When you’re a new mum, often the last thing on your mind is foot care, prioritising foot care will make your waking hours much more manageable.

The last thing you need when you’re a new mum is sore feet. Here are our top foot care tips for new mums from our podiatrists in Sydney at The Foot Hub.

Elevate Your Feet

Putting your feet up might seem like something everyone tells you to do, but it’s actually good for you!

When you get that rare moment as a new mother to rest, don’t just sit down, but try to elevate your feet.

Putting your feet up helps blood flow and means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard, so your heart rate lowers.

Stay Well Hydrated

Remember to drink plenty of water. Sometimes you can be so focused on what your baby needs, you forget even the basics of taking care of yourself.

Drink plenty of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Poor hydration can lead to pain across your body including your feet.

Don’t Sit Or Stand For Too Long

Easier said than done, but try to find a balance between sitting and standing during the day.

Doing more of one than the either can lead to health issues you don’t need when you’re looking after a newborn baby. This could include back pain, leg cramps and foot pain amongst other things.

Choose Comfortable Shoes

It should go without saying but comfortable shoes are a must when it comes to foot care.

Opt for shoes that provide support and are comfortable to wear – and if that means you need to go shoe shopping, so be it!

Avoid High Heels

High heels aren’t a great idea even if you’re used to wearing them pre-baby.

Not only can they cause common foot problems like foot pain and hammertoe, but they can be a trip hazard as well.

Measure Your Feet

Don’t be afraid to get your feet measured after your baby is born. Pregnancy can result in so many changes to your body and for some women that may mean a change in their foot size.

For some, their feet grow or swell in pregnancy. While most do go back to their pre-pregnancy shoe size, some don’t, so it’s important to get your feet measured, especially if your shoes just aren’t fitting the way they used to.

Feet Exercises

There are some really simple foot exercises you can do to keep your feet healthy and with good circulation.

These could include flexing and pointing your toes, lifting your feet and making small circles in both directions, and rolling your foot at the ankle in a circular motion.

The best thing to do is speak to your podiatrist to see what foot exercises would be best for you.