Clothes
How to choose maternity leggings
Over-bump panel or under-bump waistband? How to choose the size, fabric and thickness, what makes good winter maternity leggings, and how long you will wear them.
In-depth guide 4 min read
Maternity clothes – the complete guide
You wear maternity clothes for a few months, but every day. You don’t need many; you need to choose them well. This guide takes you through what is worth having, when to buy it, and how to spot the pieces that will still work after the birth, for breastfeeding.
The essentials first
- Don’t buy everything at once. Your body changes gradually, and differently for every woman. What fits at 16 weeks may not fit at 36.
- Look for pieces that grow with you: soft waistbands, ruching at the sides, a longer front panel, stretchy fabrics.
- Think ahead to breastfeeding. A top that opens will be useful for months after the birth.
- Choose the size from the maker’s chart. Many maternity brands work with your normal size, but not all.
- Comfort comes before “bump-friendly design”. Nothing should dig in under your bump or on your breasts.3
What comes when
Trimesters are counted from the first day of your last period. The first runs to week 12, the second from week 13 to 27 and the third from week 28 to the birth.2 For your wardrobe this is a useful map, even though every body goes at its own pace.
| Period | What usually changes | What is worth sorting out |
|---|---|---|
| 1st trimester (to week 12) | tender, bigger breasts, bloating; in a first pregnancy the bump often doesn’t show yet1 | a soft bra without pressure, looser everyday pieces, trousers with a stretchy waistband |
| 2nd trimester (weeks 13–27) | the bump starts to show, your waist and hips change | your first maternity leggings or trousers, longer tops, one dress |
| 3rd trimester (from week 28) | the bump grows fastest, your legs may swell | layers that unzip, a coat or an insert, a nightdress for the maternity hospital |
| The postnatal weeks (šestonedelie) and breastfeeding | your tummy shrinks gradually, your breasts change in size through the day | nursing tops, soft trousers, nursing bras |
We write more about timing in the article When to start wearing maternity clothes.
A small wardrobe that covers most days
This is a sensible base for everyday life. Adjust it to whether you work in an office, at home or outdoors, and to the season.
Everything else is extra. If you love dresses, flip the ratio. If you live in trousers, get two pairs and skip the skirt.
Sizes: how not to get lost
Maternity clothes are most often sold in the same sizes as ordinary clothes (XS to XL, or numbers), with the room for the bump already in the cut. In practice this means:
- Choose by your bust and hip measurements from the maker’s chart, not by “how much weight you have put on”. The European size designation system is based on body measurements in centimetres.4
- For trousers and leggings, hip measurement and leg length decide; the waistband of maternity styles is adjustable or stretchy.
- For tops, watch the length at the front. A top that is long enough at 20 weeks may be short at 35.
- If you are between two sizes, the smaller one usually pays off in stretchy fabrics, the larger one in firm ones (denim, coats).
Fabrics
| Fabric | Where it works well | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton with elastane | tops, leggings, trousers | holds its shape and breathes; the more elastane, the better it springs back |
| Viscose, modal | dresses, soft tops, nightdresses | drapes nicely and feels cool; some types stretch out in the wash |
| Merino wool | base layers for winter | warm even when damp, smells less; fine grades don’t itch |
| Polyester, polyamide | leggings, sportswear, coat fillings | dries quickly and is hard-wearing, but breathes less in the heat |
| Softshell | coats and inserts for spring and autumn | keeps the wind out; in frost you need another layer |
| Fleece, brushed backs | lined leggings, hoodies | even a thin layer is warm; you may overheat when active in the warm |
What to look for in the cut
- Waistband: soft and wide, one that doesn’t dig in. We explain the types of waistband in the article on maternity leggings.
- Ruching at the sides of tops and dresses, so the fabric has room to grow.
- A longer front panel, so the top doesn’t ride up over the bump.
- Breastfeeding access on tops, if you want to wear them after the birth as well. You will find an overview of the designs in the guide Clothes for breastfeeding.
- A zip or buttons at the front on warm layers. In the third trimester, pulling a thick jumper over your head gets tiresome.
What often isn’t worth it
- Lots of items for one stage. Clothes for the third trimester only get a few weeks of wear.
- Tight shapewear and under-bump belts that dig in. If your doctor recommends a support belt, follow their advice.
- Bras that dig in. A tight bra or clothing can contribute to a blocked milk duct when breastfeeding; the NHS recommends a bra that doesn’t squash the breasts.3
- Buying “for the next size up” a long way ahead. Breasts and bump both change unpredictably.
How long you will use it
| Item | During pregnancy | After the birth |
|---|---|---|
| Leggings with an over-bump panel | from the 2nd trimester until the birth | the first weeks, while your tummy shrinks |
| Trousers with an under-bump waistband | from the 2nd trimester | often in the postnatal weeks too |
| Nursing tops | the whole pregnancy | the whole time you breastfeed |
| A dress that opens | the whole pregnancy | breastfeeding, as long as it fits across the bust |
| Babywearing coat or insert | a winter in pregnancy | carrying your baby in a wrap or carrier |
| A button-front nightdress | late pregnancy, the maternity hospital | night feeds |
The pieces that last longest are the ones that combine pregnancy, breastfeeding and babywearing. That is why Karkulka has separate sections on clothes for breastfeeding and babywearing clothes.
Second-hand, borrowed, altered
Maternity clothes are worn for only a short time, so second-hand ones are often in good condition. Check the stretch of the waistband (whether it springs back after being pulled), the seams around the panel and any bobbling on the inner thighs. When it comes to bras and knickers, most women prefer new.
Ordinary clothes can be stretched for a while: a hair tie through the buttonhole of your jeans, a longer vest under a shirt, your partner’s hoodie. For the third trimester, though, this is usually not enough.
Washing and care
- Wash items with elastane at lower temperatures and don’t tumble-dry them unless the label allows it; heat makes elastane lose its stretch.
- Wash viscose and modal gently and dry them in shape.
- If you plan to wear pieces after the birth too, remember they will be washed more often (milk, sick). Choose fabrics that can take it.
More in this section
- How to choose maternity leggings, including winter ones
- Winter maternity clothes
- Maternity dresses, trousers and tops
- Nursing bras
Frequently asked questions
What size of maternity clothes should I buy?
Maternity cuts are usually designed so that you choose your normal pre-pregnancy size, with room for the bump already built into the cut. This is not a rule for every brand, though, so always check the particular maker’s size chart and the measurements in centimetres.
How many maternity clothes do I really need?
It depends on what you wear for work and how often you do the washing. Many women manage with a small wardrobe of around two bottoms, three to five tops, one warm layer and a suitable bra. The rest can be made up with ordinary clothes in a looser cut.
Can I wear maternity clothes after the birth?
Yes, especially pieces that open for breastfeeding and trousers with a soft waistband. In the first weeks after the birth your tummy shrinks gradually, so maternity trousers and dresses are often comfortable in the postnatal weeks too.
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- NHS (United Kingdom):4 weeks pregnant – early pregnancy symptomsTender breasts are among the common symptoms of the first trimester; in a first pregnancy the bump often doesn’t show even by week 12.
- NHS (United Kingdom):Week-by-week guide to pregnancyThe trimesters by week.
- NHS (United Kingdom):Breast pain and breastfeedingA well-fitting nursing bra that doesn’t squash the breasts; avoid tight clothing.
- CEN (via iTeh Standards):EN 13402-3:2017 Size designation of clothes – Part 3The European system of size designation based on body measurements.
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Clothes
When to start wearing maternity clothes
There is no right week. How to tell it is time, what your everyday wardrobe can still cope with, and in what order to buy maternity pieces.
2 min read
Clothes
Clothes for breastfeeding – what is really worth it
How nursing tops, hoodies, dresses and nightdresses work, which designs open with one hand, which fabrics to choose and how many items are enough.
In-depth guide 4 min read