Pregnancy is always an exciting time in a woman’s life – but that’s not to say that it isn’t going to come with some physical discomforts.
Sure, a woman’s body is going to change quite a bit throughout all of the stages of pregnancy. But an often overlooked change – especially when everyone is so focused on the new life growing in their belly – is the leg pain, the foot pain, and the swelling they can suffer from in their lower extremities.
Fortunately enough for pregnant women, many of these issues can be resolved just by choosing to wear high quality compression socks on a regular basis.
The right compression socks (especially maternity compression socks) can cut down on these painful symptoms and provide a whole host of other benefits throughout the pregnancy, too.
Below we are going to do a deep dive into (almost) everything you need to know about why compression socks are such a smart decision for expecting mothers, what to look for in the best compression socks on the market today, and how to use quality compression stockings to improve blood flow, to reduce the risk of blood clots, and to tame even severe swelling that pregnancy may have brought about.
Sound too good to be true?
You might be singing a different tune by the time we finish up with the inside info we highlight for you below!
Let’s get right into this, though.
Though these compression socks are intended to be 100% unisex, pregnant women have fallen head over heels in love with everything that they have to offer – and for good reason.
100% made in the United States, these compression socks will help improve your circulation, dramatically reduce swelling and fluid buildup, and all but eliminate the aches and pains you might be feeling in your lower body during your pregnancy.
The socks themselves are little bit longer than traditional options, helping to spread out the graduated compression more than alternatives. This means you get the same great compression you’re expecting without the “squeeze” other socks might have brought to the table.
On top of all of that, the integrated copper material is antimicrobial, stimulates circulation, and even helps to cut down on odors. You’re going to love them.
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It’s not at all uncommon for pregnant women to find their lower body swell up with fluid at different levels of their pregnancy, causing all kinds of aches and pains – not to mention a ton of stress.
Well, these copper compression socks are designed specifically for women that find their calves to be a little bit on the wider side of things all of a sudden.
The socks are designed with extra stretch without losing any of their compressive capabilities. You’re still going to get all the results you are looking for – improved circulation, better blood flow, pain relief, more energy and less fatigue, etc. – all with a new pair of socks that better fit you and your pregnant body.
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The Physix Gear Compression Socks are specifically intended to provide a ton of extra support and compression for pregnant women specifically. Made out of wonderful, breathable, and moisture wicking material, pregnant women can wear these all day long – all year round – with no worries.
Pregnant women will also enjoy the gentle squeeze of this mid-level compression sock. Blood flow will be improved, swelling will reduce, and you’ll generally feel a whole lot more comfortable than you did before.
Don’t forget about the reinforced heel, the extra toe box support to prevent blisters, and a smartly cushioned footbed to help you get through the day.
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The SB SOX Compression Socks are another great pair of compression socks that pregnant women are going to want to consider seriously. They are also made out of lightweight material, breathable fabrics, and fabrics that have just the right amount of “stretch in them”. That’ll help you feel a lot more comfortable wearing these socks for extended amounts of time.
On the “squeeze” side of things, these socks also are built with a graduated compression level of 20-30 mmHg. That’s going to be major for helping pregnant women to slow down swelling and improve blood flow.
You won’t have a hard time finding these socks available in a wide range of colors and patterns, so you can choose the one that best suits your style, either
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The BLUETREE Compression Socks are another top contender and well worth a closer look.
You’re going to get a little more compression with these socks then some of the other options we highlighted. That’s great for the later stages of your pregnancy when fluid buildup, eggs, and pains are going to be the most annoying.
Don’t feel like these socks are going to squeeze the life out of you, though. They’re actually going to feel great (they are super lightweight) and will boost your blood flow, circulation, and ease pain and fatigue big time.
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Pregnant women really love the A-Swift Compression Socks!
Offering just the right amount of compression (a mid-level amount of compression), they are going to help you get through the day without feeling like your feet and legs are being squeezed to death.
You’ll boost your blood flow, reduce your swelling, and all but eliminate fluid buildup just by wearing the socks for a handful of hours each day. Think of them as your own personal foot masseuse that you can take advantage of anytime you’d like just by going into your sock drawer!
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Though you might have (correctly) guessed that the Wanderlust Air Travel Compression Socks are designed specifically for travelers, pregnant women are able to take full advantage of everything the “smart squeeze” compression from these socks bring to the table, too.
These socks are going to offer a medical grade of compression (slightly higher than most of the other options on this list), perfect for ladies a little further on in their pregnancy cycle. These are the kinds of socks you want to breakout when your legs are really hurting, when they’ve started to swell, and when you are feeling tight or cramped.
Don’t be surprised, however, if all of those annoying symptoms disappear shortly after you slide your feet and legs into these socks. That’s how well they work!
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We aren’t overstating the capabilities of quality compression socks to – quite literally – transform your quality of life when you are pregnant.
There are a whole range of different benefits that you are going to enjoy almost immediately after you start wearing maternity compression socks, including (but certainly not limited to):
… And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Let’s start with how the right maternity compression socks are going to improve your circulation.
All compression stockings are made to provide what’s known as graduated compression in a very targeted kind of way. Basically we are saying that compression stockings are going to deliver different levels of pressure to different parts of your body at the same time, usually more pressure near your heel and less and less pressure the closer you get to your knees.
This targeted compression (usually a moderate compression level) is intentionally set up to boost the blood flow in your lower extremities and get the blood pooling up in the lower part of your body back to your heart faster.
You’ll see a major reduction in varicose veins with these kinds of compression socks for pregnancy. You’ll also be at a lower risk for blood clots and deep vein thrombosis as well. Expecting mothers are always nervous about a pulmonary embolism during their pregnancy (something that can prove to be fatal), but moderate compression from a quality compression sock can shave those risks down significantly.
You don’t want to overlook the capabilities of these socks.
As far as reducing swelling is concerned, compression socks work to eliminate a lot of the fluid that can build up in your legs and reduce swelling pretty quickly.
Fluid buildup while you are pregnant is anything but uncommon. It’s uncomfortable, to be sure, but it’s going to happen to 100% of women that are growing a baby inside of them.
All of this excess fluid can end up putting extreme pressure on your veins, lowering your blood circulation, impeding blood flow in general, and generally just causing your legs and feet to swell to almost cartoonish degrees.
All that swelling is going to prove to be really painful, and when you mix that in with all the other aches and pains you’re going to be feeling as your body changes throughout the pregnancy you can find yourself in a pretty nasty pickle rather quickly.
Maternity compression stockings, though, work to gently massage your veins, alleviate that pressure, and get your fluid to stop pulling up in the lower extremities. You won’t have to worry so much about swollen feet, spider veins, and other issues in your lower legs when you have even just moderate compression in your compression socks.
Varicose veins develop for whole different variety of reasons, sometimes not even related to your pregnancy, but it’s a good idea to get out in front of these issues whenever possible. These kinds of veins start to show up when the valves in the veins themselves start to weaken. Blood begins to pull up, you start to see a visible and almost twisted kind of “map” across your body, and you know that you’re not going to get the kind of blood flow to your lower extremities your body needs.
Quality compression socks for pregnancy are going to promote blood flow, are going to deliver compression therapy to your veins, and are going to prevent blood clot issues that can bubble up because of the way the valves failed to operate in varicose veins.
Lastly, but no less importantly, wearing quality compression socks during your pregnancy can help improve your overall health and well-being as well as the health and well-being of your baby.
Improvements to blood circulation with gentle pressure and light compression/mild compression will help more oxygen and more nutrients get to your baby on a consistent basis. You’ll be able to fuel their growth without having to do anything other than slide some quality compression socks on your feet and legs!
Not bad, right?
With so many different options out there today all claiming to be the best compression socks for pregnancy situations it can be hard to sort the “real deal” products from the rest of the pack.
Especially if you’ve never been pregnant and haven’t worn the best compression socks before!
By focusing on a few key factors, though, you skyrocket your chances for getting the right compression socks for pregnancy situations without having to do hours and hours of research and comparison. Zero in on the details we highlight throughout this section and you’ll never again have to worry about getting the wrong socks moving forward!
Compression Level Matters
Perhaps the most important of all the different things you focus on when you are looking for new compression socks while pregnant, you want to shoot for knee-high compression socks (or fight high compression socks) that offer you – at least – moderate compression.
Lower levels of compression (light or extra light) aren’t going to be able to help you with lactic acid buildup, painful swelling, or prevent blood clots while you are pregnant. More extreme levels of compression – firm and extra firm – can probably be avoided, as they are usually overkill when you want to improve blood circulation or cutback on pregnancy swelling.
Swing for the “sweet spot” in the middle that’ll help you decrease swelling with true graduated compression, eliminating poor circulation problems with just the right amount of squeeze from the first to the third trimester.
Material
The material of your new compression socks should not be overlooked or discounted.
Different materials will have a different impact on how these socks feel, and only the most comfortable compression socks (socks you’ll wear when dealing with the other aches and pains of pregnancy) are going to end up being the best compression socks for you.
Many of today’s best compression socks feature a mixture of technical, synthetic, and natural fibers and textiles. It’s not at all unusual for your compression socks to be made from nylon and spandex mixed with cotton and merino wool – and sometimes all of the above!
Technical fabrics are able to maintain their elasticity and compressive properties longer than natural materials will be able to. On the other hand, natural materials do a better job with moisture wicking, are soft and comfortable when dealing with moderate swelling to more extreme swelling, and are (generally) a more breathable fabric with natural antimicrobial properties.
If you can, shoot for compression socks that feature a quality blend of materials like the top options we mentioned in this guide.
Size and Fit
You shouldn’t just guess about the size and fit of the compression socks you buy during your pregnancy.
These socks are naturally going to run a little bit tighter than “normal” socks, especially if they provide extra levels of graduated compression. Buying the same size as your daily driver socks will inevitably end up in knee-high socks or ankle socks that fit a little loose and just don’t offer the results you are after.
You want socks that are tight but not too tight, snug but not overly so.
Pay attention to sizing charts from every manufacturer – not just assuming a universal fit across the industry – to find socks that will fit your foot and your legs perfectly, too. That makes a world of difference.
Toe Design
Most compression socks are going to feature a closed toe kind of approach, though there are certainly some open toe choices out there to pick and choose from. Open toe choices are intended to be worn by women that are pregnant during the warmer months or in warmer climates when they will be wearing open toed shoes.
Closed toe options, though, are able to offer more graduated compression – and that usually means they are the better compression hosiery when you’re looking to circulate blood and relieve swelling.
A seamless toe is the way you want to go as well. You won’t have to worry about any itching or scratching on your feet while you are wearing these kinds of socks, and then means that you’re not going to have to worry about wanting to peel them off multiple times each day just to get a little bit of relief.
Style
We’d like to think that the compression level of our favorite compression socks is the most important factor in purchasing them, but we also want to get our hands on socks for pregnancy products that are pretty stylish, too.
Very few people want to be clod hopping around out there with the most comfortable compression socks for pregnancy with lots of extra cushioning and an extra padded toe box that look super silly with everything that we wear out and about.
Now, granted, you might not find the style of even the best compression socks for pregnancy anything that would be on a model walking down the runway during Fashion Week.
Still, you don’t have to just settle for something super utilitarian.
Choose socks that have style, that have the colors and fabrics you like, and that showcase a little bit of your personality. When you like wearing certain compression socks they become the best compression socks for you!
At first blush it might not look like there’s really all that much to wearing the best compression socks for pregnancy.
We’ve all been putting socks on our feet for years and years – decades, even – and there really isn’t a trick to pulling it off. You slide your feet in, you yank the sock up, and you are good to go.
Believe it or not, though, there are a few wrinkles to getting the most out of compression socks when you’re wearing them while pregnant. If you want to get the most out of knee-high compression socks and the like you want to be sure that you are wearing them correctly.
Here’s what you should focus on:
Put your socks on bright and early in the morning – The best thing you can do to maximize the utility of your compression sock is to put them on first thing in the morning right after you have woken up. This is when your legs are going to be the least swollen and this is when you’re going to be able to make the compression work for you the most.
Sit down for a couple of minutes – After putting on your compression sock pregnant women are advised to sit down and relax for a couple of minutes to allow the compression to go to work. This is especially true if you’re using medical grade compression hosiery. Don’t just go about your day right out of the gate.
Make sure your foot is in the right position – Because of the graduated compression that these socks are designed with pregnant women should make sure that their feet are in the right spot of the sock itself. Some manufacturers have color designated “sectors” of their socks that match with specific parts of the anatomy to help pregnant women get the fit just right. You want to be sure that the most graduated compression is coming from your ankle.
Don’t wear these socks overnight – Even though these socks do a great job to reduce swelling you don’t want to wear them overnight as a pregnant woman. Doctors highly advise against this, and your body is naturally going to decompress while you are laying down during the night as well. Skip the overnight sessions.
As a general rule of thumb, you want to be sure that you are running any of your health decisions – major or minor – by your doctor when you are pregnant.
This includes choosing to wear the best compression socks for pregnancy you can find on the market today, like the ones we reviewed earlier.
Having a real abundance of caution anytime you are pregnant is always for the best. Your doctor will be able to point you in the right direction as far as the compression level you should be shooting for, the length of the sock you can get the most benefit from (knee high socks versus ankle socks, for example), and so much more. They’ll also let you know how often you should be wearing these socks on a day-to-day basis, too.
On top of that, it’s really valuable to avoid the higher levels of compression when purchasing compression socks while pregnant.
Sure, many of those socks are going to promise to help you reduce swelling fast – and they’ll deliver on those results, too – but you don’t want to be over compressing your veins and over exerting on your body while you are pregnant.
That’s just not a smart move.
Keep an eye on how your body responds to the compression socks that you are using. If you start to feel any discomfort whatsoever you may want to drop down to a lighter compression level to help you increase blood flow and alleviate pain.
Finally (and maybe most importantly) you really need to hammer home the idea of these socks not being a 24/7 companion throughout your pregnancy – and that goes for the entire pregnancy, from the first to the third trimester.
Like we mentioned a little earlier your body is going to do a pretty solid job of decompressing at night while you are laying down. You don’t need that extra compression. In fact, you wouldn’t even see increased blood flow but might actually negatively impact your overall health and wellness with socks on while laying down and asleep overnight.
These should only be worn during the day to help your tired legs recover and rejuvenate, and even then you might want to take breaks every couple of hours just to sort of “reset”.
There aren’t a lot of risks to wearing compression socks while you are pregnant, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any risks at all – and you should be aware of them before making this decision.
Far and away the biggest complaint that a lot of pregnant women have when wearing compression socks is that they have to deal with the irritate it’s skin from the socks themselves. The extra compression can rub up against your skin and cause some discomfort, and irritated skin can turn into something really unpleasant if the socks aren’t moisture wicking and antimicrobial.
Next – and this is super rare but can occur – sometimes pregnant women experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing when wearing compression socks for longer periods of time.
If you find this happening (even just a little bit) take the socks off immediately and reach out to a doctor.
Blood clotting can also be another small risk factor when wearing compression socks while you are pregnant. This is something that you want to talk to your doctor about, something that they can better advise you about, and a reason that you need to get the right amount of compression and not just “wing it”.
Wearing compression socks during your pregnancy can be a game changer.
You’ll likely be able to cut down big time on your feet swelling, your legs swelling, and all the pain and discomfort that diminished blood circulation can cause across the board.
On top of that, the right socks are going to do a great job at “hugging” your lower body and providing you a little bit of constant relief. Get that compression level right and it’ll feel like someone is gently massaging your body every moment that your socks are on!
Use the inside information we shared above to help you find the perfect socks – while talking to your doctor during the research process to make sure you are doing the right thing – and you’ll be good to go.
Compression socks that have been rated “safe for use during pregnancy” will not harm your baby. Even still, this isn’t a decision you’ll want to make all on your own. Talk to your doctor first to make sure that it’s the right move.
Women with pre-existing medical conditions (peripheral neuropathic, arterial diseases, or diabetes) are not going to want to put compression socks on before speaking to their doctor. If at anytime you experience discomfort or pain wearing compression socks you should discontinue usage and seek out medical help ASAP.
No, this is certainly not recommended!
You should be able to wear quality compression socks every single day during your pregnancy, particularly when you know you are going to be on your feet or longer blocks of time. Still, run this by your doctor first.
