Should pregnant women wear high heels?
Have you ever worn a pair of knee-high, 5-inch platform boots? It's like operating two mechanical bulls with your feet. Reality star and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is a pro at it. She also happens to be pregnant. Is it a health risk to be rocking mega heels in your third trimester?
It is if you ask foot doctors. In June, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists issued a warning for all pregnant women to avoid the extra lift. Shoes with too much height put both mom and baby in danger. "High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees," podiatrist Lorraine Jones told the BBC. "In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain-which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems."
High heels also leave pregnant women for vulnerable to spills. Because your center of gravity changes with a baby bump, balancing on heels is a challenge after 25 weeks, even for stiletto veterans. Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Lilly Allen all lost their footing while wearing high heels at appearances during their pregnancy.
That's not to say pregnant women should turn strictly to flats. The SCP recommends supportive pumps with a 1.2-inch heel on average. The tilt distributes the weight of your body in a more therapeutic way so the soles of your feet aren't bearing all the burden. Still got those Easy Spirits from the '80s? Now's a good time to break them out. They may not be head-turners but at least they're vintage.
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