With this pregnancy, I’m leaning into maternity leggings hard and am on the hunt for the best ones. If you are or are planning to be pregnant, go ahead and save this post.
If I had to tell y’all what I felt the biggest difference between pregnancy with baby 1 and baby 2 is, I would have to say my mentality…and my body but we’ll get to that later. The second pregnancy feels routine and the body definitely reciprocates the sentiment. It has jumped right back into pregnancy mode like no time had passed at all and it definitely progresses much quicker. I started showing earlier, not fitting into my pants earlier, and found myself fully embracing maternity wear vs fighting it. If you’re new here or just don’t remember the last go ’round, I fought the stretchy pants life hard and talked all about it in this post. Maybe it’s the difference in weather, maybe I’m just embracing the mom bod and my 3-day old hair; who knows. All I’m saying is that now that I’m leaning into maternity leggings hard, I’m on the hunt for the best ones and sharing my newfound knowledge with all of you.
I’ve purchased and tried at least 15 pairs of maternity or bump-friendly leggings and found 5 pairs that I cannot live without. I was in need of regular day-to-day leggings and dry-fit pants to wear to the gym so I’ve included both types of maternity leggings in this post.
The Best Maternity & Bump Friendly Leggings
1. Senita Athletics Lux Maternity Pants
My love for these pants runs deeeeeeep. These are some of the best pants I’ve ever put on my pregnant body. They are so soft and luxurious to the touch but they hold their shape, don’t stretch, and really hold you in. I couldn’t believe how well they stayed in place. Honestly, I wore them for a full day and never had to yank or pull them up or re-adjust. They stayed where I put them and felt amazing the whole time. I purchased the navy first then went back and bought the black and the forest green.
Notable Features: pockets, great fit, good color options
Best Worn For: workouts & exercise
Fit: run tts, order pre-pregnancy size
Price: $41.00 / pair
Shop Senita Athletics Maternity
2. Blanqi Belly Support Leggings
I purchased my first pair of Blanqi leggings (my only maternity legging purchase) during my last pregnancy and fell in love with them. Overall, this is one of my top maternity brands on the market. Everything I have purchased from them has been so soft, superior quality & fit and so comfortable on the belly and the leggings are no different. For reference, I have purchased two pregnancy tanks, two nursing tanks, 1 pair of leggings, and 1 blanqi body dress. The Blanqi leggings are on the pricier side of the leggings I love but feel very confident recommending them to y’all because they are 100% worth it and have lasted 2 pregnancies with no signs of breaking down anytime soon.
Notable Features: very high waist fit, comfortable on the belly, x back shaped anchor for support
Best Worn For: lounge & daytime wear
Fit: run tts, order pre-pregnancy size
Price: $64.00 / pair
Shop Blanqi Maternity
3. Isabel Maternity for Target
I wore several Isabel Maternity leggings while I was pregnant with Wally. They served me well and held up well enough to be worn throughout this pregnancy. Target offers a variety of leggings but most of them are suited for exercise or lounge. I did all my workouts in them last pregnancy and loved how they fit and were comfortable on the belly. This time around I find myself lounging or wearing them out with sweaters this time for casual looks.
Notable Features: offered in a variety of “fashion” prints and styles. Styles purchased in the past include a moto legging and a tonal leopard purchased this year.
Best Worn For: daytime wear or exercise.
Fit: runs a bit large IMO. I’m usually a true medium in leggings and wear a small comfortably in Isabella Maternity
Price: $16.99 – $34.99 / pair
Shop Target Maternity Leggings
4. Spanx MAMA Faux Leather Leggings
True to Spanx form, the MAMA leggings keep everything in, smooth out all the lumps, and keep you feeling tight without losing their shape. These are among some of the highest-priced leggings but if you are familiar with the quality and life of Spanx leggings then you know they are worth it! For most maternity things I tend to shop based on price because I’m not planning to wear them for more than a few months and don’t want to spend much over $50-$60 for any one item. In this case, I know that Spanx leggings are gold and there is a possibility we will have one more child in the next few years so I know I’ll potentially wear them for another 6-month stretch. My only complaint about these leggings is that I have found myself pulling at them throughout the day. The over the belly band is generous and comfortable but not great at keeping them in place.
Notable Features: The over belly band comes up so high! I love when it comes up high enough you don’t see the line under a shirt or sweater. Also, like other Spanx products, they keep everything high & tight!
Best Worn For: casual, daytime wear
Fit: these fit tts in my opinion. I have a medium in the regular Spanx, got a medium in the mama Spanx, and feel secure but not gasping for air. Some people like to have a little extra breathing room so you may want to size up.
Price: $110.00 / pair
Shop Spanx Mama
5. Lulu Lemon Align Leggings
After I received the 100th recommendation for these leggings, I knew I had to try them. Once again, the price made me hesitant but I have to say, they are every bit as good as everyone has said they are. Bonus: they fit your body during pregnancy and postpartum. I don’t know how they do it or keep their shape after fitting over the belly for so long, but 3 close friends say they have been wearing theirs consistently for years during and after pregnancy. Since I’ve got a few more months to go, I’ll report back on that part of my experience. Like the Spanx leggings, I’m putting these in the investment column as Lulu Lemon rarely, if ever, goes on sale and $100 is a lot to spend on a pair of leggings. The silver lining: they offer free shipping & free returns so you can enjoy trying them on at home at your leisure.
Notable Features: These leggings are buttery soft, like really soft! They also come with a hidden waistband pocket and a waistband that doesn’t dig into you. The super high rise (that I purchased) comes up to my belly button and doesn’t roll down. I made it through an entire HIIT boot camp without having to pull them up or readjust the waist.
Best Worn For: exercise, activewear, lounge
Fit: I purchased these in a size 10. I really struggled with which number to get but 8-10 is approximately a size medium translated. I’d usually go for the 8 or even a 6 but opted for the 10 to account for the still-growing belly and feel like it was the right choice. I was on the fence at first but after washing them, know that the 10 was right for me and the balance of this pregnancy + postpartum recovery.
Price: $98.00 / pair
NOTE: Lulu Lemon offers a 25% discount to all military and first response workers. All you have to do is schedule a virtual shopping appointment with them and have an ID ready to show.
Shop Lulu Lemon Align
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