Swollen feet during pregnancy are common and usually harmless. Your body holds more fluid than usual and the growing uterus presses on the veins draining your legs, so fluid settles in your feet and ankles, most of all late in the day and late in pregnancy. Swelling that comes on suddenly, reaches your face or hands, arrives with a headache, vision changes or breathlessness, or affects one painful leg is different: call your OB-GYN or midwife right away.
Swelling in pregnancy that needs a call now
Call 911 for trouble breathing that is sudden or severe, chest pain, coughing up blood, a racing heart with breathlessness or faintness, fainting, or a seizure.
Call your OB-GYN or midwife right away for:
- Swelling of your face or hands, or a sudden increase in swelling anywhere: rings that no longer fit, puffy eyes
- A headache that will not go away or keeps getting worse
- Vision changes such as blurring, flashing lights or spots
- Pain under the ribs, in the upper belly or in the shoulder, or nausea and vomiting in the second half of pregnancy
- Sudden weight gain
- Breathlessness that builds over days or comes on when you lie flat
- One leg that is swollen, painful, warm or red: be seen today, usually for an ultrasound
If you cannot reach them, go to the hospital or an emergency department, and tell them you are pregnant. Care thresholds →
Why feet swell in pregnancy
Several things add up. Your body holds more water than usual, and it makes more blood to support the pregnancy. And the growing uterus presses on the veins in your pelvis and affects blood flow in your legs, so fluid builds up in the legs, ankles and feet.
Gravity decides where that fluid ends up. Through the day it gathers in the lowest parts of the body, especially in hot weather or after you have been standing a lot. The same pressure on the veins is why varicose veins, and swollen veins around the vulva, may appear or get bigger in pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic adds that hormones such as progesterone relax the walls of blood vessels, and notes that varicose veins of pregnancy usually shrink after the baby is born.
When swelling starts, and when it peaks
It can begin in the second trimester: ACOG lists swelling of the feet and ankles among the changes of those months. It is usually more noticeable in the third trimester, from 28 weeks, when Cleveland Clinic notes that fluid retention and weight gain can swell the ankles and feet, and MedlinePlus says you may see more swelling as the birth gets closer. Fingers can swell too (NHS).
Day to day, ordinary swelling follows a pattern: it is often worse at the end of the day, after a long time on your feet, and on hot days. Swelling that comes on gradually like this is not usually harmful to you or your baby, the NHS says, although it can be uncomfortable.
Swollen feet during pregnancy: normal or a warning sign?
| Feature | Usually ordinary pregnancy swelling | Needs a call right away |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Feet and ankles, sometimes the lower legs and fingers | Face, around the eyes or hands, or one leg |
| How it comes on | Gradually, often worst at the end of the day | Suddenly, or a sudden increase |
| Other symptoms | None beyond discomfort and tight shoes | Headache, vision changes, pain under the ribs, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness |
| One leg or both | Both about the same | One leg swollen with pain, tenderness, warmth or redness |
| Stage of pregnancy | Any time, most often the third trimester | Preeclampsia usually after 20 weeks; a clot at any stage and after the birth |
Can you tell preeclampsia swelling just by looking?
Not reliably. Mayo Clinic notes that weight gain and swelling are typical in healthy pregnancies, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) says swollen feet are common and may not signal a problem. Preeclampsia, meanwhile, can develop quietly: its early signs are high blood pressure and protein in the urine, which you are unlikely to notice. That is why blood pressure is checked at every prenatal visit, and why this page focuses on patterns and other symptoms rather than how puffy your feet look. If something just does not feel right, the CDC’s advice is to talk to your provider.
Warning signs, and how fast to act
These are the signs from ACOG and the CDC’s Hear Her campaign that go with swelling; the CDC’s full list of urgent maternal warning signs is longer. None of them is a reason to wait for your next appointment.
| Sign | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling of the face or hands, or a sudden increase in swelling; fingers too swollen to bend or wear rings | Preeclampsia | Call your OB-GYN or midwife right away |
| A headache that will not go away or gets worse, even after medicine and fluids | Preeclampsia | Call right away |
| Blurred vision, flashing lights or spots, blind spots, double vision | Preeclampsia | Call right away |
| Pain under the ribs or upper belly, often on the right, or in the shoulder; heartburn that antacids do not settle; nausea and vomiting in the second half of pregnancy | Preeclampsia, including HELLP syndrome | Call right away |
| Sudden weight gain | Fluid retention from preeclampsia | Call right away |
| One leg swollen, painful or tender, warm or red, usually the calf | A clot in a deep leg vein (DVT) | Call right away and be seen today, usually for an ultrasound |
| Breathlessness building over days or when lying flat; a racing or pounding heartbeat | Fluid in the lungs, or a heart problem | Call right away |
| Sudden or severe breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, a racing heartbeat with breathlessness or faintness, fainting | A clot in the lungs, or another emergency | Call 911 |
| A seizure | Eclampsia | Call 911 |
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure disorder that can affect all the organs in the body. ACOG says it usually develops after 20 weeks, often in the third trimester, and that it can also develop in the weeks after the birth. Cleveland Clinic puts it at 5% to 8% of births in the United States. ACOG calls a reading of 140/90 or higher concerning. It says preeclampsia can lead to seizures and stroke, and can cause HELLP syndrome, a medical emergency that damages red blood cells and interferes with clotting.
The risk is higher after preeclampsia in an earlier pregnancy, with twins or more, and with chronic high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes or an autoimmune condition such as lupus, but ACOG stresses that it can happen to anyone.
A blood clot in one leg
During pregnancy blood clots more easily, which limits bleeding at delivery, and the CDC says pregnancy raises the risk of a blood clot fivefold. The CDC counts that raised risk through childbirth and the 3 months after delivery, while ACOG lists pregnancy and the 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth among the conditions that raise the risk of DVT. A cesarean birth, bed rest, a previous clot, an inherited clotting disorder, smoking, obesity and being 35 or older add to it.
The warning sign is one leg, usually the calf, that is swollen, painful or tender, warm, or red. It may hurt when you flex your foot to stand or walk. MedlinePlus advises watching for pain and swelling in one leg but not the other, and ACOG notes that only about half of people with a DVT have any symptoms, so a mild picture is no reassurance. Call right away and be seen today. Cleveland Clinic says to avoid lymphatic drainage massage if you have a blood clot or DVT, so leave the calf alone while you wait. Why one swollen leg needs particular attention →
Breathlessness and the heart
Some breathlessness is normal in pregnancy, early on because of hormones and later because the uterus leaves the lungs less room. MedlinePlus says mild breathlessness with exercise that quickly gets better is not serious; severe chest pain or shortness of breath that does not go away needs 911. Breathlessness lying flat, enough that you need pillows to prop yourself up, is on the CDC’s urgent list. Uncommonly the cause is peripartum cardiomyopathy, a form of heart failure most often diagnosed in the last month of pregnancy, whose symptoms, the American Heart Association notes, can mimic ordinary pregnancy.
How to reduce swelling in pregnancy
None of this treats preeclampsia or a clot, so check the warning signs first. For ordinary swelling, these are the measures the sources describe.
- Put your feet up. The NHS says to rest with your feet up as much as you can, and MedlinePlus suggests resting them on a surface higher than your belly.
- Lie on your side, not flat on your back. ACOG explains that lying on your back lets the uterus press on a large vein that returns blood to the heart. MedlinePlus says lying on your left side is better if it is comfortable. This is why the usual leg elevation advice, lying flat with the legs above heart level, needs adapting in pregnancy.
- Keep moving. Regular walks help, and so do foot exercises, sitting or standing: bend and stretch each foot up and down 30 times, then circle it 8 times one way and 8 times the other (NHS).
- Do not stand still for long. Standing motionless lets blood pool in the legs and feet, ACOG says. On long trips, walk and stretch at regular intervals, and flex and rotate your feet while seated.
- Loosen what pinches. Wear comfortable shoes and socks, and avoid tight straps or anything that might pinch as your feet swell (NHS).
- Stay cool. Fluid gathers more in hot weather, and ACOG advises avoiding getting overheated.
- Limit salty foods. MedlinePlus explains that salt makes your body hold on to more water.
If lying down makes you breathless, do not push through it to keep your legs up: sit propped up and call, because that is one of the warning signs above. More general measures, and why they work, are in how to reduce swelling in feet, ankles and legs.
Compression stockings and support pantyhose
MedlinePlus suggests support pantyhose or compression stockings for leg swelling in pregnancy, and Cleveland Clinic says light compression, under 20 mmHg and sold over the counter, may be a good choice if you are pregnant; 20 mmHg and above needs a prescription. The evidence that they reduce swelling is thin, though: a 2015 Cochrane review found only seven small trials of treatments for leg swelling and varicose veins in pregnancy, and its summary says compression stockings “do not appear to have any advantages”.
Ask your OB-GYN or midwife first. ACOG notes that some people should not wear compression stockings, such as people with diabetes or other circulation problems, and that stockings that are too tight or worn incorrectly can increase the risk of a clot. Anyone with diabetes, symptoms of artery disease, numbness in the feet, a wound, kidney disease or heart failure should have their arterial circulation checked first, usually with an ankle-brachial index, and no one should put compression on a leg that might have a clot until it has been checked. Who needs an assessment first → Strength, length and maternity styles: compression socks in pregnancy.
Water, reflexology and the rest
The same Cochrane review found that water immersion and reflexology “looked promising” for leg swelling, but there were too few data to judge benefits and harms. ACOG counts swimming and water workouts among the safest exercises in pregnancy, so time in a pool is reasonable to try. Whatever you try, leave alone a calf that is swollen, painful or warm on one side.
Shoes for swollen pregnant feet
Look for shoes that adjust as your feet change through the day: laces or straps you can let out, room in depth as well as width, and nothing that digs in. Our guide to shoes for swollen feet covers what to look for and how to fit them.
Cutting back on water is not the answer
None of the sources behind this page suggests drinking less to reduce pregnancy swelling. Cleveland Clinic’s podiatry advice for swollen feet and ankles is to drink more, because the body holds on to fluid when it senses it is running low, and MedlinePlus says you need to drink more water in pregnancy because you urinate more. ACOG’s advice runs the same way: drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise, drink extra fluids when you travel, and know the signs of dehydration, which include dizziness, a racing or pounding heart, and passing small amounts of dark yellow urine. If your OB-GYN or midwife has told you to limit fluids, follow that advice, and ask before taking anything for swelling, including over-the-counter or herbal “water pills”.
What your prenatal checks are looking for
Your blood pressure should be checked at every prenatal visit, because a high reading may be the first sign of preeclampsia. A high reading may be rechecked, with a urine test for protein and blood tests of liver and kidney function and platelets. For one swollen, painful leg, the usual test is an ultrasound of the leg veins. If you have been asked to check your blood pressure at home, ask your team which readings should prompt a call.
The swelling usually starts to go down after the birth, but two of the problems above, preeclampsia and a blood clot, can still appear in the weeks afterward. Swollen feet after birth covers what to expect and what to watch for.
Common questions
Is it normal for your feet to swell during pregnancy?
Yes. The NHS says some swelling is normal, particularly in the legs, ankles, feet and fingers, and that swelling which comes on gradually is not usually harmful to you or your baby. It is usually worse at the end of the day and further into pregnancy.
When does swelling start in pregnancy?
It can start in the second trimester, when ACOG notes that feet and ankles may swell, and it is usually more noticeable in the third trimester, from 28 weeks, as you get closer to giving birth.
When should I worry about swollen feet during pregnancy?
Call your OB-GYN or midwife right away if swelling increases suddenly, spreads to your face or hands, or comes with a headache that will not go away, vision changes, pain under the ribs, nausea and vomiting or breathlessness. If one leg is swollen and painful, call right away and be seen today. Call 911 for sudden or severe breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up blood, fainting or a seizure.
Are swollen feet a sign of preeclampsia?
They can be, but swollen feet on their own are common in healthy pregnancies. The swelling that raises concern is sudden, or affects the face or hands, especially with a headache, vision changes or upper belly pain. Preeclampsia can also develop without symptoms you would notice, which is why blood pressure is checked at every prenatal visit.
How can I reduce swelling in my feet while pregnant?
Rest with your feet up, lie on your side rather than flat on your back, walk and do foot exercises, avoid standing still, loosen tight shoes and socks, keep cool and limit salty foods. MedlinePlus suggests compression stockings, though a Cochrane review found no clear advantage; ask your OB-GYN or midwife first.
Should I drink less water if my feet are swollen?
No source behind this page recommends it. Cleveland Clinic advises drinking more for swollen feet and ankles, MedlinePlus says you need to drink more water in pregnancy because you urinate more, and ACOG advises plenty of fluids around exercise and extra fluids when traveling to avoid dehydration. Follow any fluid limit your OB-GYN or midwife has given you.
Are compression socks safe during pregnancy?
Cleveland Clinic says light over-the-counter compression may be a good choice in pregnancy. Ask first: ACOG notes that some people, such as those with diabetes or circulation problems, should not wear them, and stockings that are too tight or worn incorrectly can raise the risk of a clot.
Where to go next
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms (HEAR HER campaign).
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy, 7 Things to Know About Preeclampsia and 3 Conditions to Watch for After Childbirth.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Changes During Pregnancy, Exercise During Pregnancy, Travel During Pregnancy and Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis.
- NHS. Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy, and Pre-eclampsia.
- MedlinePlus. Common symptoms during pregnancy, and Aches and pains during pregnancy.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding Your Risk for Blood Clots with Pregnancy.
- Mayo Clinic. Preeclampsia — Symptoms and causes.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are the symptoms of preeclampsia, eclampsia, & HELLP syndrome?
- Cleveland Clinic. Preeclampsia, Varicose Veins During Pregnancy, Third Trimester of Pregnancy, Compression Therapy, Swollen Feet and Ankles: Treatments to Try and Lymphatic Drainage Massage.
- American Heart Association. Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
- Cochrane (2015). Interventions for varicose veins and leg oedema in pregnancy.
Written by Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS. Published 18 October 2026. General education, not medical advice. This page has not yet been through the independent clinical review described on our medical review page.