Pregnancy is a beautiful time for every mommy out there, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bring its share of worries with it. One common problem that pregnant women often face is aching and swollen feet, accompanied by leg cramps by the seventh month. 

Swollen feet aren’t something you should generally worry about unless you’re facing other issues, in which case you should consult a doctor. If, however, you’re experiencing swollen feet, then compression socks for pregnancy might just be what you need. 

Designed explicitly for mommies-to-be, compression socks for pregnancy provide a multitude of benefits to relieve the woes of pregnant women. Compression socks are designed to alleviate discomfort and promote blood circulation. 

Read on to find out how compression socks can help you during your pregnancy. 

Easing fluid retention

It’s not uncommon for you to experience swelling during your pregnancy. Otherwise called edema, this swelling occurs because your body overproduces blood and fluid to provide your baby with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. However, sometimes your body doesn’t create new veins to handle this extra fluid and move blood to your heart. 

This creates extra pressure on your veins and thereby causes swelling in your lower legs. Fortunately, compression socks are designed to fit around your ankles and mold themselves according to your calves. They are stretchy and lightweight, making them extremely easy to wear. 

Staving Off Varicose Veins

Varicose veins don’t look very nice, and you’ll likely be bothered by them if they show up. They are the purple or bluish veins that appear on your legs during pregnancy. 

How these veins look varies depending on how severe the situation is. While milder versions of this condition look like spider veins, others could look like lumps, ropes, or cords. They show up when your veins’ valves don’t work correctly and can result in leg itching, throbbing, aching, cramping, and burning. Compression socks help alleviate these symptoms by improving your legs’ blood circulation and preventing and minimizing varicose veins’ appearance. 

Lowering Risk Of Dangerous Clots 

Sometimes, during pregnancy, blood clots can form as slow-moving blood thickens. While these blood clots, commonly referred to as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, can occur in anyone with sluggish blood, pregnancy raises these risks as estrogen thickens the blood. 

Women with a family history of DVT, or conditions such as clotting disorder or diabetes are more likely to develop the condition during their pregnancies. The signs of DVT include cramping that begins at the calf and spreads, leg swelling on one side, and red skin that’s warm to the touch.  By wearing compression socks and ensuring you remain active during your pregnancy, you can dramatically reduce your chances of developing DVT even if it’s just for a walk. 

Helping Overcome Leg Fatigue

Pregnancy can cause leg heaviness as progesterone dilates the veins’ walls, and your legs feel the effects of slow blood circulation. This is further aggravated by prolonged sitting and standing that compromises blood flow. Lastly, baby weight can also hinder your limbs’ muscle endurance. 

Luckily, compression socks can help you in this area by improving your blood supply and energizing your legs. Additionally, they’re designed using special weaves that subtly massage your leg muscles. The weaves are tighter near the ankle and looser as they go up your leg, creating the perfect amount of tension for your muscles. 

Looking Classy

While this may not exactly be a medical reason to wear compression socks, it’s definitely something that pregnant women lookout for. As pregnant women, sometimes you may only find clothes in the plus section of stores. On the other hand, compression socks are available in a variety of designs and sizes that you can easily pair with anything you want to wear. This ensures that not only will you be comfy, but you’ll look incredibly classy, too!

Extra Tip: How To Get The Right Socks & When Should You Wear Them?

Compression socks are available in multiple lengths, but the most common options are knee and thigh-high. You need to measure the circumference of your ankles and calves on top of your shoe size to get the perfect fit. To get the right size, you should conduct your fitting when the swelling is at its most minimal, usually in the morning. You need to start with the slimmest part of your ankle, move to the widest portion of the calf, and lastly, measure the distance from the crease behind your knee to the floor. 

To ensure you avoid these issues as much as you can, you should start wearing your compression socks during the first trimester and make it a habit to wear them first thing in the morning. You can then take them off at night, right before you sleep. This way, you can prevent any issues before they even occur. 

When you’re choosing compression socks, there are certain things you should keep in mind. You need to make sure the socks fit right, not too tight but should provide you with the necessary support. There are many options for you to explore, so you can easily find socks that suit your needs. 

Final Thoughts

Getting compression socks during your pregnancy can make things much easier for you. They can provide you with a wide range of benefits that can help alleviate the issues that bother you. 

Have you ever used compression socks during your pregnancy? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!