Pregnancy is a huge life shift that will affect many aspects of your day to day.
As well as planning for your new arrival, you might adapt your diet and well-being routine. And you’ll probably find as you move through the nine months that you’ll need to invest in some maternity wear – but that doesn’t stop with clothes.
As your pregnancy progresses, you might find shoes that used to be comfortable are now leaving you feeling sore. Your feet may change size or swell through the day, or you might just not be able to face those high heels any more.
We’ve done a deep dive into the best maternity footwear that will leave you feeling comfortable and stable without compromising on style.
What are the best shoes to wear in pregnancy?
As your body changes, you might find some new aches and pains – back pain and hip pain are very common during this time. The right pair of shoes can help ease these aches.
“It is advisable to wear supportive shoes that support the arch of the foot and ankle. This will help with distributing weight and help prevent falls”, says Jenny Gillespie, Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and owner of The Mummy Hub.
Can I wear heels when pregnant?
During pregnancy your centre of gravity changes, and you might find while you were a pro at stilettos before, you’re finding it more of a challenge to walk in them now. It’s really important you’re stable and able to freely move during your pregnancy.
“High heels and non-supportive shoes like flip flops are not normally advised but everyone is different”, says Gillespie. ”Sometimes, orthotics are prescribed if the arches drop and become flatter than usual. In the third trimester, swelling can limit the footwear choices available to women”.
The general advice is that low heels, or totally flat shoes, are a good option for maternity footwear. But there’s no hard or fast rule – do what suits you.
Will my shoe size change during pregnancy?
All bodies are different and all pregnancies are different. But there is a high chance your shoe size will increase a little during your pregnancy.
“A hormone called relaxin is released from the beginning of the pregnancy, which helps to prepare the ligaments in the pelvis for birth but it affects all the ligaments in the body including the feet”, explains the physiotherapist. “This can mean the arches of the feet are not as well supported and some women even report going up a shoe size in their third trimester”.
Best maternity footwear at a glance:
- Best for overall: Clarks women’s hollyhock walk silver leather trainers – £75, Clarks
- Best for working out: Nike Invincible 3 women’s road running trainers – 174.99, Nike
- Best for going with everything sandal: Air and Grace Gala black two-bar back strap sandals – £139, Air and Grace
- Best for the office: Next black patent extra wide fit loafer shoes – £36, Next
- Best for slipping on: Air and Grace Talia gold two-bar sandals – £129, Air and Grace
- Best for flip flops: Crocs Gateway platform flip flops – £31.99, Crocs
- Best for trendsetters: Hoka Clifton 9 trainers – £139, Hoka
Find out more below
Best supplements to support breastfeeding
Best pregnancy books to discover all you need to know as a mum-to-be
Best maternity pads for post-birth protection 2024
Best maternity sportswear brands to help you keep active through your pregnancy
Best maternity nightwear to wear to the hospital or at home in 2024
Clarks Women’s Hollyhock Walk Silver Leather Trainers
.jpeg)
Best: overall
As fans of metallic, we were drawn to these trainers like a magpie. They’re a versatile option as they look great worn with a dress or with trousers or jeans. This means they’re fantastic for pounds per wear.
They’re made from leather too, so are durable and of great quality. The footbed is a contour cushion that moulds to the shape of your foot, giving great arch support. We found that with the laces it allows you a degree of flexibility if your feet do swell. However, towards the end of your pregnancy you might find the laces a major effort.
Buy now £75.00, Clarks
Nike Invincible 3 Women’s Road Running Trainers
Best for: working out
These are Nike’s most cushioned soles ever – and we feel like we’re bouncing down the street when wearing them. They’re incredibly lightweight. We think these are a fantastic investment if exercising during pregnancy is something you’re keen to do.
There is foam in the heel that absorbs impact too, reducing the pressure on your joints. And the midsole has been designed to be wide for comfort – ideal if your feet are swelling. Although we plumped for these for workouts, we actually found ourselves slipping them on for walking around town too – surely a sign of a good shoe.
Buy now £174.99, Nike
Air and Grace Gala Black Two-Bar Back Strap Sandals
Best for: goes-with-anything sandal
As soft as butter, these Gala sandals from Air and Grace are a treat on your feet. The back strap gives extra support and stops you from slipping around. However, this does make them more of an effort to put on, which in the third trimester might be unwelcome.
Having said that, we love the buckles on the shoe which let you adjust the width to suit you. What appealed to us the most about this sandals though was the footbed, which cocooned our feet and made them feel so comfortable. These open-toes are ideal for hot days during pregnancy.
Buy now £139.00, Air and Grace
Next Black Patent Extra Wide Fit Loafer Shoes
Best for: the office
Next do a great range of extra-wide fit shoes, including these patent loafers – which we absolutely loved. Sometimes this style of shoe can feel a little snug across the toes – less than ideal when your feet swell during the day. However, these Next loafers were wide enough to accommodate our feet without making them pinch.
The sole is nice and chunky, without feeling too heavy – we were worried about tripping, but actually, these were fine. These are the perfect everyday smart/casual shoes for work and will see you through your whole pregnancy.
Buy now £36.00, Next
Air and Grace Talia Gold Two-Bar Sandals
Best for: slipping on
If you’re really struggling with getting your shoes on independently, don’t despair – you don’t have to give up sartorially. These Talia sandals from Air and Grace are very easy to slip on and they look beautiful. Plus they feel like a treat for the feet once they’re on. We loved the cool, curved footbed, which kept our feet secure and comfy all day long. These Taila sandals were tested in gold, but they also come in black and metallic silver if you prefer.
Buy now £129.00, Air and Grace
Crocs Gateway Platform Flip Flops
Best for: flip flops
If you still crave a flip flop, but you’re finding them unbearably flat (the advice of Jenny from The Mummy Hub about arch support still ringing in your ears, perhaps), then Crocs have come to the rescue.
These new styles of platform offer up some degree of arch support, unlike many flip flops. The wide midsole across the balls of the feet meant we felt stable in them, despite them being platform style. Those who want to add a few inches to their height will love these. They’ve also been designed to have plenty of give – this is great for feet that are swelling. In pregnancy, you want anything for an easy life, and these are great shoes that are easy to slip in and out of.
Buy now £31.99, Crocs
Hoka Clifton 9 Trainers
Best for: trendsetters
If you’re trend-led and always on a quest for the next big trainer, these Hoka trainers should be straight in your basket. Strictly speaking, they’re a running trainer and they are great for that. Engineered to be incredibly lightweight (you can barely tell you’re wearing shoes when they’re on) and to offer a wide, stable fit, they’re also fantastic as maternity footwear.
They come in a range of colourways, but the all-white are trending as TikTok’s hottest trainer right now. Harry Styles, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kylie Jenner have all been spotted in Hokas. Take from that what you will…
Buy now £139.00, Hoka
Verdict
The Clarks Hollyhock trainers are cute and comfortable and can be worn with almost anything. They’re also durable while not bank-breaking – we were seriously impressed.
