I'm looking for sympathy..... - YouLookFab Forum

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I'm looking for sympathy.....

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I had to go shoes shopping again.

Pregnancy and beeing on my feet off and on all day has made my poor feet a tragic dramady.

I originally wore a fussy size 11 wide width an a good day. Now Its a 12 oh man is this difficult. I've tried cutting out salt, elevated feet, Epson salt drinking water. Dr. Says its natural. I don't have preeclampsia or edima? I'm just swollen mostly ankles and feet. I think I'm going to have to get those stockings that help circulation.

I bought 4 pair of cute cheap slipon tennis shoes and 1 pair of nike flip flops Hoping my feet will return to normal soon.

By the time i get home ay night my poor feet look like the visual of this little piggy.

Okay pregnancy rant over.

9 more weeks to go.

Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Oh my dear, I hear you! Never been pregnant but do my plates of meat ever swell. Particularly in hot weather. Have you tried a peppermint balm? Can be very soothing.

Anonymous

Oh no, I feel your pain Ledonna. Swollen feet is so common in pregnancy. Its just fluid retention and drainage. This too shall pass. And you're allowed a rant Slip on tennis shoes and flip flops are fine. Get some colourful ones and once you add in your lovely personality and a fab outfit you'll feel tons better. Hang in there!

Bijou

Veteran

Oh Ledonna, I sympathise and can only say that in 9 weeks time, this too will be over. I do remember looking at my feet and thinking that they looked like fat little sausages whilst pregnant and wondering if I would ever be able to wear heels ever again. You will regain your ankles along with your waist line - it does happen. Nugget is so worth it!

Inge

(website)

*Hugs!!*

Swollen feet and ankles are no fun, neither is no longer fitting into your favourite footwear, but it's like the wise Fabbers above have pointed out, Ledonna: it will get better again AND you undoubtedly look as fab as ever in your new tennis shoes and flip flops.

Hang in there sweet lady (and we are always here to listen!)

L'Abeille

Veteran

No Epsom salts, no salt, no carbonated beverages. But your feet will still swell. Think of them as your camel humps: they are your fluid reserves to get you through the birth process. Wear your tennies now (not exactly flip-flop weather, is it?) and you will get your ankles back.

Momo

Veteran

I am sorry
This will pass! The end of pregnancy sure has its struggles .
I love the idea of camel humps. I didn't swell up and I still remember the thirst I had after giving birth, it was unreal. I drank gallons of apple juice.
Maybe if I had a reserve I would t have been so dehydrated!

cindysmith

Veteran

LeDonna, I think you're allowed a rant. And we are here for it. (((Hugs)))

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

So sorry! My feet and legs swell if I have a long day at work, and I'm NOT pregnant. It's no wonder that yours are swelling. I find that if I take Aleve before work they don't get as swollen but that's probably not an option for you. Yes, try some compression socks.

RobinF

Veteran

Well shoot, that's no fun! Just remind yourself it'll be over soon and totally worth it.

anchie

Veteran

oh, I hear you, and I do sympathize. It was one of the worst symptoms of pregnancy for me. I was in third semester during very hot summer and it was unberable. I could only wear flip flops and one pair of moccasins streched beyond belief. I can not even imagine trying to put such swollen feet into the boots. And my feet also grow longer in both of my pregnancies. I used to be size 38 but now I am 39.5. But I don't have to say it- it is all worth it.

Joyce B

Veteran

I also had a lot of swelling of my feet during the last trimesters of my pregnancies. You just reminded me about the problem with my feet, especially with boots for Winter when my due date was in March. I could not fit in the available widths and I had to buy a pair in men's size. It tided me over but I could never wear it again after that. Somehow men are allowed by the industry to have a wide foot and women are not really.
Do you think it might be worth giving a try to men's sizes particularly for snow boots if yours are geting tight?
Good idea about the tennis slip-ons for indoors. I don't think they will decrease the swelling but you will be more comfortable in them.
Feet can swell a lot at the end of pregnancy. Hang in there, soon you will have your little one in your arms and it will all have been worth it.

Anonymous

That really sounds uncomfortable, LeDonna. Keep your feet elevated as much as possible, and get a good massage (there are special prenatal massages to relieve aches and edema). We're all cheering for you and the nugget!

marianna

Veteran

Do you have any interest in a pair of new Converse sneakers? They're new in box but the color isn't my thing - too funky for me but you might like them. They are size 12. I'm in the middle of purging my closet and they're in my donate pile. Happy to send them to you if you're interested.

As a side note, I'm already a size 12 and if my feet grow to size 13 I don't know what I'll do... size 13 barely exists!

JAileen

Veteran

Ledonna, I'm so sorry! I was pregnant on the Gulf Coast in summer. Really really horrible. I was so happy when a cold front finally came through, but it wasn't until about two weeks before my due date.

I was going to suggest for you and Marianna, look at slipons such as Vans, but in the men's sizing. For example, these look pretty good:

http://www.zappos.com/p/vans-c.....lor/649381

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Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Uuughhhh. I'm sorry about that! Hang in there! I had the swollen feet--not during pregnancy, but I was so sick after.

SandyG

Veteran

I love your pregnancy posts. Sending a ton of vivid sympathy about the feet! I'm a shoe diva so completely understand the dramedy! And laughing at the memories ... shoes in 3 desperate sizes because every morning my feet did something wild and different. And if I took shoes off during the day, I literally couldn't get them back on my feet, things would swell so fast. Some of that was pregnancy and some was a low thyroid issue, YMMV.

Try a peppermint foot massage cream to refresh and delight your hardworking feet, and try arch supports to maintain good muscle dynamics -- feet are the foundation of the body and pregnancy is a challenge.The compression stockings help a lot and even well-fitting tights helped my feet and legs feel better. Also passing along a good bit of advice from my doctor to lie on the floor, align my body, and elevate my feet on a chair or sofa for 15 minutes nightly to help relieve swelling. (Some babies don't like this position and will dance on your backbone) I still do this in hot weather and get swarmed by puppies now, not babies. Such is the rhythm of life

Isabel

Veteran

I am sorry...but I had to giggle. Your description put visions in my head. Yes, this happens. And it is hard. Sending you hugs...including your feet.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have no words of wisdom Ledonna, but just want to say that you look super cute in your sneaks no matter what. Rock on, and rest those cute feet.

Laurel

I'm so sorry---sending sympathy and LOVE and respect for this incredible thing you are doing: you are MAKING A HUMAN BEING FROM SCRATCH INSIDE YOUR BODY!!! W@W! Sandy's advice sounded really good---peppermint foot cream massage, and elevation!

Anonymous

Ledonna, I'm sorry that you are going through this. I don't know if it is true but read that the same hormone or whatever in the body that releases the hips so they can spread at the birth also is at work in other parts of the body, like feet. Pre babies, my feet were a solid size 7 AA (narrow). Post they became 8M. I could no longer wear the shoes I had. While pregnant it was summer and I was in open shoes or barefoot. I had a little swelling but swell some in summer anyway. Wishing you happy feet.

Style Fan

Veteran

You are allowed to rant. My feet used to swell. Nothing helped. I have shoes in many sizes.
Your tennis shoes are going to look super cute with your amazing personality.

Echo

Veteran

Oh, I am so sorry. I have been there and it is miserable. I had sneakers that were two sizes bigger than I normally wear that I schlepped around in late in pregnancy. None of my regular shoes fit, but I knew I couldn't wear the new, larger ones after pregnancy, so it didn't pay to invest much in them. But my feet were so swollen they looked like little foot-shaped pillows.

The ONLY good news is that this will go away after delivery. Your feet may end up a half size bigger or so permanently, or they may not. It depends on the person. My feet went up about half a size after pregnancy and have remained there ever since.

harmonica

Veteran

So sorry for you. I've been there and it was no fun. Might be worth the try to get some of those stockings. I know they can give some relief. I'm sure you look super cute in your sneaks. And your style and attitude rock anyway! *hugs*

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Thank you all for the empathy and words of wisdom.

Sand G- i laid on my back with a pillow underneath for support for the 15 minutes and the swelling went down.

My dear sister is getting the compression socks and the essential oils.

Marianne oh that would be wonderful. The foot spread and forgetfulness called pregnancy brain is real.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I am so excited that Marianne has some new shoes for you and hope they work!

YLF is the best.

Such a nuisance about the swelling but you are more than welcome to rant here!! Hugs to you and hang in there.

Kate

Veteran

Sending you waves of sympathy and hugs, Ledonna. That does sound a misery, but at least not so much longer now. I like Joyce's idea of checking out men's shoes to find sizes that work for you now. I have a long narrow foot, and have often crossed the aisle to buy men's shoes--for both the fit and quality.

April

Veteran

You've already mentioned drinking water, and that was what the midwives told me: "Drink plenty of water so your body won't feel it needs to hang onto every drop of water to prevent dehydration." Counterintuitive to the kind of advice one often receives but as usual, they were right.

As soon as I would see my feet and ankles start to swell, I would drink extra water and they would settle right back down.

Sounds like you're already trying that, though, LD. Ugh, I wish had something magical to suggest. I always ended up reminding myself that our bodies were really meant to be doing this hard work on all fours, not while standing upright. Did that help at all? Not really.

Lucy

Veteran

Oh, it's the worst! I have size 6-7 feet, and in pregnancy they slowly rose. I was wearing my mother's size 8.5 sandals. Then I outgrew them. Then I was at size 9. Then finished the pregnancy in a 10 flip -flop. My feet were then one size up for a few years and finally went down to my original size!
It was particularly odd as i had very little weight gain, no pre-eclampsia. blood pressure was low. I was certainly quite healthy, otherwise.
So yeah, I'm not the person for hints on how to fix this! But I can totally sympathise - it is horrible!! All you can do is rest when you can (easier said than done, of course!) Sending *hugs* and best wishes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

As a mother of full term twins, you have all my sympathy. Although oddly my feet never swelled up until after the c-section.

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