Compression Socks for Pregnancy

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Our compression socks for pregnancy give your legs graduated support, firmest at the ankle and easing off up the calf. That’s where you need it when your feet puff up by mid-afternoon and your legs feel twice as heavy as at breakfast. Every pair of our maternity compression socks is knee-high, 15-20 mmHg and made from a soft rayon-from-bamboo blend. Wide calf comes on nearly every style, Extra Wide on selected styles, all in prints you’ll want to wear. Why Your Legs Swell During Pregnancy Your body carries a lot more blood and fluid while you’re pregnant, and your growing uterus presses on the large veins that bring blood back up from your legs. Pregnancy hormones relax your vein walls too, so fluid settles in your feet and ankles. That swelling is called edema. It usually builds through the day and peaks in the third trimester, often with heavy, achy legs and leg cramps along for the ride. Varicose and spider veins are common in pregnancy too. Compression can help with the ache and heaviness, though it hasn’t been shown to stop the veins forming. Our guide to compression socks for varicose veins covers the evidence. How Maternity Compression Socks Help Graduated pressure is firmest at your ankle and lighter toward your knee, which helps push blood back up toward your heart and keeps less fluid pooling around your ankles. Pregnancy compression socks can mean: Less puffiness in your feet and ankles by the end of the day Legs that feel lighter after hours of standing or sitting Support for tired, achy calves More comfort on long drives and flights For more on compression socks for pregnancy swelling, see our post on compression socks for swelling . What Compression Level Is Best for Pregnancy? The mmHg number tells you how firmly a sock presses at the ankle. Mild (8-15 mmHg): light support for legs that feel a bit tired Moderate (15-20 mmHg): everyday wear and mild to moderate swelling Firm (20-30 mmHg): more severe swelling or varicose veins, usually on your doctor’s