Best Shoes For Pregnancy vs. Pregnancy Insoles Buying Guide

Congratulations on entering this wonderful new chapter of your life! While your body is doing the incredible work of nurturing new life, this journey often comes with less-welcome physical changes, with foot pain, swelling, and lower-limb fatigue topping the list.

Pregnancy triggers many different changes in a woman’s body. Due to the natural weight gain during pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity is completely altered. This causes a new weight-bearing stance and adds pressure to the knees and feet. Choosing properly fitting shoes and orthotics can help make pregnancy as comfortable as possible.

In this guide, we dive deep into common pregnancy foot issues and provide expert buying advice to help you find the comfort solutions you deserve, ensuring your journey through motherhood is as joyful and comfortable as possible.

Two of the most common foot problems experienced by pregnant women are overpronation and edema. These problems can lead to pain in the heel, arch, or ball of the foot. Many women may also experience leg cramping and varicose veins due to additional weight gain.

OVERPRONATION

Many pregnant women suffer from overpronation due to the added pressure on the body as a result of weight gain. Overpronation, also referred to as flat feet, is caused when a person’s arch flattens out upon weight bearing, and their feet roll inward when walking.

This can create extreme stress or inflammation on the plantar fascia, the fibrous band of tissue that runs from the heel to the forefoot. The added stress on the tissue can also cause plantar fasciitis. Overpronation can make walking very painful and can increase strain on the feet, calves, and/or back.

EDEMA

Edema, also referred to as swelling in the feet, normally occurs in the latter part of pregnancy. Edema results from the extra blood accumulated during pregnancy. The enlarging uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvis and legs, causing circulation to slow down and blood to pool in the lower extremities.

The total water fluid in the body remains the same as before pregnancy; however, it becomes displaced. When feet are swollen, they can become purplish in color. Sometimes extra water is retained during pregnancy, adding to the swelling. Swelling during pregnancy is normally similar in both feet. If swelling is not symmetrical in both feet, this may be a sign of a vascular problem, and a doctor should be contacted immediately.

Thanks to gravity, the excess fluid your body produces during pregnancy is more likely to pool in your feet. Elevating your legs at the end of the day can help drain the fluid. If possible, try to get your feet up for ten-minute intervals throughout the day, too.

Tips To Avoid Discomfort During Pregnancy

• Soak your feet in Epsom salt to improve blood circulation and prevent fluid from building up in the feet.
• Massage your feet to improve blood circulation.
• Exercise regularly to promote overall health; walking is the best exercise.
• Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated and help retain less fluid.
• Eat a well-balanced diet and avoid foods high in salt that can cause water retention.
• Wear supportive shoes. Always wear shoes with good arch support and avoid going barefoot. If your feet are bigger, you’ll need a bigger-sized shoe.
• Wearing orthotic shoe inserts can help keep your feet supported and cushioned, and stabilize your entire body.

Selecting the right insoles during pregnancy requires considering various factors beyond just pain relief. Since foot size and shape can change throughout pregnancy, flexibility and adjustability are crucial. Look for insoles for pregnancy foot pain that provide arch support, relieve pressure on the arches, and reduce the impact on joints as your body adjusts to the extra weight.

Key Considerations When Choosing Insoles for Pregnancy

Insoles are a simple and effective way to support the arches of your feet. They form an extra layer between your shoes’ foot bed and your feet, offering proper arch support to prevent pronation and all the complications that can come with it.

While you don’t necessarily need to search for insoles for pregnancy specifically, PCSsole’s Heavy Duty Insoles are ideal for use during pregnancy for several reasons:

• Custom arch support from the multi-density composite base aligns your body
• A deep heel cup offers maximum stability
• Our cushioning foam evenly distributes pressure

Not only do these features help to prevent misalignment, but they also promote comfort and offer pain relief that extends well beyond your feet. From back pain to foot arch pain, pregnancy soreness can be a thing of the past when you provide proper support.

Wearing appropriate shoes is an effective way to help manage both overpronation and edema during pregnancy. The best shoes for pregnancy are designed with arch support, medial rearfoot posting, and shock absorption to help relieve overpronation. Along with helping relieve pain, the prevention of overpronation will also help prevent other foot conditions from developing, such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bunions, metatarsalgia, and post-tibial tendonitis.

Now, another key factor to consider is convenience: Can I put these babies on without bending over? Will I have to make frequent attempts at retying them throughout the day? Will they suit a potentially new gait (considering pregnancy can change not just the shape of your feet but also how you walk to enhance your balance)?

TIPS:

• Wear properly fitting footwear that supports your feet.
• Avoid shoes that are too narrow or constricting.
• Measure your feet several times throughout your pregnancy as they will probably change size.

After extensive testing by people at different stages of their pregnancy and talking with podiatrists and women’s health experts, we narrowed down the best shoes for pregnancy to the 5 picks below.

1. PCSsole Arch Support Slides Sandals

PCSsole slides, sandals, and flip flops are the perfect way to get the support and comfort your feet need. All PCSsole sandals and orthotics have PCSsole Signature arch support built in. The arch support helps proper alignment of the feet, ankles, and knees, thus helping to reduce pain or discomfort associated with overpronation. Anti-microbial top covers help to reduce moisture and odor that may be present.

Why We Like It?

In the second and third trimesters, bending down to tie laces or buckle straps becomes difficult and uncomfortable. The slide design offers effortless, hands-free wear. You can simply slip them on and go, making them perfect for moving around the house or running quick errands.

Unlike enclosed shoes that can become tight and painful, the open design of these slide sandals allows room for swelling, ensuring comfort throughout the day without constricting circulation.

2. Hoka Clifton 10

Known for its superior cushioning, the Hoka Clifton 10 has rocker soles which, according to a certified nurse-midwife, help ease walking for pregnant women. She also recommends cushioned shoes for pregnancy to combat joint strain from extra weight. It’s available in regular, wide, and extra wide widths, which is helpful for pregnancy if your feet swell and you need something with a little more room than usual. It also has a breathable upper material, providing some welcome airflow if pregnancy has you running hot.

Who Shouldn’t Buy It

These shoes do have laces, which means you need to bend down to tie them. If bending over is difficult for you or if you’re nearing the third trimester, consider a slip-on option.

It’s also a rather high shoe thanks to its abundance of cushioning—if you’re feeling unsteady on your feet, consider something with a lower sole.

3. Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle Sandals

Talk to anyone who owns Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle Sandals, and they’ll tell you how comfortable they are. We recommend these sandals specifically for pregnant people because of the contoured cork footbeds that mold to your foot’s shape. Adjustable straps allow you to accommodate for any swelling, too. The shoes are easy to slip on, saving you from bending over. The contoured footbed helps provide some stability and arch support—much more than you’d typically get from a flat sandal. Despite having no strap on the back, a heel cup that’s molded into the footbed provides stability, too.

Who Shouldn’t Buy It

Available in regular/wide or medium/narrow, this might not be the best pick for those with wide feet. Additionally, because it’s a sandal without any heel coverage, they lack the stability of a more structured shoe. Look for a sneaker if you have stability concerns.

4. Vionic Women’s Walk Max Wanderer Sandal

If you’re dealing with swollen feet, it’s helpful to have adjustable shoes that can adapt to the changes in your feet. The Vionic Women’s Walk Max Wanderer Sandal has hook and loop straps to adjust as your feet swell. Those who recommend Vionic shoes advise pregnant people to get shoes with adjustable closures or stretchy uppers if they’re dealing with swelling. The shoe is available in regular and wide widths. It also has a good amount of cushioning—especially for a sandal—as well as arch support.

Who Shouldn’t Buy It

Because this is a strappy sandal, it doesn’t offer as much support around the foot as a sneaker or more structured shoe. If you need more stability and support, consider our top pick, the Hoka Clifton 10, which has traditional laces and is available in wide and extra wide, allowing you to accommodate for swollen feet.

5. SeaVees Ballard Boot

Why We Like It?

Winter can be an especially challenging time to find adequate support without sacrificing comfort and convenience, especially with swollen, pregnant feet. The SeaVees Ballard, however, provides comfort second to none and is easy to pull on and off with the back loops. We found them stand out for rainy days, in particular, and they kept us cozy and dry chasing kids around outside for several hours—even at 30+ weeks!

While the price point is on the higher side for a rain boot, we think these are well worth the cost because of their stability, practicality, and durability. And all of that is in addition to the plushness provided by the super-cushioned footbed, which gave us immediate relief as soon as we slipped these shoes on.

We know there are a million questions about finding good shoes for pregnancy. Well, lucky for you, we’ve got answers!