ARE STILETTOS HEALTHY FOR MUMS-TO-BE?
THE official line from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists is that pregnant women should avoid wearing heels over 2 in after the first three months. Anything higher puts too much strain on the lower back, knees, toes and the balls of the feet.
Sammy Margo, a chartered physiotherapist based in London, says: ‘Pregnant women want to look amazing, but high-heel shoes can leave you with lower back pain, sore feet and twisted ankles.
‘As your tummy gets bigger, the spine becomes more arched. This is exacerbated by the fact the body releases hormones including relaxin, which relaxes ligaments throughout the body to allow the baby to grow inside the pelvis.
‘Wearing heels throws the weight forward, forcing the lower back to arch even more. This can cause trapped nerves and put extra pressure on the lumbar spine, as well as causing hip problems and pain radiating down the legs.’
She says to avoid flip-flops and Ugg boots as they provide little ankle support. ‘Relaxin loosens the ligaments supporting the bones of the foot and the knee, which can make it easier for pregnant women to twist their ankles. Ballet pumps are pretty but don’t provide arch support — another problem as ligaments relax and soften.’
Flattening of the arches can lead to the painful condition plantar fasciitis, which can make it hard to walk.
Michael Bowen, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in Oxford, says his main concern is pregnant women fainting or falling off sky-high heels. ‘It is a potential worry for mum and for baby, especially if the pregnancy is more advanced,’ he says.