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Pregnancy Care Podiatrist


 

Pregnancy Foot Care at Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic in Homer Glen and New Lenox, IL

The body goes through a number of changes during pregnancy, many of which directly and indirectly impact the feet. Hormonal changes and weight gain during pregnancy, in particular, can have a very significant impact on your entire body, and especially your feet.

While weight gain is a completely natural part of pregnancy, it can change your center of gravity, putting more pressure on your feet and causing you to adopt a new stance to better bear the additional weight. Additional hormone production can make injuries more common and cause your feet to temporarily increase in size.

Due to weight and hormone changes, and the fact that many women struggle to reach their feet late in the third trimester, it’s not surprising that foot pain – that can affect the heel and ball and arch of the foot – is a very common complaint during pregnancy. Persistent pain in your feet can be very uncomfortable and restrict what you can do.

With the major changes in stance that occurs when women get pregnant, it’s very important for them to take care of their feet and feet support. Also, more than normal swelling will occur. Rest and adjusting shoes, as well as elevation can help alleviate these worsening conditions.

Here at Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic, we can support you through your pregnancy, with professional pregnancy foot care treatments and advice in Homer Glen and New Lenox, IL. Our podiatrists will help to reduce discomfort, make everyday activities easier, and keep pain to an absolute minimum during the course of your pregnancy.

If you have any concerns about the health of your feet, then please give Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic a call or pay our friendly team a visit at your soonest convenience.

Common Foot Conditions During Pregnancy

The majority of people experience foot pain at least once during their lifetimes, but during pregnancy, there’s a much higher chance that you’ll experience certain problems with your feet.

Many of the common foot conditions during pregnancy occur naturally as the body changes; a podiatrist can often treat these problems easily, with advice and simple treatment that’ll have a profound impact on your foot health.

Here are some of the most common foot conditions that can occur during pregnancy:

Foot Swelling/Edema

Swelling, or edema, is one of the biggest foot complaints during pregnancy, and is particularly prominent during the later stages of pregnancy. There are multiple reasons why your feet are more likely to become swollen when you’re pregnant, including:

  • Hormone releases that cause your feet to seem swollen
  • Weight gain in your feet
  • Added pressure on the feet caused by weight gain
  • Fluid retention caused by an interruption to blood flow when the uterus expands

Over-Pronated/Flat Feet

Over-pronated feet, or flat feet, is also incredibly common during pregnancy. There are two main causes of over-pronation: the increase in weight that occurs during pregnancy and an increased relaxation of ligaments caused by relaxin production. As a result of the feet bearing more weight than normal, the foot arches begin to flatten, and the feet start to roll inward. Over time, this can lead to stress, inflammation, and considerable pain when walking.

Plantar Fasciitis

Weight gain can also bring on bouts of plantar fasciitis; common during the later stages of pregnancy. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that affects the planta fascia, which is a band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. The condition is often identified by a pain in the bottom of the heel or around the middle of the foot. Plantar fasciitis can worsen over time and after activity.

Ingrown Toenails

Pregnancy can increase the chances of ingrown toenails. The changes to the shape, position, and size of your feet can increase the risk of your nail being pushed into the skin. Nail care can also be very difficult at the end of a pregnancy, as reaching your toes is often more difficult.

Cracked Heels

It’s very common for changes in weight, lack of moisture, and adjustments to posture during pregnancy to lead to the skin on your heels becoming dry and cracked. This occurs when the heel expands sideways, and can range in severity, from mild cracks and dryness to severe soreness and bleeding.

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, or your feet are causing you pain or discomfort, then please get in touch with Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic in New Lenox and Homer Glen, IL, so we can help you to find lasting relief.

Support the Health of Your Feet During Pregnancy
Podiatrists are trained to correctly diagnose and provide treatment for all manner of foot conditions, including those that are more common during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Care Podiatrist in Homer Glen, IL

At Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic, we can help you with professional advice to manage your condition at home and treatment to ease your pain and make walking easier.

Many common pregnancy foot concerns, like over-pronation, can be treated with custom orthotics, which we can provide for you at Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic. These will give you extra support, improve the positioning of the foot, and make moving around more comfortable.

We can also give you advice about suitable footwear during your pregnancy to increase your comfort and help with swelling. Supportive shoes – that give your toes room to move – will help treat other common conditions as well, including plantar fasciitis.

You can rely on the team at Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic to find a solution to all problems with your feet. We can remove ingrown toenails and treat any infections, as well as give you relief from cracked heels.

When you visit Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic, you’ll have a consultation with a trained podiatrist. We’ll discuss your medical history, assess how you walk, run some basic tests, and talk with you about the pain or problems you’re experiencing. You’ll get advice, guidance, and excellent treatment options that’ll make a difference to the health of your feet now and throughout your pregnancy.

Contact Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic Today

From footwear advice and custom orthotics, to ingrown toenail treatments, physical therapy, and advice on stretches, elevations, and activities, the podiatrists at Vittori Foot & Ankle Clinic are here to keep you on your feet with as little discomfort as possible.

For pregnancy foot care treatment in Homer Glen and New Lenox, IL – visit Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist. The sooner that you seek expert support for your foot problems, the sooner we can find a treatment that works for you!

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