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Best Shoes for Pregnancy: Relief, Support and Comfort

When you’re pregnant with twins, especially in the later months, you get used to all of the aches and pains that come with it. Especially as time passes and you start to put on a little bit of baby weight. Your joints will ache, your back hurts, your knees and feet are agony even to stand on. It’s time to buy the best shoes for pregnancy.

There’s a lot of solid shoes out there that are really good for support, and whilst there aren’t any specific pregnancy shoes out there (if there are, please let us know about them!) if you look around you can find shoes that you all the support and comfort you need in this trying time.

Now, I don’t promise that changing your shoes will completely get rid of all of your aches and pains, but it’s definitely going to help. Here’s a quick comparison of the top options, and then we’ll discuss what to look for.

​Best Shoes for Pregnancy Comparison

Disclosure: The links to Amazon.com within this article are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price nor does it influence the products we feature.

Product

Support

Comfort

Our Rating

Easy Spirit Women’s Traveltime Mule

4.5/5

4/5

 

Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 4 Kindle Slip-On Walking Shoe

4/5

4/5

 

Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk Slip-On Walking Shoe

3.5/5

4/5

 

Dansko Women’s Professional Mule

4/5

3.5/5

 

Here’s What to Look for in Pregnancy Shoes

There’s a few key things to look for in shoes for pregnancy, and it’s all about the comfort. More comfort and support for your feet means less pain for you, and less pain in your feet gives you more energy and freedom to get on with your life. So here’s what you need to know.

How Easy Are They to Put On?

When you’re working around a belly, and can barely even see your toes, let alone touch them, then it can be hard to reach down there and tie up shoe laces.

You’ll appreciate the ease and simplicity of a slip on, which is why all the shoes we’ve recommended below are slip ons, because it’s just so much simpler to be able to throw them on and head out of the house.

How Supportive Are They?

Your feet are in trouble. They’re holding so much more weight than they’re used to, and every joint above them is strained and painful, so they’re doing the lion’s share of the work.

The last thing you need in this situation is a pair of shoes that give you no support. Look for shoes with great support across the sole, especially arch support, as well as solid pressure on the heel.

A close fitting shoe will be great here, but don’t get one that’s too snug, because of our next point.

Buy a Shoe That’s a Size Up

One unfortunate aspect of pregnancy that’s rarely talked about is your feet swelling up. This happens because of the increased pressure to the veins around your legs and waist, and natural fluid gathering in your limbs because of the pregnancy itself.

It gets worse as you go through pregnancy, so if you’re buying shoes that you’d expect to last you the whole nine months, it’s smart to buy half a size up and give yourself room to grow into them. It’s also worth considering compression stockings for pregnancy, which can help reduce the swelling. 

How Long Will They Last?

If you find the right pair of shoes for pregnancy, you aren’t going to want to take them off. So they’re probably going to take a little bit of a beating as you’ll be wearing them every day.

See, even if they don’t last longer than your pregnancy, that’s enough. Just make sure that what you’re going to buy is tough and long lasting.

Do They Have Anything That Will Make Your Life Easier?

I’m talking specifics here. Obviously these shoes are going to be comfy and support your feet properly, but some shoes will have things like built in odor eaters, moulded soles, or added foot sensitivity so you can feel how you’re walking.

Whilst these aren’t key, it’s well worth getting everything you can out of your maternity shoes.

Avoid Anything with a High Heel

Good shoes for pregnancy do not involve heels. Give them a miss, especially later in your pregnancy. The strain on your body will only be made worse by heels, your muscles and ligaments are under more pressure naturally from the weight you’re carrying, and the higher centre of gravity and change in balance makes it much more likely that you’ll fall.

If you absolutely have to wear heels, go for something with a small heel, or if you can get away with it, a wedge. Remember, if you fall when you’re pregnant, it’s not just you that you’re hurting!

Pregnancy Shoe Reviews

Each of the below maternity shoes was picked for a specific reason, whether it’s simply being great shoes during pregnancy, or for being a shoe that you can use in the office even if you’re eight months down the line. Read on to find out our top picks, and hopefully you can find just what you need.

Easy Spirit Women’s Traveltime Mule

pregnancy shoes for swollen feet

Pros

  • Contoured, moulded footbed
  • Slips on and off easily
  • Multi surface, cushioned sole

 

Cons

  • You have to size up

When it comes to comfort and stability, there’s not much better than these shoes for pregnancy. They’re a slip on clog type, so they’re ideal for the later stages of pregnancy, considering you can basically just step into them.

But once your feet are in them, you’d swear they were created just for you. The moulded, multi surface sole gives absolutely fantastic stability, no matter what you’re standing on, and it’s thick enough to take the added strain you’re going to be feeling.

The footbed inside the shoe is also moulded, so once you’ve got the right fit with these shoes, and you’ve worn them in, they’re going to cling to you like gloves for your toes.

The only issue I’ve ever found is that because these are so snug and moulded, you have to size up. Normally, it’s smart to go up half a size, but considering you’ll be using these as pregnancy shoes, it could even be recommended to go up a whole size.

Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk 4 Kindle Slip-On Walking Shoe

best shoes during pregnancy

Pros

  • Comes in a variety of cute styles
  • Incredibly light and easy to walk in
  • Smart construction gives incredible comfort
  • Built in anti odor soles

 

Cons

  • Can be tight if you’ve got wide feet

Skechers make really smart shoes that are designed for moving about in first, so it’s no surprise that we’re recommending them here.

Once you slip into these and start walking, you’ll wonder how you ever coped with anything else. Close fitting without strangling your feet, these sit comfortably, no matter what you’re using them for. There’s specific midsole cushioning which responds to pressure, and considering that the arch of your foot is going to be under serious stress from all that weight you’re probably carrying, it’s nice to have the extra support.

It’s also got a really smart sole design that’s designed to capture energy and push it back into your gait, so you’re almost bouncing along. Couple that with the fact that they’re incredibly light, and it’s just a joy to move around in them.

They’re also really nice to look at, and come in a huge amount of stylish looks. Whilst obviously looks aren’t the first thing we’re going for, it’s nice to have an option that isn’t just plain and boring, or that looks like something your grandma would wear!

Skechers Performance Women’s Go Walk Slip-On Walking Shoe

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Really responsive and easy to walk in
  • Built in odor blocker
  • Cute designs

 

Cons

  • Sometimes they’re hard to size

Another winner from Skechers, these are another model from the Go Walk line, and they’re just as good as the above, but for different reasons.

They’re slip on, just like the Kindles, and just as comfortable, with the same smart, seamless design and sexy styles that look like proper sneakers. The reason you’d pick these over Kindles though? The goImpulse sensors built into the soles.

There are tiny little circular sensors built into the soles that make the sole really flexible and transmit more of the sensation of walking to your foot. Trust me, until you’ve walked in shoes for pregnancy that you can feel the floor in, you don’t understand the difference it can make, and when you’re carrying extra weight and your joints are under strain, you’ll really appreciate being able to feel your balance.

There’s a reason we chose two sets of Skechers. They’re really that good. If you want comfort and support, then they’re pretty much the best pregnancy shoes.

Dansko Women’s Professional Mule

Pros

  • Really comfortable with great support
  • Professional looking and classy
  • Well made and long lasting

 

Cons

  • Soles can be hard until you get used to them

More and more moms are making the decision to stay in the office for longer whilst they’re pregnant, and when you’re working it’s important to look professional.

And these are professional. After all, it’s right there in the name. Dansko are designed specifically for foot health, and every choice about them is for comfort and support.

It’s got great arch support, which helps keep your feet happy after long days, and there’s a padded instep collar that supports your feet as you walk, spreading pressure across your whole foot. The sole also has a built in rocker bottom which offers far more support than even athletic shoes. They’re also great for when your feet start to swell, because it’s got a breathable footbed that helps to shunt hot air away from your feet.

They also look really professional, with patent leather options. Whether you’re wearing a pantsuit, skirt or dress, these will go, and complete the look.

Crocs Unisex Classic Clog

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Adjustable
  • Available in so many colors
  • Really breathable

 

Cons

  • They’re Crocs, so you probably can’t wear them to work

Aaah, Crocs. The much maligned butt of every joke, despite being so incredibly comfortable and good for your feet.

Honestly, yes, I know. They’re Crocs. But you’re pregnant. The main thing is comfort and wearability, and that’s something that Crocs have in spades. They’re one of the most comfortable, supportive shoes ever made.

If you’ve never worn them, you’d not realise that Crocs are incredibly supportive, because of the clog design with textured, contoured sole and moulded top that fits to your feet. If you need more security and stability, you can attach the heel strap as well, which is easy to adjust.

They’re also really good pregnancy shoes for swollen feet, with holes punched all the way through it that allow your feet breathing room, and they’re so light too, so walking is easy.

They also come in almost literally hundreds of colors, so you’re sure to find a pair that you think are agreeable.

If you want a pair of supportive shoes for pregnancy that you can just slip on and use every single day, you could do a lot worse than buy a pair of Crocs, even if they’re just a backup option.

You’ve come to the end, so let us know what you think. Did you enjoy this article? Do you have anything to add? Maybe a particular pair of the best shoes for pregnancy that helped you. We’d love to hear what you think, so please tell us your stories in the comments!

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