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The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists in the U.K. says pregnant women are risking the health of their feet to keep up with celebrity trends. It says that could be a painful mistake.

The society has found from a survey that half of pregnant women in the U.K. feel pressured to keep up with celebrity fashion. Nearly a third of women risk foot health by wearing high heels during pregnancy and two-thirds wear flip-flops, which lack necessary support.

One thousand pregnant and recently pregnant women were questioned for the society’s annual Feet for Life month.

Other unsuitable footwear included ballet pumps (53%) and Ugg style boots (30%).

The society found 70% of pregnant women suffer from foot problems like swollen ankles (37%), swollen feet (45%), and arch and heel pain (16%).

Podiatrists are urging women to wear supportive, wide-fitting shoes to stay comfortable and avoid long-term damage.

Lorraine Jones, a podiatrist from The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, says in a news release: “Weight gain and hormonal changes in pregnancy have a huge impact on the body. Muscles and ligaments soften and stretch because of an increase in the ovarian hormone relaxin, which makes your feet more prone to ankle and ligament strains on a daily basis. High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees. In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls.”

She adds: “Shoes like ballet pumps, flip flops and Ugg boots are also unsuitable for daily wear in pregnancy because they don’t provide your feet with the necessary support. If you’re pregnant choose well fitted, round toed and low heeled, comfortable shoes with straps to support the foot and ankle and help minimise discomfort and prevent the prospect of long term damage. There are so many different shoes available today that you can still wear fashionable footwear which is supportive and comfortable. Many of the pregnant celebrities you see wearing high heels in magazines are attending events, so like them, try to keep your high heeled, high fashion shoes for a special occasion and stick to a more supportive shoe on a daily basis.”

Foot Tips in Pregnancy

The society’s top feet tips in pregnancy are:

• Wear comfortable, supportive footwear, ideally with a strap, laces, or Velcro. Choose a heel height of 3 centimeters, as this shifts your weight a little further forward on your feet, which can help alleviate discomfort. Avoid wearing high heels, as this can place unnecessary pressure on your joints at a time when they are already under strain.
• Supportive footwear with extra shock absorption, a supportive arch, and firm heel is essential.
• Don’t cross your legs or ankles when sitting.
• Keep active. Keep the lower limbs moving even when resting. Lying on your back and simulating riding a bike will help the muscles in the leg and reduce swelling. Prevent cramps from occurring by boosting circulation. Try rotating your ankles 10 times to the left and 10 times to the right, and repeating. Before you start an exercise program, check with your doctor.
• Raise your feet and legs up whenever you can and do daily leg and calf stretches.
• If you experience arch pain, a podiatrist may be able to provide special inserts for your shoes to help treat the problem.
• Wear surgical stockings — with advice from a health professional.
• Feet tend to swell during the day, so buy shoes later in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest.
• Make sure there is 1 centimeter between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
• Choose shoes with a toe box that is high enough and wide enough to comfortably fit, either rounded or square shaped, not pointed.

Studies show more pregnant women are wearing fashion shoes like Ugg boots, ballet pumps, flip flops and high heels, without considering the risks it might cause to them, says experts.

And the reason behind is pregnant celebrities look stunning on stilettos and ordinary pregnant women feel the pressure to keep up, also according to the survey.

Of the 1,000 pregnant women interviewed for the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, 66% of them regularly wear flip flops, 30% wore Ugg boots, 53% wear ballet pumps and 32% of them wear high heels.

Ms. Lorraine Jones, a representative from the Society said none of these shoes bring good comfort to pregnant women; infact, it brings harm on the contrary.

“High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees,” said Miss Jones.

The survey showed 7 out of 10 pregnant women admit they suffer from foot problems. 37% of them suffer from swollen ankles, 45% of them suffer from swollen feet and 16% of them experience arch and heel pain.

The fashion shoes do not provide the necessary comfort and support that every pregnant woman needs; these shoes are very unsuitable to be used daily, said Ms. Jones.

“Weight gain and hormonal changes in pregnancy have a huge impact on the body.

“Muscles and ligaments soften and stretch because of an increase in the ovarian hormone relaxin, which makes your feet more prone to ankle and ligament strains on a daily basis.

“In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain – which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls,” Ms. Jones stated.

She goes on pressing the rule that women should instead choose shoes with that 1 ½in heel as this can help the pregnant woman shift her weight forward towards the feet. These mini inched shoes are proven to relieve the discomfort that pregnant women feel while standing up.

Not only that, The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists released an advisory for pregnant women, urging them to follow the following pointers:

1)    Wear supportive and comfortable footwear. Choose those with straps, laces and Velcro, as these are ideal.

2)    Look for shoes specifically designed with extra shock absorption. If the part of the shoes feels like it can support the arch and the heel, it is the right choice.

3)    Avoid wearing high heels as this can place unnecessary pressure on joints at a time when they are already under strain.

4)    Avoid crossing the legs or ankles when sitting because these do not only cause varicose veins, it could also strain the legs even further.

Ms. Jones further added some advices saying, if women must feel the urge to wear high heels, they should only do so on occasions and at those times must avoid standing for too long.

“Many of the pregnant celebrities you see wearing high heels in magazines are attending events so, like them, try to keep your high-heeled, high-fashion shoes for a special occasion and stick to a more supportive shoe on a daily basis,” she concluded.