Finding the Right Fit

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

17 Jun 2010 08:35 PM

Think of the most popular shoe for pregnant women. It's not spike heels (let's hope). I've seen plenty of wedges, but they can't be the most comfortable. Flip flops are pretty common. Most often, I see pregnant women wearing flats: usually the ballet style with a tiny strap and a cute print.

In reality, flat shoes aren't much better than heals when it comes to staying comfortable and preventing foot problems like swelling and pain. Ideally, you should wear a shoe with a small heal (over an inch, but under two) to shift your weight slightly forward, and a well supporting arch. Sounds like a real fashion killer, doesn't it? But if you are worried about having to wear tennis shoes throughout your pregnancy, you might be surprised to find that good shoes can look good, too.

You have two different options: you can shop for a shoe with built in arch support and an appropriate heel height or you can find a shoe with the right heel and had your own arch support.

The first option might cost you more than you are comfortable with spending on a pair of shoes. Eddie Bauer has a red leather round-toe dress shoe with a 1. 5" heel and plush, supportive insole for $99. That may or may not be out of your price range. You might try searching a large online shoe store like Zappos. The benefit of searching online (even if you do end up buying the shoe in the store) is that you can read reviewers' comments on how good the shoe really is. For example, I found a pair of shoes that claimed to have good arch support in the description, but a customer complained that the arch support wasn't all that great.

The cheaper option is to invest in a quality insole, which will be a greater cost up front, but will save you money in the long run. You can then place the insole in shoes you already own or in heels that you wish to buy that may or may not have existing arch support. A good fitting insole can make all the difference in how a shoe fits and feels when you are on your feet all day, especially when you are carrying extra weight.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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