Quick answer: For everyday pregnancy swelling, pick loose, non-binding socks with a stretchy top that doesn't pinch, a smooth toe and some padding, and size up if they feel tight by evening. Ask your provider before trying compression socks. Call your provider right away about sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, or swelling in one leg.
Most women have some swelling during pregnancy (MedlinePlus), and the NHS says it's often worse at the end of the day, just when a sock that fit at breakfast starts to dig in. No sock makes swelling go away, but the right pair won't add to the squeeze.
Why do feet swell during pregnancy?
Your body holds more water than usual in pregnancy, and through the day it gathers in the lowest parts of your body, especially in hot weather or after a lot of standing (NHS). Your growing womb also presses on the veins, so fluid can build up in your legs, ankles and feet (NHS, MedlinePlus).
Swelling tends to build as pregnancy goes on (NHS). Gradual swelling is not usually harmful to you or your baby, the NHS says, but a sudden increase can be a sign of preeclampsia (see the warning signs below).
What helps everyday swelling
- Avoid standing for long periods, and rest with your feet up when you can (NHS).
- Walk regularly, or do foot exercises: bend and stretch each foot up and down 30 times, then circle it 8 times each way (NHS).
- Limit salty foods, which make your body hold more water (MedlinePlus).
What kind of socks are comfortable for swollen feet during pregnancy?
The NHS says to wear comfortable shoes and socks and to avoid anything that might pinch if your feet swell. Look for:
- A loose, non-binding top. A faint line that fades is common; a deep groove means the top is too tight (see why socks leave marks on your legs).
- Stretch through the foot and leg for feet that change size through the day.
- A smooth, flat toe seam and some padding underfoot.
- A breathable fabric for warm days, when swelling tends to be worse (NHS).
- Easy to pull on. Sit down to put them on once your bump is in the way, or try a sock aid.
Crew or knee high? A crew top sits mid-calf, closer to where swelling collects, so it has to be truly loose. A knee-high top sits just below the knee, away from puffy ankles, but if your calves swell too, a crew may feel better.
| Sock type | Top band | Good for | Who decides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular crew socks | Often a tight ribbed cuff | Days your feet don't swell | You |
| Non-binding (diabetic) socks | Loose knit that stays up without squeezing | Everyday puffiness and sock marks | You |
| Extra-wide or bariatric socks | Very loose, with a wider leg | Large calves or wide ankles | You |
| Store-bought compression socks | Firm, tightest at the ankle | Swelling or long trips | Ask your provider first (ACOG) |
| Prescribed compression stockings | Fitted to your measurements | Vein problems or a higher clot risk | Your provider |
For extra-wide options, see the best socks for swollen feet and ankles.
Should you wear compression socks while pregnant?
Ask your provider first. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up them, which MedlinePlus says helps prevent leg swelling and, to a lesser extent, blood clots. MedlinePlus lists support pantyhose or compression stockings among its tips for leg swelling in pregnancy, and the NHS says pharmacy compression or support stockings help reduce leg swelling on flights over 4 hours.
They are not for everyone. In its advice on travel during pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says to talk with your ob-gyn before you try compression stockings: some people should not wear them, for example people with diabetes or other circulation problems, and stockings that are too tight or worn incorrectly can raise the risk of a blood clot.
The research is thin. A 2015 Cochrane review found too little evidence to judge most options for leg swelling in pregnancy, and said the most common advice, compression stockings and raising your feet, had not been properly tested in a randomized trial. Its one compression trial (35 women) used an air-pump leg device, not stockings, and found no clear difference in leg volume versus rest.
A 2022 trial of 60 healthy pregnant women in Brazil did test stockings. Half wore knee-high stockings at 20 to 30 mmHg, a strength to use only on your provider's advice, for about 8 hours a day. Between their first check (weeks 10 to 13) and their last (weeks 30 to 33), their ankle measurements grew about 0.15 cm, versus about 1.7 to 1.9 cm in the women without stockings. It is one small study.
Should you size up your socks during pregnancy?
Often, yes. Our sock size chart says to choose the larger size if you're between sizes, on a half size, or your feet swell by evening, and pregnancy adds two reasons. Swelling builds through the day (NHS), and the foot itself can grow. In a 2013 study that measured 49 women's feet in early pregnancy and again about 19 weeks after birth, 30 had longer feet afterward, mostly by 2 to 10 mm, and many had lower arches. The first pregnancy accounted for most of the change. One US shoe size is 1/3 inch, about 8.5 mm, of foot length, so the bigger changes come to about a full size.
| Mi Socks size | Women's US shoe | Men's US shoe | Size up if |
|---|---|---|---|
| M | 5–9 | 6–8 | Top of the range, a half size, or tight by evening |
| L | 10–13 | 9–12 | Top of the range, a half size, or tight by evening |
| XL | 14 and up | 13 and up | XL is our largest; ask us if you're unsure |
Don't jump two sizes, though. A sock that's too big bunches into folds that press on puffy skin.
Can you wear socks to bed with swollen feet in pregnancy?
Yes, if your feet get cold. The NIDDK foot advice for people with diabetes also says to wear socks in bed if your feet get cold. Choose a clean, loose pair with a non-binding top, so nothing presses a ring into puffy ankles overnight.
If you've been given compression stockings, ask your provider whether to wear them at night. MedlinePlus says to put them on first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed, when your legs have the least swelling.
Sleep on your side. The NHS says going to sleep on your side, left or right, is safest, and that after 28 weeks, falling asleep on your back can double the risk of stillbirth. If you wake up on your back, just turn onto your side again. For leg swelling, MedlinePlus says lying on your left side is better if it's comfortable.
When is swelling in pregnancy a reason to call your provider right away?
Preeclampsia, a serious blood pressure condition, usually develops after 20 weeks and can also start in the weeks after birth (ACOG). Blood clots are the other worry: the CDC says pregnancy raises the risk fivefold, and the risk stays high through the 3 months after delivery.
| If you notice | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain, trouble breathing or coughing up blood, with or without leg swelling | Call 911 | Possible blood clot in the lungs (CDC, NHS, MedlinePlus) |
| Sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet, puffy eyes, or fingers too swollen to bend or wear rings | Call your provider or labor and delivery unit now | Possible preeclampsia (NHS, ACOG, MedlinePlus); an urgent warning sign (CDC) |
| A headache that won't go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, or pain below your ribs | Call your provider now | Possible preeclampsia (NHS, ACOG) |
| Vomiting in the second half of pregnancy, heartburn that antacids don't help, sudden weight gain, or feeling very unwell | Call your provider now | On the NHS, ACOG and MedlinePlus preeclampsia lists |
| Swelling, pain, warmth or redness in one leg, usually the calf | Call your provider right away | Possible blood clot (CDC, NHS, MedlinePlus) |
| More than mild swelling | Call your provider right away | MedlinePlus advice in pregnancy |
| Swelling that keeps getting worse, or home steps that don't help | Call your provider | MedlinePlus |
| Mild swelling in both feet that comes on gradually | Mention it at your next visit | Common, and not usually harmful (NHS) |
Preeclampsia can also develop quietly (ACOG). You're unlikely to notice its early signs, high blood pressure and protein in your urine, so they're checked at routine prenatal visits (NHS). After birth, the CDC asks new moms to watch for urgent warning signs for a year.
Are diabetic socks a good choice during pregnancy?
For comfort, often yes. The ADA says socks made for people with diabetes have an elastic area in and around the ankle so they are not too constricting, which fits the NHS advice to avoid anything that pinches. You don't need diabetes to wear them (see can people without diabetes wear diabetic socks?). They are not compression socks (see diabetic socks vs compression socks) and won't make swelling go down, so if your provider recommends compression, wear that instead.
If you have diabetes:
- ACOG lists diabetes as a high-risk factor for preeclampsia, so know the warning signs above.
- ACOG names diabetes as one reason some people should not wear compression stockings, so ask your provider first. If you do wear them, the ADA suggests an open-toe style so you can still see the skin and color of your toes.
- Check your feet each evening when you take off your shoes, and skip tight socks (NIDDK). Our guide to swollen feet and diabetes covers other causes of swelling.
About our own socks: Mi Socks are non-binding crew and knee-high socks with a loose-knit top, a smooth flat toe seam, a terry-cushioned sole and a breathable cotton-rich blend, in sizes M, L and XL. They are comfort socks, not compression. Browse our socks for swollen feet, or start with the Mi Socks crew 6-pack ($6 a pair), which ships free in the US like any order of $19 or more. Or try the knee-high 6-pack, with the same top just below the knee.
Frequently asked questions
What compression level is used for swollen feet in pregnancy?
There's no single answer. MedlinePlus says compression stockings range from light to strong pressure and to talk with your provider about which kind is right for you, including whether a 20 to 30 mmHg pair like the one in the 2022 trial above makes sense.
Does swelling get worse later in pregnancy?
Usually. The NHS says it's often worse further into pregnancy. Preeclampsia usually develops after 20 weeks (ACOG), so new or sudden swelling from mid-pregnancy on is worth a call.
Is swelling in only one leg normal in pregnancy?
Don't assume it is. MedlinePlus says to contact your provider right away about new or worse swelling in only one leg, or a swollen leg that is red or warm to the touch. The CDC lists severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg as an urgent warning sign during pregnancy and for up to 6 weeks after birth.
Can I wear compression socks on a flight while pregnant?
Ask your provider first. ACOG says any trip of 4 hours or more doubles the risk of a blood clot, and that your ob-gyn may recommend compression stockings for long trips. On flights, the NHS says to drink plenty of water and move about every 30 minutes or so.
Can preeclampsia happen after giving birth?
Yes, though it's rare. MedlinePlus says it most often shows up within 48 hours of birth, and the risk lasts up to 6 weeks. Call your provider about sudden swelling of the face or hands, a headache that won't go away, or vision changes.
Will my feet go back to their normal size after pregnancy?
Not always. In the 2013 study above, 30 of 49 women had longer feet about 19 weeks after birth than in early pregnancy, mostly by 2 to 10 mm. Measure again before you buy new shoes or stock up on socks.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Foot, leg, and ankle swelling; Common symptoms during pregnancy; Compression stockings; Preeclampsia.
- NHS. Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy; Pre-eclampsia; Travelling in pregnancy; DVT; Tiredness and sleep problems in pregnancy.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy; Travel During Pregnancy.
- CDC. Urgent Maternal Warning Signs; Understanding Your Risk for Blood Clots with Pregnancy.
- American Diabetes Association. 8 Tips to Protect Your Feet with Diabetes. NIDDK. Diabetes & Foot Problems.
- Smyth RMD, Aflaifel N, Bamigboye AA. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015: review of options for varicose veins and leg swelling in pregnancy.
- Saliba-Júnior OA, et al. Jornal Vascular Brasileiro, 2022: randomized trial of knee-high compression stockings in 60 pregnant women.
- Segal NA, et al. Pregnancy leads to lasting changes in foot structure. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2013.
About this guide
Written by the Mi Socks team, last reviewed October 13, 2026. We sell non-binding socks, so weigh what we say about our own pair accordingly. No doctor, midwife or nurse has reviewed this guide (see how we write). It is general information, not medical advice, and your ob-gyn or midwife is the best judge of your own swelling.