What Happens to Your Body During Pregnancy
Your shoes may stop fitting
Many women wonder whether they'll end up wearing a different shoe size after their pregnancies. "Women's feet tend to swell in pregnancy, but feet also get slightly bigger over the years," says Dr. Greenfield. "So the fact some women's feet change in size after pregnancy may not necessarily be pregnancy related."
However, you may definitely notice a temporary change in your shoe size by your third trimester, Dr. Greenfield says. "The total amount of fluids in your body increases substantially during pregnancy and a lot of the excess water ends up in your feet, thanks to gravity. It can take a couple of weeks after delivery for the swelling to completely subside."
To reduce the swelling, she recommends wearing support hose, staying physically active and elevating your legs whenever you can. It's also a good idea to invest in a loose pair of comfortable, slip-on shoes to get you through the worst of the swelling.
