Leggings are a good fashion staple to have in every woman’s closet. They’re stylish, comfortable, and can come in plain neutral colors for work or everyday use or in wild colors and patterns for more informal and fun settings.
When you’re pregnant, jeans and tight shorts may be out of the question by the time you start showing. From the time your baby bump shows up to the time you finish recovering after having your baby, maternity leggings may be one of the few practical bottoms available for you to wear.
The best maternity leggings come in different types, brands, and colors to suit your needs. Here are our top picks that can suit all soon-to-be moms!
Picking Out Your Leggings
Just like regular leggings, you’ll find plenty of maternity leggings ranging from affordable to high-end. More practical moms-to-be may prefer something that goes well with most of their other maternity clothing are adjustable as their baby bump grows. But more fashionable moms may pick based on the design and how the leggings fit their body.
In terms of the price range, maternity leggings can start at $15 for affordable ones. More expensive ones can reach upwards of $60, depending on the brand, size, and design. Of course, shopping at thrift stores and second-hand shops may be cheaper,
Ultimately, your preferences can affect your purchase decision. But it’s important to know all the available types.
Types of Maternity Leggings
Over-the-Bump Maternity Leggings
Also known as full panel or over-the-belly, these high-waisted leggings have a panel that’s big enough to cover your bump regardless of trimester. These leggings are comfortable enough to cover your baby bump because the belly panel is stretchable to expand without restricting or squeezing against your tummy.
For practical moms who don’t want to buy new clothes for every trimester, these are a good option to buy as soon as you start to show. Once the baby reaches the third trimester, some mothers find it uncomfortable to wear leggings that don’t have the extra support of over-the-bump leggings.
More women prefer the support full-panel leggings have. So, expect most of the maternity leggings you see online and in physical stores to come in this style.
These maternity leggings from the Restless Mama Store are at the pricier side at $65. But with back support and a unique silicon elastic, they can double as both everyday leggings and workout leggings for those who want to stay fit during their pregnancy.
These leggings, on the other hand, are much more affordable at $20 and are perfect for women who prefer the classic plain black leggings. It is breathable and has no scratchy seams that may irritate the skin on your belly.
Under-the-Bump Maternity Leggings
These are leggings angled in such a way that the waistband is directly below the belly. This means that the backside of your leggings are much higher than in the front, where it’s slightly lowered for the bump but can expand for the growing hips.
Women who are comfortable with wearing under-the-bump leggings still need to consider the growth of your body. While it’s not as drastic as the baby bump in the span of three trimesters, your hips may expand significantly, so it also has to have an adjustable size.
In terms of price, under-the-bump leggings are slightly cheaper than over-the-bump leggings. This is because there is no panel that allows for expansion over a large belly. These pair of Terramed black under-the-belly leggings are $15 but still offer support, comfort, and style for expectant mothers.
Regular Leggings
Don’t put away your regular leggings just yet: some mommy bloggers claim that some leggings are still stretchable enough that they’re still comfortable to wear during pregnancy.
Of course, they’re unlikely to be stretchable enough to be over-the-bump leggings. But if you don’t want to spend too much money on maternity clothes, it always helps to simply buy regular leggings that offer plenty of stretch. Use the leggings you have at home. If you want to buy new regular non-maternity leggings in your first trimester, buy the size two sizes up your regular size for a better fit later into your pregnancy.
Best Plain Black Leggings
Simple, affordable, comfortable cotton maternity leggings. At $29, Leading Lady’s over-the-bump maternity leggings are a basic black legging staple in any mom-to-be’s wardrobe. Its ankle-length slimming style can complement any tunic, dress, or pregnancy-friendly top when at home or on the go.
Its over-the-bump design has a built-in maternity support band and an enhanced back zone for extra spinal and belly support, reducing the amount of back pain normal for pregnant women towards their mid and late-trimesters. It also has underbelly support to help lift the tummy and avoid strain.
Many expectant moms who bought these leggings swear by these as the go-to black leggings to have. Its belly panel expands comfortably, so you can wear these when you start showing at your third or fourth month and still feel no squeeze towards the end of your pregnancy.
Best Colored Leggings
Straying away from the basic black leggings or the one-color maternity leggings, My Bump’s Bohemian maternity leggings are a far cry from most of the legging designs you see online and in stores. With prices up to $30, there are 43 available designs on Amazon consisting of Bohemian prints, patterns, and one-color leggings.
Unlike most legging cuts, these leggings feature a bottom cut-edge style, with an option to have the leggings trimmed to your length. Taller users love this store’s custom feature as they don’t have to make adjustments or settle for leggings that are too short for their own body measurements.
If this is more your fit, you don’t have to sacrifice style when switching your regular clothes out for your pregnancy wardrobe. These maternity leggings are made with high-quality fabric that’s soft and lightweight but still offers some support on your belly and back.
Best Maternity Leggings with Pockets
For women on the go, pockets are essential. Mumberry’s maternity leggings are stylish, come in five true to size sizes from X-Small to X-Large, and are available in six colors and patterns. At $78, these maternity leggings offer belly and back support and a comfortable over-the-belly fit.
It has a versatile design, meaning you can use it in the gym, for work, or for everyday use. Because of its basic shape, it can flatter any mother in any trimester. And its pocket is large enough to hold small items and small to large smartphone sizes.
The US-made leggings have the patent-pending Mumband, which offers the highest level of belly support through compression and an upward lift. This, combined with its lumbar support, can help moms feel more comfortable whether they’re at home or on the go.
Best Maternity Jeggings
Finding pregnancy-friendly jeans that look good and still fit your body well for nine months is like looking for a needle in a haystack. A good pair of jeggings from the Motherhood Maternity Store on Amazon will cost you up to $50, but will get you a good pair. Choose from a black wash, dark denim wash, medium wash, gray wash, and tahoe wash from sizes extra-small up to 3X – great for petite to plus-size moms!
These are super soft and super stretchy over-the-bump ankle-length maternity leggings. Its seamless design provides comfort for your belly, back, and legs throughout the day. So, if you want an everyday look when running errands, these can definitely pass off as your regular jeans.
Best Maternity Workout Leggings
Although these are yoga pants, these over-the-belly maternity leggings from Fourcome are one of the best maternity workout leggings for all expectant mothers trying to stay fit during their pregnancy. Available in 11 colors and from true-to-size sizes small to x-large.
Made of nylon and spandex, it has full panel coverage to support your belly and back while working out. The seamlessly stretched microfiber fabric allows you to feel cool and comfortable for light to moderate workouts.
Best Pregnancy Compression Tights for Varicose Veins
This Old Navy Full Panel Compression Leggings are great for moms looking for the support for their back, belly, and legs to carry their growing baby. At $30, it’s considered a steal for those looking for stylish but functional compression tights.
It’s an over-the-belly maternity legging type only available in dark charcoal gray with sizes from XS to XXL. It has an elasticized smooth panel for your belly made out of compression fleece to sculpt your shape and avoid exposing varicose veins during your pregnancy.
Users say that the material is thick, perfect for expectant women during the fall and winter months. It’s true to size, meaning if you’re normally a small size prior to your pregnancy, these leggings can expand accordingly when you reach your late trimesters. They’re also great for running or when on the go.
So, whether you’re starting to show or are towards your final trimester, there’s no reason to sacrifice style for comfort. These are the best maternity leggings you can buy online to help you remain stylish but comfortable with the support these leggings give for moms-to-be.
