Pregnancy is a very beautiful stage in a woman's life. The nurturing of a small collection of cells into a living being really is a truly magical experience - or at least it should be!!!

Sadly, many women find they experience tired, aching feet which rapidly metamorph into colossal balls of fluid; and this, combined with a very persistent lower back pain, means that the Mum-to-be can end up feeling very sore. The joints and ligaments can also loosen throughout the term due to changes in hormone levels - so a healthy posture is essential.

The female body undergoes a significant change in shape, weight and centre of gravity which has a detrimental knock on affect on the spine and lower extremities.

The increase in weight is directly related to the postural changes seen in the thoracic and abdominal regions which in turn shifts the centre of gravity forward. In layman's terms, this alters the woman's stance and she finds herself standing back on her heels in order to compensate for this change. This can also affect her balance - so ditch those high heels NOW!

This is what causes lordosis (or sway back) of the lumbar spine as the abdominal muscles become stretched (and as such weakened) as the baby grows in the uterus. Not only that but the shoulders and head can fall forward which places additional pressure on the middle and lower spine.

So what happens to those lower extremities i.e. feet and ankles ??? The feet can over-pronate (which is when the arches become flat and weak) and, if they remain untreated, numerous foot conditions can develop namely Plantar Fasciitis and Metatarsalgia. The development of these painful heel conditions can be avoided by wearing Earth shoes as they offer support to the arches and a shock absorbing multi-density cushioning to the heel. And lets not forget the swelling or "oedema" which arises because of the pressure exerted on the circulation by the expanding uterus.

Phew ... the price we pay !!

All of the conditions affecting the spine and feet can be reduced by wearing Earth shoes throughout the term. The brilliant Negative Heel Technology positions the heel slightly lower than the rest of the foot, to promote a more natural posture, with the head straight, shoulders rolled back and the spine and pelvis aligned which allows the back to form its natural arch. Basically, you should be able to draw an imaginary line from the ear, shoulder, knee and the middle of the ankle if the centre of gravity is correctly aligned. The circulation is also improved which can drastically reduce oedema.

Recent independent studies have found that Earth shoes reduce lower heel pressure as the weight is more evenly dispersed over a wider base so all Mums-to-be can avoid developing Metarsalgia, Morton's Neuroma, Hammertoe and Heel Spurs by wearing these unique Negative Heel Technology shoes.

So Love your Pregnancy and Love Those Shoes by treating your poor feet to a pair of Earth shoes !!

You deserve it !!!

Our Top Tips for better Posture:

• DON'T LOOK AT THE GROUND WHILST YOU'RE WALKING, OR HAVE THE HEAD HELD TOO HIGH
• DON'T TALK ON A MOBILE PHONE WHILST IT'S TUCKED UNDER YOUR CHIN
• KEEP THE HEAD UP AND STRETCH THE NECK
• KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS PUSHED BACK
• USE YOUR LEG MUSCLES, BY BENDING AT THE KNEE TO LOWER AND RAISE YOURSELF
• ELEVATE THE FEET AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE (Now there's a good suggestion *grin*)
• KEEP ACTIVE - AVOID STANDING IN ONE POSITON FOR TOO LONG
• WEAR GOOD FITTING SHOES - DEFINATELY NO HIGH HEELS!!
• LIFT CORRECTLY - YOU ARE MORE SUSCEPTABLE TO SPRAINS SO BE EXTRA CAREFUL!
• INVEST IN A PAIR OF EARTH SLIPON MULE OR CLOG STYLE SHOES FOR THE FINAL TRIMESTER, SUCH AS NIRVANA, WOODSTOCK, KHARMA
• GO WALKING
• RELAX
• CONTRACT YOUR ABDOMINAL MUSCLES

Happy birth and Congratulations !!