How to Take Care of Your Feet: Tips for Busy Mothers
In the following article, we’ll tell you all the best secrets of how to take care of your feet, despite not having as much time as you’d like.
Being a mother is one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences for any woman. However, there’s a common issue that many mothers share: a lack of time and accumulated fatigue. This often results in not having the time they need to carry out tasks such as taking care of their feet.
If you think about it, your feet are probably the last part of your body that you take care of. And you’ll realize this when they start to hurt. However, even though you’re very busy, they’re too important to ignore. They absorb the impact of your body’s weight with each step, keeping you balanced and upright all day, every day.
What happens to your feet during pregnancy?
Pregnancy and aging affect your feet. On the one hand, pregnant women who wear high-heeled shoes do so with wide heels, with enough support on the arch to ensure proper absorption of the blows. But the additional weight during the months of pregnancy can also change the size of a mother’s feet, so it may be a good idea to measure them again.
On the other hand, you should know that, over the years, women lose part of the shock absorbing fat in their feet, so it’s recommended to choose shoes that offer more protection against shock. In any case, the idea is to visit a podiatrist at least once a year to check the condition of your feet.
The best secrets to take care of your feet
Here are some secrets for tired mothers so you’ll know how to take care of your feet:
1. Wear comfortable shoes
The first piece of advice we want to give you seems obvious, but it’s not always taken. Using the wrong shoes can significantly affect the health of your feet.
On the one hand, when your shoes are too tight they can cause calluses, ingrown toenails, and general foot pain. And, on the other hand, when they’re too big, they prevent the heel from settling in place, which can cause blisters, pain, and excessive heel wear.
In fact, some shoes are bad for your feet, even if they fit correctly. That’s why it’s always recommended to invest in footwear that guarantees the daily well-being of your feet.
However, you must also consider buying the right materials. While synthetics tend not to breathe well, trapping heat and humidity, natural materials such as leather and cotton will keep your feet fresher and release moisture.
2. Get going
You must train the muscles in your feet by exercising. And the best way to do this is by simply walking. Go out every so often to keep your muscles firm and your ligaments flexible. We also recommend walking on different surfaces to vary the different types of impact: grass, dirt, or asphalt.
3. Wash your feet often
Third, you should wash your feet frequently, since they spend most of the day trapped inside a pair of shoes. Moisture and sweat can create a perfect medium for bacteria to grow; moreover, the spaces between the toes are even more hospitable to fungi.
When you don’t wash your feet properly, you allow bacteria to build up every day. This leads to an unpleasant smell and, eventually, fungal infections and other skin problems.
You don’t need to do a special kind of a wash; you just have to make sure to wash, especially between the toes. After the shower, it’s equally important to dry your feet to prevent trapped moisture from allowing bacteria to accumulate around you.
4. Take care of your feet with proper hydration
Finally, you should bear in mind that the wear and tear caused by being on your feet all day can result in areas of dry, cracked, or scaly skin. The cure is simple: you should rub lotion that contains cocoa butter on your feet every day.
In fact, you can do this in the morning, although it’s not recommended that you apply the lotion between the toes. However, if you have severe problems with peeling or dry skin on your feet, you may want to try a hydration routine at night too.
To conclude, we want to remind you that although you have many obligations as a mother, you should always take some time for yourself. We’re convinced that the tips given above will help you keep your feet’s skin, bones, and muscles perfectly healthy.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Abu-Qamar MZ, Whitehead L, Towell-Barnard A, Kemp V. Foot Problems in Patients in Acute Care: A Point-Prevalence Survey. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2020 Sep/Oct;47(5):513-520.
- Xiong G, Bennett CG, Chou L, Kamal RN. Quality Measures in Foot and Ankle Care. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Apr 15;27(8):e373-e380.
- Gray M. Foot and Nail Care: A New Platform Section in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2019 May/Jun;46(3):181-182.
