For expecting parents who want a versatile wardrobe, maternity jeans are essential. With a couple of pairs of jeans, it’s even possible to keep your wardrobe small and budget-conscious. Paired with pre-maternity pieces, comfy maternity tees, and flowy blouses, jeans work for nearly all casual, everyday circumstances or to complete a maternity capsule wardrobe.
Even though I’ve reached 38 weeks and have officially traded my pregnancy jeans in for maternity leggings and sweatpants, nothing has been more reliable than my maternity jeans over the last several months. I
f fastening your pre-pregnancy jeans with a hair tie is officially no longer an option, here’s what to look for in pregnancy jeans, along with Truly Mama’s recommendations for the best maternity jeans to add to your list.
- What to look for in maternity jeans
- Best Maternity Jeans: MAMA Maternity Skinny Jeans
- Best Skinny Jean: Motherhood Maternity Super Stretch Skinny Jean
- Best Straight Leg Maternity Jeans: Secret Fit Straight Leg Maternity Jeans
- Most Eco-Friendly Maternity Jeans: Warp & Weft Maternity Jeans
- Best Plus-Sized Maternity Skinny Jean: JFK Plus Maternity Skinny Jeans
- Best Maternity Flare Jeans: Articles of Society Secret Fit Belly Flare Maternity Jean
- Best Maternity Overalls: Motherhood Maternity Overall Jeans
- Best Under-Belly Maternity Jeans: Under Belly Skinny Leg Maternity Jeggings
- Best Maternity Jeggings: Indigo Blue Secret Fit Stretch Ankle Maternity Jeggings
What to Look for In Maternity Jeans
If this is your first foray into shopping for maternity jeans, there are few helpful pieces of information to keep in mind. When it comes to fit, you can typically shop for items based on your pre-pregnancy size. If there’s an opportunity to try them on first, take it! You want enough stretch and room in the belly for a lot of growth over the next several months.
Outside of choosing from different styles, like skinny, bootcut, and straight-leg, you’ll also need to pick the panel style that is most comfortable for you:
- Full-panel: Full-panel jeans pull all the way up over your belly and are typically well-loved for the extra bump support they offer.
- Under-the-belly: An under-the-belly panel is just a little panel at the waistband that rests under your bump. If you don’t like extra fabric on your bump or tend to get hot with extra layers, you might prefer this option.
- Mid-panel: And for a fit somewhere right in the middle, you can get a mid-size panel, although I don’t recommend this for the last trimester, as it can definitely be uncomfortable.
Best Maternity Jeans
MAMA Maternity Skinny Jeans
If you’re only searching for one pair, put the MAMA Skinny Jeans at the tippy top of your wish list. These full-panel, maternity jeans are available in multiple washes, including black, dark blue, and light denim blue. We love that they straddle the line between jegging and jeans, with a little stretch for comfort but enough structure to dress up or down. What makes them the best? They get consistently good reviews from purchasers. At just under $50 a pair, they fit well within most maternity clothing budgets.
Best Skinny Maternity Jean
Motherhood Maternity Super Stretch Skinny Jean
A good skinny is a great addition to any wardrobe, pregnant or otherwise. They pair well with T-shirts and tennis shoes and even better with a flowy top, flats, or boots. The Motherhood Maternity Super Stretch Skinny Jean is a full-panel, maternity skinny jean with a good fit and a budget-friendly price point. We love that this pair of jeans has a ton of stretch, which means they’ll fit well as your body changes over the next several months. Buyers have left 931 reviews and gave this wardrobe staple a 4.3-star rating.
Best Straight Leg Maternity Jeans
Secret Fit Straight Leg Maternity Jeans
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Motherhood Maternity is making three appearances on our best-of list. The truth is this brand does maternity clothing well and they do it with tight budgets in mind. If skinny jeans aren’t for you, or you’re simply looking for another style of jeans for everyday wear, we love the casual comfort of these straight-leg jeans. The Motherhood Maternity Women’s Stretch Straight Leg Jean has 335 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. “Ok, I honestly was not expecting much when I ordered these...but wow. These are by far the best maternity jeans I’ve ever owned,” says reviewer Melissa, who reports she was wearing these jeans during her 5th pregnancy. “I’m 5’4 and usually wear a size 8. The medium is a perfect fit!”
Most Eco-Friendly Maternity Jeans
Warp & Weft Maternity Jeans
For those who prioritize shopping in an environmentally-friendly way, clothes shopping only gets more challenging when you’re expecting. Finding sustainably made maternity jeans isn’t easy, but we love what we found from Warp&Weft. This company works with textile mills that manufacture with the wellbeing of the planet in mind. They’re also size-inclusive, carrying up to a 3XL in the maternity clothing. Not sure where to start on their website? We think the JFK Maternity Skinny would make a great addition to a sustainable, maternity wardrobe. The OAK PLUS Maternity is a super cute option for shoppers looking for a plus-sized option, too.
Best Plus-Sized Maternity Skinny Jeans
JFK Plus Maternity Skinny Jeans
If you're looking for a skinny leg jean that's also plus-sized, this JFK jean that has stretch fabric to accommodate bodies that move and elastic side-panels that will grow with your bump. Plus, it features the eco-friendly production that's a hallmark of the Warp + Weft brand.
Best Maternity Flare Jeans
Articles of Society Secret Fit Belly Flare Maternity Jean
Flare jeans are back and for moms who want to stay trendy, there's no reason that pregnancy should stop you from rocking a pair of flares. This version from a Pea in a Pod features seamless stretch maternity panel that grows with you throughout your pregnancy. The belly panel is made from a combination of nylon and spandex, while the actual jeans are made from cotton and Spandex. And with a wide range of sizes, these flares can be rocked by all types of bodies.
Best Maternity Overalls
Motherhood Maternity Overall Jeans
It may get mixed reactions, but the overall trend is one we love, especially on a baby bump. And we’re not alone: The Motherhood Maternity Skinny Overalls have a 4.5-star rating with 642 reviews on Amazon. Some reviewers noted that these overalls solved the problem of ill-fitting jeans that fall down or get caught under your bump--and honestly, they do look pretty darn comfy. They're made of a blend of cotton and Spandex to make them comfortable, breathable, and stretchable and feature a 27.5" inseam.
Best Under-Belly Maternity Jeans
Under Belly Skinny Leg Maternity Jeggings
For expecting parents who prefer a stretchy panel that rests right under the bump, these jeanss can’t be beat. These jeggings have the durability and wearability you expect from Motherhood Maternity, with the comfort you need while your body is rapidly changing to accommodate your growing baby. According to the product description, these jeans can work all the way from that awkward first trimester stage to the D-day. They have plenty of stretch but hold their shape well, so you can trust you won’t be pulling at saggy pants at the end of the day.
Best Maternity Jeggings
Indigo Blue Secret Fit Stretch Ankle Maternity Jeggings
Leggings are the real superhero of the maternity wardrobe--and this pair offers more of a dressed-up look than leggings but with the stretchy comfort that is much needed, especially during late pregnancy. These under-the-belly jeggings are available in three different washes. With mock front pockets and functional back pockets, they really look like a really, really comfortable pair of jeans. Thanks to a combination of cotton, rayon, modal, polyester, and spandex, these jeggings are considered "super stretch." Have any words been more beautiful during pregnancy?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best maternity jeans?
Motherhood Maternity gets our pick, with a variety of styles and options for everybody.
It is bad to wear maternity jeans while pregnant?
There is no evidence that maternity jeans are dangerous in any way to you or your baby. However, if you don’t like the idea of a constricting waistband, you may be more comfy in a pair of pregnancy leggings instead.
You Might Also Like
The Best Maternity Bathing Suits
The Best Maternity Leggings
The Best Nursing Bras
