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15 best maternity gym leggings for mums-to-be on the move
From Nike to Mamalicious, we've rounded up the best maternity gym leggings to keep you fit throughout your pregnancy
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With brain-melting fatigue and morning-noon-and-night sickness to contend with, the first trimester of pregnancy can be a bit tricky when it comes to exercise. That said, the human body is pretty resilient and once the hormones start to settle, by the second trimester you might find you're bursting with energy and raring to go!
But even if you're not operating at full speed, it is still beneficial to keep active throughout your pregnancy, which is where maternity gym leggings can help.
Best maternity gym leggings to shop now
In a hurry? Here are the quick links to the best maternity gym leggings. Keep scrolling for the full list...
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BEST MOISTURE-WICKING MATERNITY GYM LEGGINGS
Hatch HATCH Premium Quality Maternity & Postpartum Leggings
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While some mums-to-be will be running marathons right up until their waters break, others might prefer to do gentle yoga classes or walk to the cake shop, and that's fine. As long as you do what feels right for you and listen to your body, there's no right way to exercise during pregnancy.
But one thing most expectant mamas will have in common is a growing belly! And no matter how stretchy your current fitness kit might be, sooner or later you're going to start busting out of it. So what is the right thing to wear throughout the trimesters?
We've rounded up the best maternity gym leggings on the market so your growing bump will feel comfortable while you focus on your prenatal fitness routine/scoffing cake.
Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?
First things first, provided you've been given the all-clear your from your GP or midwife, it is absolutely fine to exercise during pregnancy.
'If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue regular physical activity,' says Sarah Campus, a personal trainer and nutrition coach specialising in pre and postnatal fitness. 'Physical activity does not increase your risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or early delivery.'
'If you were exercising before pregnancy it is safe to continue,' she adds. 'However, it's not advised to start anything new so opt for low-impact workouts such as swimming, cardio and yoga. You should also avoid high-impact activities like boxing, horse riding, skiing and abdominal crunching for now.'
Exercise during pregnancy benefits
According to Campus, taking regular exercise during pregnancy is good for both you and the baby, and comes with the following benefits:
- Help with both labour and recovery
- Reduces backache
- Boosts your mood and energy levels
- Helps you sleep better
- Promotes muscle strength and tone
- Prevents excess weight gain
Shopping for maternity gym leggings
If you've already stocked up on a comfortable maternity sports bra and bump-friendly knickers, stretchy leggings will no doubt be next on your shopping list. It goes without saying that comfort is key when it comes to antenatal activewear.
'Maternity leggings that are just the right fit around the belly and snug around the legs are an excellent investment for pregnancy,' says Campus. 'As long as your leggings are not too tight around your bump, they make the perfect comfort pants for daily wear. The compression element can also help combat varicose veins, which is a common side-effect of pregnancy.'
But with so many maternity gym leggings to choose from, how do you know which ones to buy? 'Look for high, bump-hugging waists and enough supportive stretch to stay up without the need to pull-up your waistband constantly – which is so annoying,' advises Campus. 'You want support without being too tight or restricting. Breathability and good quality, opaque fabrics that wash well are also essential as they will be on rotation. You want plenty of space for your bump to grow throughout the different stages of your pregnancy.'
15 best maternity gym leggings to shop now
Keep scrolling for our edit of the best maternity leggings for pregnant mums-to-be, available to buy in 2023.
Nike Maternity Women's High-Waisted Leggings
Nike Maternity Women's High-Waisted Leggings
These lightweight, breathable leggings from Nike's maternity range come with extra stretch to grow with your changing body, so you can keep on wearing them throughout the trimesters.
The over-the-bump-waistband felt so supportive, our panel of mum testers gave them the thumbs up for the postnatal return to fitness too. And when the summer arrives, we're big fans of these maternity shorts from the same range too.
Fabric: Made using recycled plastic bottles!
Type: Wide, fold over waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-XXL
Black Bump & Back Support Maternity Leggings
Black Bump & Back Support Maternity Leggings
We love these high-performance gym leggings from British maternity-brand Seraphine.
Made from super soft and breathable fabric, they're ideal for high-impact exercise but work just as well for loafing about.
They can be worn over or under your bump depending on your preference and the fabric is totally opaque so there's no seeing through.
Fabric: 62% polyamide, 38% elastane
Type: Under or over bump fit
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-XL
Hatch HATCH Premium Quality Maternity & Postpartum Leggings
Hatch HATCH Premium Quality Maternity & Postpartum Leggings
These bamboo leggings are Oeko-Tex Certified, able to pull the moisture from the skin to keep you cool. Made with moisture-wicking fabric and a high-rise stretch jersey band to accommodate your growing bump, they tick all the boxes for your pre and postnatal fitness journey.
Fabric: 80% Bamboo, 20% Elastane
Type: Over the bump stretch jersey waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes S-L
MP Women's Maternity Leggings
MP Women's Maternity Leggings
If you're an active mama and plan to keep up your fitness routine throughout your pregnancy, we're new converts to MP's maternity range and can highly recommend the brand's brilliant Power Leggings. They come with a high-rise waistband in stretchy fabric to keep your growing bump supported and our mama tester found them to be comfortable, cool and flattering throughout the trimesters. The handy side mesh pocket is also a nice touch, and they come in a range of bold colours including Sangria pink and Dust blue.
Fabric: 88% nylon, 12% elastane
Type: Over the bump high-rise waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes XXS-XXL
GOODMOVE Maternity Go Balance Yoga Leggings
GOODMOVE Maternity Go Balance Yoga Leggings
These wrap-fronted high waist maternity leggings from Marks & Spencer come with hidden over-the-bump mesh for extra comfort and support, plus they're made from moisture-wicking fabric to help you keep your cool during yoga and light exercise.
Fabric: 78% polyester, 22% elastane
Type: High-rise regular fit
Sizes: Available in sizes 6-24
H&M MAMA Leggings
If you're a mama on a budget, these classic maternity leggings from high street clothing brand H&M are a great value buy.
Made from a cotton-blend fabric with a wide fold-over panel at the waist they're comfortable on the tummy and ideal for light to moderate exercise, and will prove useful during the postpartum recovery stage too.
Fabric: Cotton 52%, Viscose 43%, Elastane 5%
Type: Wide, fold over waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-XXL
Stella McCartney Maternity Yoga Leggings
Stella McCartney Maternity Yoga Leggings
We're so into these stylish yoga leggings from Stella McCartney that we're still wearing them postpartum. Yes they're expensive, but you get what you pay for and these shiny tights come with a super-soft belly insert, just the right amount of stretch to see you comfortably through a relaxing yoga class, and the zebra inspired embossed fabric is totally bossing it.
Fabric: 79% recycled polyester, 21% elastane
Type: Over-the-bump belly insert
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-XL
JoJo Maman Bébé Active Support Cropped Maternity Leggings
JoJo Maman Bébé Active Support Cropped Maternity Leggings
During pregnancy your body temperature tends to fluctuate and you might find you feel the heat more. So, if you warm up quickly during exercise, it makes sense to invest in crop leggings to help you keep your cool. Our mum tester tried these out in her third trimester and was impressed with the accurate sizing plus the handy phone-size pockets.
Fabric: 85% polyamide, 15% elastane
Type: Seamless wide waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes S-L
Nike Women's High-Waisted Leopard Print Leggings
Nike Women's High-Waisted Leopard Print Leggings
Make a bold statement in the gym and wear your bump loud and proud in these leggings in a funky animal print.
The elasticated over-the-bump-waistband will keep you supported as you work out, while breathable, moisture-wicking fabric will help you stay cool.
The stretchy fabric is lightweight and comfortable and the leopard print detailing adds extra style points that will look super-cool training or just hanging out.
Fabric: 79% polyester, 21% elastane
Type: High rise elasticated waist
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-XXL
JoJo Maman Bébé Maternity Activewear Mesh Panel Leggings
JoJo Maman Bébé Maternity Activewear Mesh Panel Leggings
The extra wide seamless waistband on these classic maternity gym leggings will help to keep your bump comfortable on the move, while the mesh panelling will come in handy for temperature regulation. Our mum was particularly pleased with the length – well-suited to women blessed with longer legs.
Fabric: 73% polyester, 27% elastane
Type: Seamless wide waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes S-L
Pink Soda Sport Maternity Core Tights
Pink Soda Sport Maternity Core Tights
Repeat after me mamas: leopard print is a neutral and you can never have too many animal-inspired fabrics in your wardrobe. And when you're pregnant, all bets are off and you're allowed to wear head-to-toe cheetah, tiger and zebra print if you fancy. We are wild about these Maternity Core Tights from Pink Soda Sport that are made from gloriously stretchy fabric that goes with everything, while the high-rise elastic waistband is ideal for growing bumps. And for bonus eco-points, they're made from recycled polyester too.
Fabric: 87% recycled polyester, 13% elastane
Type: High-rise elastic waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes 8-18
Natal Active Panther Maternity and Postnatal Leggings
Natal Active Panther Maternity and Postnatal Leggings
Celeb mamas Vogue Williams and Rochelle Humes have both been spotted wearing kit from this great brand, and our in-house mum tester gave its maternity leggings the thumbs up too. The entire range of colourful and functional sportswear has been designed exclusively with pregnant and postnatal women in mind, so it doesn't miss a trick. The Panther leggings feature a wide over bump panel that can be folded down for extra support, while the low-rise waistband is ideal for C-section recovery. They're also super-soft and sweat-wicking for high impact activities, but work just as well for mooching about town.
Fabric: 62% polyamide, 38% elastane
Type: High and low fold over waist band
Sizes: Available in sizes 8-18
Kimjaly Gentle Yoga Pregnancy Bottoms
Kimjaly Gentle Yoga Pregnancy Bottoms
Yogis will love these soft maternity bottoms made from eco-friendly cotton. The waist comes with an inner band to support your abdominal wall during even the most complex yoga poses and promises to stretch with your body as your belly grows. Plus they come with pockets!
Fabric: 92% sustainable cotton
Type: High rise elasticated waist
Sizes: Available in sizes S-2XL
Beyond Yoga Fold Down Maternity Legging
Beyond Yoga Fold Down Maternity Legging
US yoga brand Beyond Yoga is quite hard to find in the UK, but we managed to track down these brilliant super-soft luxury maternity gym leggings. They come with a fold-over waist for a comfortable fit and extra stretch to see you through the trimesters. Namaste.
Fabric: 87% polyester, 13% spandex
Type: Over-the-belly waistband
Sizes: Available in sizes XS-L
Goodmove Maternity Go Balance Yoga Leggings
Goodmove Maternity Go Balance Yoga Leggings
In order to make the most of your pregnancy pilates, you'll need a pair of leggings that moves with you, supports your bump, and is able to absorb the sweat that inevitably comes with a sweaty workout.
Fabric: 78% polyester, 22% elastane
Type: High-waisted design with clever Flexifit™ technology
Sizes: Available in sizes 6 - 24
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