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"Swollen Feet" -- If you are pregnant, you can relate to these moms!

I looked straight into the shoe clerk's face and wanted to cry.  Well, why not?  My once-medium-sized foot had now swollen to yet another size larger.  While I used to wear a size seven, I now take a nine.  A nine!  We're talking about small boats here.  Why, I'm only 5' 3" -- and shrinking fast!  "How can this be?"

The saleswoman looked at me, and I saw her trying to form an acceptable excuse as to why she didn't have the shoes I now needed, at least not in CANOE size.  "Honey," she said, "don't even think about it."

What, she was being nice?  "I did the same thing when I was pregnant; just try to lay off of the salt."  She then gave me a reassuring pat on the boat, er, foot.  I did feel a little better as I squeezed into my old pair of sneakers and waddled out the door.  Think you're the only one with big fat swollen feet? Well, read on moms-to-be and see what other mother ducks have done. 

Pam in Indiana - I wear comfortable shoes and get plenty of exercise by walking as much as possible.  If my feet began to swell, I prop them up at night by placing a pillow under them while sleeping.  During the day, I try to take mini-breaks and elevate my feet as a part of a pick-me-up regimen.  This seems to help a lot.  As an extra precaution, I take an additional pair of really "cushy" shoes everywhere I go to change into if needed. 

S. in TN - I tried to cut out salty snacks with each pregnancy.  It was hard because this is what I personally craved.  After changing shoe sizes twice in two pregnancies, a friend of mine who was a nurse gave me a great tip to help me with my salt craving.  Buy saltless pretzels, get them wet by sprinkling a few drops of water over the top, and add "salt sense" very lightly (and evenly).  Place in an oven for 6 minutes on 350 degrees and you've created a yummy snack.  They have the salty taste but with a salt substitute.  While this is not the perfect solution, it really did help. 

From Jodie: With being so short, I pretty much looked like a pregnant elf!  I tried to watch my salt intake, but it was hard because we lived down in Cajun country where there's no such thing as a dish made with a "light" anything. 
I started taking snacks along with me everywhere I went so the temptation of fries and Cajun seafood wouldn't be too great.  (This lasted all of a good two weeks.)  I was in an outside sales position at the time and walked what seemed like a zillion miles every day.  This was good and bad.  Food, food and more food was everywhere I went. 

My doctor said to prop up my feet as often as possible.  How is this done if you work outside the home, I wondered.  I finally decided to spend the lunch hour in my car.  I'd eat fruit and rice cakes while propping my feet up and reading.  I read for one glorious hour.  (Yeah, it sounds a little corny, but don't knock it until you've tried it.)  It actually made a difference. 

Three months before the baby was due, I said good-bye to outside sales.  When I found myself at home, it was easier to maintain my weight, baby and household duties and still get a little work done in my freelance writing endeavor. 

Of course, I was not always perfect.  There were a couple of time, (all right - three or four times) where I couldn’t resist crawfish boils and Cajun hot chips and I literally blew up like the Goodyear blimp.  For these delightful naughty - I mean - rare slip-ups, the one thing I did that seemed to help, was to lie on my back with my rear and legs up against a wall.  Don't forget to use a small pillow in the bend of your back.  Well, it worked for me... now, if I could just get all of that salt to stop coming out of my ears...