Pregnancy causes all sorts of changes to happen to your body, and while you might expect morning sickness and back pain, you probably aren't thinking you'll need to see a podiatrist during your pregnancy. However, a combination of your growing bump and the production of the pregnancy hormone called relaxin, which softens your blood vessel walls and ligaments in preparation for labour, can put excessive strain on your feet. Here's an overview of two reasons to see a podiatrist when you're pregnant:

Managing Oedema

Every pregnant woman dreads getting swollen feet and ankles, but do you know why this happens in pregnancy? Oedema is caused by sluggish circulation, which is caused by the effect of relaxin on the walls of your blood vessels. Having swollen ankles for a few months doesn't sound serious, but when your blood vessels can't move fluid out of your legs effectively, the resulting pooling of fluid leaves you at risk of developing blood clots.

When your ankles swell, it's important to encourage the fluid to move upward out of your legs. You can do this by elevating your legs above your heart at regular intervals during the course of the day. However, elevation isn't always effective on its own, so your podiatrist will show you how to do safe, targeted exercises that help your circulation. They can also encourage the movement of fluid out of your feet by massaging your feet using effleurage strokes, which are long and rhythmical and move the fluid toward your heart.

Supporting Your Foot Arches

When your feet experience strain as a result of your growing bump, the supporting structures of your arches can weaken and you can develop flat feet, also known as collapsed arches. Flat feet can cause foot pain and inflammation of the joints in your feet, and the issue doesn't resolve after you've had your baby.

You don't have to wait until your foot arches are damaged to see a podiatrist. The treatment is the same regardless of whether your arches are damaged or you simply want to give them some extra protection and prevent injury. Your podiatrist will examine your feet and assess you walking before writing a prescription for a pair of custom-made orthotic insoles. The insoles will alter the way your weight is distributed across your feet, which will prevent excessive strain on the arches and provide additional support to your feet.

A podiatrist is a useful member of your care team during pregnancy, so schedule an appointment for a foot assessment and advice on how to keep your feet healthy throughout your pregnancy.