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Pretty, but not good for the back.

Pregnant women who want to emulate celebrities by wearing high heels are putting their feet at risk, an expert says.

Lorraine Jones, from Britain’s Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said women felt pressure to wear stilettos but were risking long-term damage, as well as strains to their ankles and ligaments.

Furthermore, pregnant women routinely wore other unsuitable footwear, such as flip flops, ballet pumps and Ugg boots.

A poll of 1,000 pregnant women for the Society found 66% regularly wore flip flops, 32% high heels, 53% ballet pumps and 30% Ugg boots.

But Ms Jones said none of the above were suitable because they offered little support.

“Weight gain and hormonal changes in pregnancy have a huge impact on the body.

“Muscles and ligaments soften and stretch because of an increase in the ovarian hormone, relaxin, which makes your feet more prone to ankle and ligament strains on a daily basis,” she said.

“High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees.

“In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain, which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls. Shoes like ballet pumps, flip flops and Ugg boots are also unsuitable for daily wear in pregnancy because they don’t provide your feet with the necessary support.”

The survey of pregnant women found around half felt pressured to keep up with celebrity trends.

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