Can pregnant women soak their feet?

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

After pregnancy, you can still soak your feet in warm water before bed to promote blood circulation in your feet, relieve fatigue, and improve sleep. However, in addition to paying attention to the appropriate water temperature, you should also be mindful of the following issues:
First, the duration of foot soaking should not be too long, with 15 to 30 minutes being ideal. During the process, as blood circulation accelerates and heart rate increases, prolonged soaking can easily put a strain on the heart. Additionally, since more blood flows to the lower limbs, people with weak constitutions may experience dizziness due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, and in severe cases, even fainting may occur. If a pregnant woman feels chest tightness or dizziness while soaking her feet, she should stop immediately and lie down to rest.
Second, avoid soaking your feet within 30 minutes after a meal. After eating, most of the blood in the body flows to the digestive system. If you soak your feet right after a meal with hot water, the blood that should have gone to the digestive system will instead flow to the lower limbs. Over time, this can affect digestion and absorption, leading to nutritional deficiencies.