Pregnant Not Barefoot: Footwear in the Third Trimester

Barefoot and Pregnant. What a wonderful image. You’re just padding around the house, taking it easy. Shoeless, letting those feet do their well deserved resting.

Except- when you have to head to work. Or to dinner with friends. Or to the store. Or run your older children anywhere and everywhere. Except all those times.

Where did that saying come from anyway?

The full saying is “Barefoot and Pregnant in the Kitchen”. There are traces of it originating in America, Japan, and Germany- but they all mean the same thing. That a woman’s place in society is staying at home, tending to the housework and breeding children. So cool right? Yeah.. not so much! Well guess what, they were wrong, and here we are, forcing our fat tired pregnant feet into shoes as we leave the home to be impressive as hell.

Moving on from the history lesson - our feet do take on a lot of extra responsibility during pregnancy. As we get into the third trimester there is poor circulation and added weight that leads to swelling, aching, and not being able to actually reach your feet. Your pregnant feet yearn for fuzzy socks, pedicure baths, and husband couch massages. What they are NOT yearning for is shoes- not wearing them, and definitely not trying to get them on.

Sometimes however, as noted, we venture out and join society. When the time comes for acrobatic moves to get around that belly to strap your tootsies in, consider some of these pregnancy shoes don’ts and dos!

Ease to Get On Considerations

Slip-Ons

No bending over the belly necessary? Yes thank you! Anything that you can slip on and off is a win. Sandals are a no-brainer with their openness, but if the event, weather, or most importantly-the outfit, call for something different- think mules, loafers and ballet flats!

Zippers

If cold weather is calling for a shoe that covers, zippers serve as an easy fastener that don’t keep you in a belly scrunched positions for too long. There are a wealth of boots on the market that have zipper closures, and some sneakers as well!

Velcro

Trickier to find without the shoes looking like a solve to an orthopedic problem, but done right, velcro sneakers can be really cool. Velcro offers the same attractive quick fastening feature as zippers- and is easy to adjust to a swelling foot! Also a good idea for your kids shoes so you don’t have to bend over fussing with their untied shoes either!

Comfort Considerations

Balance

It’s no secret your body is off balance during pregnancy. Just look in the mirror. Make sure that you feel sturdy in your shoes, keeping in mind you may not be able to walk with grace in the same heel in your 3rd trimester as you did pre-pregnancy, or even pre-pretty much baked bump.

Cushioning

Some shoes have padding, some don’t. A flat hard sole is not a lovely experience, pregnancy or not. Your feet have been carrying a bit of extra weight lately on you and baby’s behalf, be nice to them. Look for quilting or foam insoles, or if the shoe style allows, add one!

Forgiveness

We’ve all worn a stiff shoe that is too narrow or tight on our feet. We think it will be fine for a few hours, and after that hopefully alcohol is giving us a pain tolerance blanket. This is not the time in your life to take that gamble. No wine to get you through, and an ungiving shoe combined with swelling has no business in your life. Stick with shoes that give your feet breathing room!

Features to Think Twice About

Heels

We are not all created equal as heel walkers. Some women are completely comfortable in a heel throughout pregnancy. I am not one of those women. The key is not to push heels beyond your comfort level. Not only are your feet tiring quicker than usual these days, but there’s more at stake from a slip or trip than just your pride.

Pull-Ons

If it takes a shimmy shimmy dance to pull on your shoes, it’s a no in the third trimester. Boots and sneakers that use stretch panels in lieu of fasteners require maneuvering to get on, which gets exponentially harder the bigger your pregnant belly gets and those feet swell up. Pull ons (& offs) are also tougher to enlist another person’s help- they’re going to have to put in a work and it won’t feel as glamorous as Cinderella.

Buckles

In general, you are seeking to avoid shoes that keep you in an awkward and uncomfortable position for any length of time. Fuddling with a buckle if the strap or holes are stiff can be a pill. If it’s not do it with your eyes closed level easy, you might want to pass.

Laces

This one is tough, because so many of the shoes that offer great foot support are sneakers. If you have a buddy handy that can help you lace up, move full steam ahead. If you are flying solo, but nothing looks quite as good with what you’re wearing as your beloved tennis sneaks, make sure you have laces that hold (how annoying are those slick slippery laces that come undone every millisecond??).

Fashionable Footwear Finds!

Here are some stylish footwear favorites that will keep you both fashionable and comfortable throughout all trimesters of your pregnancy! These shoe finds are easy to put on with a big old bump, and versatile so that you can pair with lots of outfits now and postpartum.