breaks + Put The Feet Up
The first thing that can ease the pain in foot after pregnancy is taking breaks sometimes in a day and elevating your legs.
In the post-delivery period, the extra fluids can lead to swelling. Because the feet are the part that is furthest away from the heart (the organ is responsible for fluid pumping to other body parts), edema is common.
Spreading and putting the feet up/elevating the feet to allow gravity to support the fluid will help you feel better.
Besides, all day long, try to spend time taking some short breaks. Why?
Changing your posture regularly and giving them “bedtime” will facilitate other parts of your body not experiencing any tension when working in the same position for a period of time.
As a result, your legs can have more time relaxing, serving you both a better journey.
Exercise
The pain on top of foot after pregnancy will never be a concern if you exercise every day. Maintaining an exercise schedule supports the foot’s pain and improves your overall health conditions.
All you need to do is follow the exercise so that you can move your foot through their whole range of motion. Depending on your current body status, you should choose a trainer to start with.
It is best to start the training before, during, and after pregnancy because consistency will help you kiss goodbye to pain before it comes. Pilates, Yoga, Gym, or Aerobic are all good starts.
However, don’t forget to get a doctor’s advice or health care provider on your health.
In the first year after pregnancy, your body has not recovered. Therefore, getting a consultant on the body parts that shoulder the weight gain in such a long time is a must to avoid unconsciously hurting them!
Your legs, your feet, and even your toes, they all need care at the same time!
Stretching
Next is foot arch pain after pregnancy solution!
Ligaments support and hold your arch of the foot together. You can imagine these ligaments are likely with the elastic in your old sweatpants.
It does not come back to its previous tautness, being stretched beyond its regular capacity or for an extended time.
The increased weight ligaments carry due to pregnancy might stress and exhaust them, resulting in arch pain.
Especially when you first get out of your bed in the morning, the agony becomes severe. So, it’s fantastic to start stretching your legs, feet, and toes.
Some standing poses, for example, Mountain in Tadasana, is a move you can follow.
Besides, we also recommend preparing a small ball like a tennis ball and then rolling it around the feet’s ball and the arch for an added massage.
It aids in reducing blood pressure and the improvement of blood circulation, minimizes ankle edema, and avoids calf muscle cramps.
The method is also a way to reduce the effect of the ball of foot pain after pregnancy occurrence!
Compression Stockings
The following method is wearing the Compression Socks that have the end at the knee, which can help relieve aches and pains.
The special socks will gradually raise leg pressure, driving some part of the surplus fluid (extra fluids) to flow back into the blood vessels and throughout your body.
As a result, your legs’ tension will be decreased. The pain slowly disappears!
Rub Your Feet
Massage is beneficial for swollen feet. It can also help you relax. With strong strokes plus some pressure, rub the feet toward the heart’s direction.
This can lend a hand to remove excess fluids from the area it is stuck and contribute to the reduction of edema. You can do it by yourself or go to a physical therapist to get some help!
Moreover, using the ice pack in the affected area will reduce swelling and relieve discomfort.
Drink Water
Water accounts for up to 60% of the human body.
It offers numerous advantages for pregnant women before, during, and after carrying a baby. And improving digestion is one of them.
In addition, water assists in circulating nutrients to all the parts of the body and even your little toes. It not only strengthens the leg’s health conditions, but staying hydrated is also the recipe to reduce leg cramps.
Warm water has the effect of relaxing the legs’ muscles too!
Therefore, drinking enough water every day is a simple yet effective method to ease the pain in the feet during the postnatal period!
Conclusion
Are you still afraid of foot pain after pregnancy? Well, we guess now you don’t.
Be stern with yourself, even when you are in the most vulnerable situation. Understand the root of the problem, follow the rules, and you will be fine.
Being a mother is the greatest and most honorable job that not anyone can experience.
It is hard, even painful, but you will remember all the hurt happily when you look down at your feet because you are an amazing woman! We wish you and your little one the best!