Both swelling and varicose veins are caused by the increase in fluid in your body during pregnancy. When you combine that extra fluid with the additional pressure on your veins caused by your growing uterus, fluid can accumulate in the tissues of your lower body—hello, puffy, aching feet! Maternity compression socks can help by essentially massaging the muscles and forcing blood to move up towards the rest of your body. That extra boost of circulation can help relieve swelling.

We suggest putting on maternity socks first thing in the morning, before any swelling might start. If your feet and legs are already swollen, try laying down with your legs elevated for 15 minutes or so before trying to put your socks on. If your skin feels too dry or too damp for the socks to slide on, cornstarch or talcum powder can help. Here’s a tip for putting on your pregnancy socks: Slip your hand into the compression sock; for knee-high socks, your arm will go all the way in until your palm reaches the heel of the sock. Grasp the footbed of the sock and use your other hand to pull the top edge of the sock down your arm so it rolls down over itself. Then slip your foot into the sock and roll it up towards your knee.

Wearing maternity compression socks is a widely accepted, safe method for relieving swelling that can occur during pregnancy. We always suggest checking with your physician before trying anything new, in case there are specific recommendations for your unique needs.

Because maternity socks are designed to prevent swelling (instead of reverse swelling once it’s happened), it’s best to put them on in the morning. You can wear them for as long as is comfortable, especially anytime you’re walking, standing, or sitting. You don’t need to wear them to bed, when your feet and legs are level with the rest of your body and not at risk of swelling.

It’s possible! Your maternity compression socks should fit nice and snug, but not uncomfortably tight. They should feel firm when you put them on.

Our pregnancy socks come in two sizes: size 1, which fits shoe sizes 6-9, and size 2, which fits shoe sizes 8-11.

Buy socks in your current shoe size, versus sizing up or down.

Yes, definitely! Sitting with your feet or legs dangling can cause swelling; wearing a pair of pregnancy socks can help boost circulation and prevent a case of aching feet at the end of the day.

Because your feet and legs are level with the rest of your body when you’re lying in bed, it’s not likely that swelling will occur—so you can skip the socks at night.

Yes, maternity compression socks are designed to do just that. They keep your circulation moving, which can help prevent the extra fluid caused by pregnancy from pooling in your feet and legs.

Most over-the-counter maternity socks offer between 10 to 30 mmHg compression—10 mmHg is considered mild, while 30 mmHg is firm. For stronger levels of compression, you’ll need a prescription from your doctor; as always, we recommend consulting with your physician first to see what’s best for you.