Pregnant women can wear sky-high heels: Experts

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, now seven months pregnant, is never seen without sky-high stilettos.

Stylish indeed, but some wonder if Zoe is risking the safety of her body and baby for her high fashion style.

Now, experts have said that these model shoes are not dangerous for pregnant women if they don't hurt, reports ABC News.

"Stilettos in general are not dangerous. We are fortunately long past the days when a pregnant woman had to wear a tent or a t-shirt with an arrow pointing to the belly," said Dr Lauren Streicher, a staff obstetrician gynaecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Doctors say the main reason that high heels have gotten a bad rep is because a woman's body weight and shape change during pregnancy, and so does her center of gravity.

Because of this, she may be more prone to falls, which could have dire consequences. But otherwise, a lot of the risk is to her own comfort.

"It's fine for a pregnant woman to wear stilettos, but she may find her balance is off, especially when she gets large," said Streicher.

"If she were to fall, obviously she could break a leg, but there is no particular danger to that developing pregnancy," she added.

Dr. Manuel Porto, professor and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of California Irvine Medical Center, also said that the arched back posture that is used by most pregnant women to accommodate the change leads to low back pain.

Wearing high-heeled shoes and boots can exacerbate those problems, especially as feet start to swell in the later months.

"Most obstetricians recommend that patients wear flat shoes or those with less than a two-inch heel, especially in the third trimester," said Porto.

And Dr. Jacques Moritz, director of gynaecology at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York, said that the key is to listen to your body when making fashion decisions.

"If your feet hurt or you feel the centre of gravity shift has made it hard to walk in heels, then stop," said Moritz.

"If not, good for you," he said.

"Pregnancy is not a disease, and women should be able to dress how they want and look fabulous," said Streicher.

"Of course, it's a matter of taste what looks fabulous," she added.

So, to all those pregnant women out there who can't imagine surrendering style to a baby bump, there's the green light. If you're willing to deal with some discomfort in those heels, doctors say carry on with your fabulous and fashionable self.