As a mama, you will know that your body changes a lot during pregnancy but it is little known that a mama’s posture is also susceptible to change. This can make wearing high heels a little tricky for some mamas-to-be. Whereas there is no significant yes/no answer to guide future mamas in their pregnancy shoe wardrobes, it is advisable to totter around with precaution.
For some mamas, sacrificing their favourite pair of shoes is just not realistic. So, if your outfit just isn’t complete without your beloved stilettos, just make sure you are giving your legs a break and take along a spare pair of comfy shoes.
In this excerpt from Mama You’ve Got This, an honest guide to pregnancy, Melissa Schweiger Kleinman, offers her advice for remaining comfortably stylish whilst remaining safe during pregnancy.
Can I wear high heels whilst pregnant?
If high heels are your calling card, there’s no reason to relegate them to the back of your closet during pregnancy. Wearing heels in itself will not harm your baby. The only possible danger is that you could fall and hurt yourself and potentially your baby. During pregnancy, your centre of gravity changes, making you feel a little uneasy on your feet. The further along you get, the more off kilter your centre of gravity will be. So if you’re a little clumsy on heels to begin with, pregnancy is probably not the best time to start wearing them.
Your first and second trimester are the best times to sashay around in heels. Once your belly is the size of a watermelon, sticking to flats is recommended.
Even when you’re not pregnant, heels can throw off the proper alignment in your body and lead to back pain. Since your back is already being compromised during pregnancy, why make it worse with stilettos?
Also, to note, your shoes may feel generally tighter – I had to go a size up in some shoes. You can keep feet cool in the summer with a foot spa and leg gel massages to help keep swelling down so you can keep wearing your favourite shoes.
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