The Best Maternity Workout Clothes, According to New and Expecting Moms

In any discussion about the best maternity leggings, the Lululemon Aligns always come up — and for good reason. I’ve had mine for years, but I became especially dependent on them during my pregnancy. Though these aren’t maternity leggings, they can be worn during pregnancy, thanks to the brand’s Lycra elastane material that makes them impressively stretchy. What’s more, the high-waisted band provides plenty of comfortable support for your belly, which is especially great for low-intensity workouts and walks. It’s just the right amount of compression: tight enough to hold your belly up, but light enough to not be painful or constricting.

"[The Aligns are] literally all I've been wearing," Gullickson says, who sized up in the Aligns for her pregnancy. "I think the worst feeling is having something dig into your hips or continue to fall down, so I really do feel like the Align fabric fits to your body and definitely makes you continue to feel confident while your bump is growing."

The only real con about these buttery-soft leggings? The price tag. But many moms, myself included, maintain that the cost is worth it because you can wear them postpartum and beyond. My Aligns grew with me through my pregnancy, but keep in mind that some moms-to-be, like Gullickson, choose to size up for even more stretch. 

I gave birth to my son in November, and my bump really started taking shape around mid-July. During the summer and early fall months, I lived in the Spacedye Pockets Forever Maternity Biker Short, which are pregnancy shorts from Beyond Yoga’s expansive maternity line. There’s a surprising amount of stretch from the polyester-elastane blended fabric; these shorts hugged and supported my bump without feeling too restrictive or tight. (I can also attest that the Spacedye material holds even after constant wear and washing; I found that these shorts never stretched out when machine-washed and dried.) 

As the name of these shorts helpfully states, the discreet yet generous pockets on the sides are perfect for holding your phone or keys on a walk. The Beyond the Bump line was made to match your pre-pregnancy size, which takes the guesswork out of determining the best option for you. You can also wear the band over the bump or fold it down for under-the-belly support. 

And, to make the value of these splurge-worthy shorts better, I’ve continued to wear these shorts postpartum for a little extra belly support.

Kindred Bravely is known for making the best nursing and maternity bras that What to Expect moms say are supportive and comfortable. But the Sublime Nursing Sports Bra is a particularly good investment because you'll get plenty of wear out of it during low-impact workouts like walking or prenatal yoga. The racerback style offers gentle support, while the fabric is moisture-wicking, perfect for keeping you dry when you work up a bit of a sweat. Once baby arrives, you can use it as a nursing bra; the clip-down design allows you to easily access your breast for feedings or pumping sessions. 

Many reviewers say the bra is comfy and supportive enough for these gentle low-impact workouts, but would probably wear a more heavy-duty bra for running or jumping to better support their breasts. Also, it should be noted that many moms say the bra runs small, so it’s best to size up. Hand washing with gentle soap is also advised.  

If high-intensity workouts are part of your normal routine, you’ll be glad to hear that you don’t have to quit them while pregnant — you’ll just have to make a few modifications. For these types of workouts, you’ll want a bra that holds your breasts in while avoiding any spillage. And with your bust size changing during this time, that task can be a little more challenging than normal for a sports bra. 

Moms in the What to Expect community who participated in high-impact exercises while pregnant praise the SHEFIT Ultimate Sports Bra for providing tons of comfortable support. The bra has a unique zippered design in the front, plus an adjustable rib band and shoulder straps, so it’s easy to customize the fit as your body changes. If you need to tighten or loosen the band or straps, the sturdy Velcro closures are easy to maneuver. Many moms say they used it postpartum, too, because of the zipper, which was convenient for breastfeeding.

Although the bra is available in a wide range of sizes — XS to 6X — some moms say that it can be hard to find the right fit because it doesn’t come in different cup and band sizes. And, because it isn’t designed specifically for maternity wear, you may need to size up.

Old Navy is a go-to for affordable workout clothes whether you’re pregnant or not, and this simple comfy tank is no exception. The Old Navy Maternity UltraLite Rib-Knit Racerback Tank Top is lightweight and made with the brand’s special moisture-wicking fabric that will keep you dry no matter how much you sweat. The racerback style provides a little support for your breasts, while the shirred sides offer a roomier fit that will grow with your bump. The fabric has a bit of spandex which makes it stretchy, and it's long enough to fit over your bump without needing to constantly pull it down mid-exercise (although some taller moms found that it wasn’t as long as they’d hoped). Several moms also note that it was a great workout top in the summer as it helped them stay cool. What’s even better is that you can wear it as an everyday tank top, too.

Most long-sleeve workout shirts aren’t designed to cover your growing belly. That said, the Lululemon Swiftly Tech long sleeve shirt is long enough to cover your bump, all while keeping you cool and dry due to the breathable, sweat-wicking material. The nylon and elastane blend fabric is stretchy, so it should grow with you, too. You may want to size up on this one, however, as it has a slim-fit design. There’s also a chic long-sleeved cropped version if covering your belly isn’t a concern.

Whether you’re going for a run or just running out the door, the light compression and four-way stretch from this Maternity PowerSoft Full-Zip Performance Jacket gives you gentle support along with lots of room for your bump to grow. The gentle compression of this jacket is especially great for running because it will hold in your bump and breasts when zipped without feeling overly constricting. Plus, the polyester and spandex blend offers four-way stretch, while the curved hem actually offers more fabric to cover your belly. It also has a partial mesh lining for extra breathability and zip-up pockets to hold your phone or other on-the-go essentials. 

Some moms say this jacket runs small, so it might be best to size up. Old Navy also recommends washing this jacket on a cold, gentle cycle and hanging it to dry.

If you’re hitting the gym or need a comfy everyday pregnancy shoe, What to Expect moms are obsessed with the Hoka Cliftons. They might look heavy-duty at first, but reviewers say they’re shockingly lightweight; one mom-to-be even shared that these sneakers grew with her feet during her pregnancy. Cliftons are at the top of moms’ recommendations list because of the incredible arch support, which is crucial during pregnancy when your feet may swell or flatten. Another mom shared that she finds these sneakers supportive enough to wear walking, running and hiking. Hokas generally have a lower heel-to-toe drop compared to other shoes, which tends to put less pressure on the hips and knees — a big plus for expecting moms with extra pressure on those joints.

Some loyal Cliftons customers did share that the latest version, the Clifton 9, is less comfortable than previous models.

It’s no secret that your feet can go through some changes during pregnancy, too, with many moms experiencing edema, which is swelling of the ankles and feet. Studies have also shown that pregnancy can lead to lasting changes in foot length, width and volume. Runners and joggers in the What to Expect community, however, are constantly raving about Brooks sneakers. The heel-to-toe drop on the Ghosts is higher, which is associated with less pressure on the foot and ankle, making it a reasonable pick for moms-to-be who want to go for a heart-pumping run or jog. The Ghosts are one of the most popular styles for pregnant runners, due to their plush cushioning and the option to get them in different widths. They also come in 40 different colors, but some styles are not available for all sizes.