The Best Maternity Leggings (From a Mom Who Wore Them Through 4 Pregnancies)
A maternity wardrobe staple if there ever was one. Today we’re talking all about the best maternity leggings as someone who has been pregnant for 36 months in the last 10 years (four pregnancies).
By about week 8 of my fourth pregnancy, most of my regular leggings were already too tight. I show sooner with every baby, I gain 40 to 50 pounds each time, and I spent a big chunk of all four pregnancies chasing toddlers, working out, and running errands. Which means maternity leggings were the thing I wore more than anything else in my closet.
I have tried a lot of pairs over the years. Some I bought in multiples and some I returned after one wear. Below are the best maternity leggings I actually wore across my four pregnancies, what each pair is best for, how they fit (I am 5’4″ and an XS before pregnancy), and the ones I would skip. I also added one pick from my sister, who just had her first baby this month!
Best Maternity Leggings at a Glance
| Pick | Best for | Why I like it |
|---|---|---|
| Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Active Leggings | Best overall, everyday wear | Four pairs over three pregnancies, and the best panel I’ve worn |
| Senita Lux Mamacita Maternity Capris | Workouts | Stay put through squats and intervals, side pockets |
| Belly Bandit Bump Support Leggings | Belly and back support | Support built right in; I still have my pair |
| Beyond Yoga Love the Bump Midi | A splurge pair | The fabric is amazing |
| CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Maternity Leggings | Budget workouts and going home from the hospital | Real compression, squat-proof, around $30 |
| Fabletics PureLuxe Maternity 7/8 Leggings | Softness for the price | Buttery soft and not see-through |
| Kindred Bravely Maternity Leggings | Lounging and your hospital bag | The pair I change into the second I get home |
| Lululemon Align Super-High-Rise Pant | A non-maternity pair that works | Fits over a bump in the super-high rise |
| Quince Ultra-Form Maternity Bootcut Pants | My sister’s pick | A flared legging that feels like real pants |
How I Picked These Maternity Leggings
Every pair below is one I wore myself, most of them for months, except the Quince pair, which my sister tested. A few things decided whether a pair stayed in my rotation:
- The panel. Over-the-bump panels give you the most coverage. A crossover panel dips lower in the back and is the perfect middle ground between “tight enough to hold up the pants” and “suffocating.” Fold-over waistbands are the most flexible but give the least support.
- Compression. Workout leggings need it. Lounge leggings don’t. A lot of the pairs I loved for one job were wrong for the other.
- Not see-through. I learned this one the hard way when a Shein pair turned out to be sheer at a barre class. Every workout pair below passed the squat test.
- Gaping at the bottom of the bump. Cheaper pairs tend to gap between your thighs and your bump. The best pairs stay contoured all the way down.
- Length. At 5’4″, crop and 7/8 lengths hit me right at the ankle. If you’re tall, look for full length.
Best Maternity Leggings Overall and for Everyday
Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Active Maternity Leggings
Best for: everyday wear, workouts, and chasing kids
These were my favorite over-the-bump leggings through my earlier pregnancies. I’ve owned four pairs over three pregnancies. They’re great for working out, but I also wore them around the house and running after my kids, and they aren’t see-through at all. The crop length works well at 5’4″, and they also come in full length.
The crossover panel on my pairs was the best I’ve worn. It was thick enough to hold everything up without squeezing. Ingrid & Isabel’s line is now sold at Target as Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Maternity, and the Everyday Active Leggings are the closest match to the pairs I lived in.
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Love the Bump Midi Maternity Legging
Best for: a splurge pair you’ll live in
I wore Beyond Yoga in an earlier pregnancy, and my sister swears by them too. The fabric is amazing. It’s soft and stretchy in a way that makes every other pair feel a little stiff, and the over-the-bump waistband grows with you. These show up on almost every “best maternity leggings” list for a reason.
They’re a splurge at $108 full price, but colors go on sale often, and a few were around $50 when I checked. There’s also a version with side pockets.
Best Maternity Workout Leggings
If you’re still trying to take your workouts seriously while pregnant, these are the pairs I reached for in my fourth pregnancy. All three passed the squat test, and all three stayed up without constant tugging.
Senita Lux Mamacita Maternity Capris
Best for: workouts, from HIIT to yoga
These are my favorite maternity leggings for working out. They’re two steps above anything else I’ve tried over four pregnancies. I’ve worn a million different maternity leggings to work out in, and these are the best. I kept doing a few higher-intensity workouts a week into my third trimester and reached for these every single time.
The compression material gives you some bump support, they stay in place through squats and interval training, they aren’t see-through, and they do a good job of hiding sweat. They fit just as well at 30 weeks as they did at 20. The capris have a 21″ inseam and side pockets. More in my Senita maternity review.
CRZ Yoga Butterluxe Maternity Leggings
Best for: a budget workout pair and the ride home from the hospital
CRZ Yoga was already one of my favorite workout brands, and their maternity line lived up to it. These are a true compression workout legging. They’re squat-proof, they stay put, and I wore them from about 15 weeks on in my fourth pregnancy. I ordered my usual size.
They’re also what I wore home from the hospital. I like a legging for the ride home because it holds everything in place.
Fabletics PureLuxe High-Waisted Maternity 7/8 Leggings
Best for: softness on a budget
These were the softest, most comfortable maternity leggings I wore in my fourth pregnancy. They’re not see-through, they’re squat-proof, and they ran true to size (I ordered my regular pregnancy size).
The one catch is the fit at the bottom of the bump. There’s a little gaping where your bump starts, and reviews say a lot of women have the same issue. It wasn’t noticeable to anyone else, and it didn’t affect the comfort. I paid $12.50 a pair with their intro offer, and they were still under $20 for new members when I checked. Here’s my full Fabletics maternity review.
Best Maternity Leggings With Belly Support
If your back hurts or your bump feels heavy, look for a pair with support built into the panel. For anything beyond mild discomfort, ask your OB or a physical therapist.
Belly Bandit Bump Support Leggings
Best for: belly and back support
I wore these in my first pregnancy, and I still have them (and love them). Belly Bandit is known for its belly bands, and these leggings have the support built right in. You can pull the waistband over your bump for a little lift or roll it under, depending on what feels best that day.
If your bump feels heavy or your back aches in the third trimester, these are the ones I’d grab first.
Blanqi Maternity Leggings (On Clearance While They Last)
Best for: snagging a deal while they last
Blanqi leggings got me through my fourth pregnancy. The fit was REALLY good, with no gaping between the thighs and the bump, and they looked more like real pants than workout leggings. Blanqi has since gone out of business, but their leggings are still stocked on Amazon and on HUGE clearance right now. They were around $12 a pair when I checked, which is insane for leggings this good. Snag a pair (or two) while they last, and size up one from your usual maternity size because they run small. More in my Blanqi maternity leggings review.
Softest Maternity Leggings for Lounging
Kindred Bravely Maternity Leggings
Best for: lounging, sleeping, and your hospital bag
These are incredibly comfortable leggings. They are not the “suck you in” leggings you put on to go to dinner with your girlfriends. They’re the “change into these the second I get home” and “run errands in” leggings.
There is very little compression, which is great for some things and not great for others. I didn’t work out in them, but they were a fantastic lounge and sleep legging, and I packed and wore them in the hospital. My full Kindred Bravely review covers the rest of their bamboo line.
Best Non-Maternity Leggings for Pregnancy
Yes, you can wear regular leggings while pregnant, at least for a while. I wore my favorite high-waisted Lululemon leggings for the first part of my first trimester until my bump got too big for them. The trick is finding a pair with enough rise and stretch to go over the bump.
Lululemon Align Super-High-Rise Pant 28″
Best for: a regular pair you’ll keep wearing after
These are not maternity leggings, but if you buy the super-high rise, they work with almost any size bump. That’s a big deal coming from a girl who gains 50 pounds and looks like she’s carrying a bowling ball. I tried on the Align leggings at 32 weeks in my fourth pregnancy, with about 30 pounds of weight gain, and they were still so comfortable.
The fabric is buttery soft with lots of stretch and not a ton of compression, so they’re better for lounging, yoga, and errands than hard workouts.
My Sister’s Pick: Quince Maternity
Quince didn’t make maternity leggings during my last pregnancy, but my sister tested their entire maternity line in hers. You can read her full Quince maternity review for every piece she wore.
Quince Ultra-Form Maternity Bootcut Pants
Best for: a flared legging that feels like real pants
My sister called these a very solid maternity legging option. They’re comfortable, stretchy, and buttery soft, and the bootcut flare at the ankle makes them feel more like real pants on days you can’t bring yourself to wear anything but leggings. They aren’t a performance legging, so they won’t suck you in, but they’re still flattering.
Her one note: she was pregnant in the summer, so she didn’t get as much wear out of them as she expected. They’re a better fall and winter pick.
What to Wear Home From the Hospital
A legging. I like a pair for the ride home because it holds everything in place, and you don’t have to think about a button or a zipper. I wore my CRZ Yoga leggings home with a soft top, and the Kindred Bravely pair is the one I packed in my hospital bag for lounging.
Fleece-Lined and Winter Maternity Leggings
It’s been eight years since my winter pregnancy, and what I remember most is a very good long coat. Maternity leggings under sweaters and dresses kept me comfortable, and if you run cold or live somewhere with a real winter, fleece-lined leggings or tights are an easy way to add warmth. Just solve the coat first. My winter maternity clothes guide has the rest of the warm pieces I wore on repeat.
When Should You Start Wearing Maternity Leggings?
Whenever your regular leggings stop being comfortable. In my first pregnancy, my high-waisted Lululemons worked for most of the first trimester. By my fourth, I showed much sooner, and by week 8 most of my regular leggings were too tight on my permanently nauseous stomach. Over-the-bump workout leggings worked better for me once I had a real bump, usually in the second trimester.
How to Wear Maternity Leggings (Outfits I Wore on Repeat)
- A bump-skimming tee, an open cardigan, and slip-on sneakers. This was my everyday, school-pickup look.
- A cropped sweater. It dresses leggings up, and because over-the-bump leggings cover the panel, you can wear tops that aren’t long enough for maternity jeans.
- A boxy, slightly cropped button-down with a blazer or trench for a more professional look.
- A sweater dress or tunic over leggings with boots and a long coat in the winter.
- When it’s too hot for leggings, switch to maternity bike shorts and use all the same outfit formulas.
And for shoes that work with all of it, here are the best shoes for pregnancy I wore through four of them.
Maternity Leggings I’d Skip
- Shein maternity leggings. The pair I wore to a barre class turned out to be see-through, and after a bad experience with their maternity bike shorts too, I’d spend a little more and get a higher-quality pair. A great pair of black leggings is a workhorse you’ll wear three or four days a week. I don’t hate all maternity pieces from Shein, just their leggings.
- Cheap pairs that gape. If there’s a gap between your thighs and your bump in the mirror, it won’t get better as the bump grows.
- Leggings in the heat. In a summer pregnancy, they can be too hot. Go with something loose and flowy.
Other Maternity Leggings Moms Recommend
When I asked 100 moms about the pregnancy purchases worth splurging on, a good pair of maternity leggings made the list, and they recommended Zella, Storq, and Spanx alongside Ingrid & Isabel. You can see the rest of their picks in my pregnancy splurges post. For budget pairs, moms swear by Old Navy, and some of my own favorite maternity leggings were ones I grabbed at Target. My guide to where to buy cheap maternity clothes has more.
How Many Pairs of Maternity Leggings Do You Need?
This depends on how much you wear leggings. With wide leg, loose pants being so on trend and easy to buy right now, leggings everyday might not be your thing so take all of this with a grain of salt.
Two or three. Spend up on one great black pair you’ll wear for everything, then add a workout pair and a soft lounge pair. Go cheaper on tees and basics, and spend your money on the leggings you’ll wear three or four days a week.
The Best Maternity Leggings, by Situation
- One pair for everything: Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Active Leggings
- Working out: Senita Lux Mamacita Maternity Capris, or CRZ Yoga on a budget
- Extra support: Belly Bandit Bump Support Leggings
- A splurge: Beyond Yoga Love the Bump
- Lounging and your hospital bag: Kindred Bravely
- Going home from the hospital: CRZ Yoga Butterluxe
- A pair you’ll keep wearing after: Lululemon Align Super-High-Rise
- A steal: the last Blanqi leggings on Amazon clearance (around $12 a pair) while they last
Maternity Leggings FAQ
Whenever your regular leggings stop being comfortable. In my first pregnancy, high-waisted Lululemons worked for most of the first trimester. By my fourth, most of my regular leggings were too tight by week 8. Over-the-bump leggings fit best once you have a real bump, usually in the second trimester.
Yes, especially early on. A super-high-rise pair with lots of stretch can last much longer. I tried on Lululemon Align leggings at 32 weeks in my fourth pregnancy, about 30 pounds up, and they were still comfortable. Skip any pair with a waistband that digs in.
It depends on the brand. Blanqi ran small, so size up if you grab one of their last pairs. Senita, Fabletics and CRZ Yoga ran true to size for me. I’m an XS before pregnancy and wear a small in maternity clothes until the last month or two.
My favorite is the Senita Lux Mamacita Maternity Capris, and CRZ Yoga is the best budget pair I’ve worn. Look for compression fabric, an over-the-bump panel that stays put, and a pair that passes the squat test so it isn’t see-through.
Yes, for at least one good pair. A great pair of black maternity leggings is a workhorse you’ll wear three or four days a week. Spend up on that pair and go cheaper on tees and basics.
Pick a pair with support built in. The Belly Bandit Bump Support Leggings let you wear the waistband over or under your bump, and a crossover panel like Ingrid & Isabel’s gives gentle support without squeezing.
A comfortable pair of leggings and a soft top. I like a legging for the ride home because it holds everything in place. I wore my CRZ Yoga maternity leggings home and packed a softer Kindred Bravely pair for lounging in the hospital.
My winter pregnancy was eight years ago, and what I remember most is a very good long coat. Maternity leggings under sweaters and dresses work well, and if you run cold, fleece-lined leggings or tights add warmth.
