Footwear before & after birth? Swelling?

[RWK29]

Probably a really stupid question 😂🙈 36 weeks at the moment and most of my shoes are feeling a little bit snug. I don’t have any major swelling, it’s just a little bit but I’ve read that some people get quite severe swelling after delivery? 🙈

Just finishing putting my hospital bag together and wondering what kind of footwear would be best to leave out for going to and from the hospital for the birth? 🤔 Some kind of flip flops? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi Op, congrats on being so close to the end now! I’m 38 weeks, been wondering the same thing. My swelling comes and goes, some days my feet are totally fine and others they’re like water balloons. I’ve consistently been wearing either adjustable sandals or my ugg boots. I’ll probably be taking the boots with me on the merit that it’s now a bit colder but I don’t think sandals would be unreasonable. I don’t know about after birth though as this is my first time. The only thing I’d say about flip flops or sliders is that they might be slippy or difficult to walk in and if you’ve given birth and still feel jelly legged it might cause a fall (I’m assuming the jelly leg thing, I have no idea if that actually happens or not but it seems like a possibility after the body goes through something like birth)

I’d put flip flops in your hospital bag, I used them when I had a shower after labour. But I’m a bit funny about bare feet in shared shower facilities.

I was pretty puffy after delivery (ended up with a spinal for forceps so not sure if that was a contributing factor) but managed to get a pair of slip on pumps on to go home in. It's worth taking flip flops or slides for the hospital anyway so you always wear them home.

I lived in flip flops in my last trimester, and at the hospital, and for a couple of weeks afterwards! But I live somewhere hot.

If it's going to be bitterly cold where you are then flip flops might not work, but if it will just be a bit nippy then it will surely be fine to grin and bear it on the short walk from the car to the hospital.

My feet really puffed after my first. No way would they fit into shoes. I was kept in for 5 days and DS was in NICU so had to shuffle about in slippers. I had to wear adjustable sandals to come home - not ideal in December! I had no issues at all with my second though.

@MalbecIsMyOne ohhh don’t worry, I have flip flops in the bag for the showers 🤢😂 I’m the same about shared facilities.

November in Scotland so definitely looking like it’ll be pretty chilly 🥶 but I’m sure I’d manage in sandals from car to hospital and back again. Worst comes to worst I can always leave in my slippers I guess 😂

My waters broke while I was still wearing my winter boots so I had to get DH to bring my trainers in when he came to pick me up. I just pulled the laces really lose & slipped them on my feet with the laces tucked in. Was ok to walk out to the car.

I was the total opposite and as soon as I'd delivered I got my ankles back, my swelling totally went away!