If you’ve been on the fence while searching for the best maternity jeans, you’re not alone. If you’re anything like me, you’ve chosen to delay purchasing maternity clothes, and maternity jeans in particular, until the last possible moment.
The truth is, at first, your belly grows so slowly that it’s hard to imagine a day will come when you’ll need to ditch the regular jeans that you used to love for new jeans (or a couple of pairs) with stretchy side panels on the waist or a full-on over-the-bump panel (basically, just a large piece of very stretchy fabric that you pull over your belly).
But trust me: That day will come. (Personally, I stopped fitting into my jeans around 16 weeks, but was able to buy myself a lot of time since it was summer.)
And when it does, you’re going to want jeans that first and foremost, are comfortable. You’ll also want to feel good wearing them. Pregnancy is one long marathon of body changes, and I’ve found the best way for me to embrace those changes is to wear things that make me feel good and look cute.
The Best Maternity Jeans
Below, we’ve rounded up the best maternity jeans that are actually comfy and will make you feel like the badass pregnant person you are, according to people who are or have been pregnant before. If you’re thinking, There’s no way I will want to wear jeans when I’ve got a baby bump!, these pairs of maternity jeans will completely change your mind.
I, too, didn’t think jeans could be remotely close to comfortable during pregnancy—and now I’m truly trying to figure out how I can keep wearing these postpartum instead of going back to my old pre-pregnancy pants (like, how did I ever used to eat a meal and get bloated while wearing jeans with an actual zipper and button).
1. Old Navy Maternity Full-Panel O.G. Straight Ripped Jeans
Lauren W., 32, found her favorite maternity denim at Old Navy. “They are very affordable, which I appreciate because maternity clothes are typically very expensive,” she says. “However, what I really like about them is that they do not slide down like some other brands that I’ve tried. When you have the elastic band around your waist, you lose some of the snug fit that non-maternity jeans have, but these Old Navy jeans fit perfectly and stay in place while also providing coverage and support to the belly.”
2. Isabel Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel Over-Belly Distressed Straight Maternity Jeans
Isabel Maternity, the Target-exclusive line of Ingrid & Isabel, has also been a treasure trove of maternity clothing for me. Every time I go to Target, I leave with something else. When it comes to these straight-leg maternity jeans, I love how the belly band comes down lower in the back—that’s been really nice at the end of the summer when I’ve started to wear jeans but it feels a little too hot for a bunch of fabric covering my entire torso.
3. Hatch The Boyfriend Maternity Jean
“The best maternity jeans I found were from Hatch,” says Alicia E., 32. “In fact, the best quality items that I can still wear postpartum are all from Hatch.” The jeans have a waist with side panel elastic, and they even have a real button on them, which she says made her feel more like herself. It also makes it so you can do a front tuck with your shirt—a styling option you can’t exactly swing with the over-the-belly panel styles.
4. Madewell Maternity Over-the-Belly Skinny Jeans
Black skinny jeans are so versatile, and I was so happy when I found this pair that I can wear with oversized button-downs and sweaters this fall. I’d say they’re more jeggings than jeans, thanks to the soft and stretchy modal fabric that’s woven in with the denim. I also love that the belly panel is the same color as the jeans—I find it makes the panel less conspicuous when I lift my arms up and my shirt rides up a bit.
5. Pinkblush Blue Distressed Maternity Jeans
Pink Blush has been such a hit for me so far with maternity clothes—and they have endless options when it comes to maternity jeans, including light, medium, and dark washes and both full-panel and elastic waist options. Hot tip: Brittany P., 30, also loves the cutoff jean shorts from the retailer. “I purchased the full panel style, so they grew with my growing bump and didn’t dig into my mid or lower stomach,” she says.
6. Good American Good Mama Full Belly
I can confirm that Good American’s maternity jeans are definitely worth the hype. (I have a pair that’s more slouchy than this one, but they’re currently not available.) The size-inclusive brand’s over-the-bump panel is perfectly snug and doesn’t roll down. I’ve actually found that I can also fold it over or roll it down if I wanted and it’s still comfortable. The denim part sits perfectly below my belly and has enough stretch that for the first time in my life, I come home and don’t feel the need to immediately change out of my jeans and into leggings.
7. For All Mankind Secret Fit Belly B(Air) Skinny Maternity Jeans
“I loved the B(Air) jeans from 7 for all Mankind before I got pregnant and tried my hardest to make my regular pairs work with belly extenders. When that became a bust, I was so excited to find these,” says Ashley F., 31. “I love these jeans because they have the exact same fit and style as my regular go-to’s but they had the added bonus of a stretchy, comfortable belly panel that actually stayed up.” Bonus: The full panel isn’t noticeable with tank tops or t-shirts, she says. “They’re perfect for everyday wear, could be dressed up, and honestly, just as comfortable as wearing leggings.”
8. Joe’s The Lara Ankle Cigarette Maternity Jeans
Jaime B., 44, found the most luck with designer jeans from brands she wore pre-pregnancy, including Joe’s. “They had the perfect amount of stretch to take me from the tiniest bump during the start of my second trimester to full-blown belly at month eight. They were comfortable enough to wear for long days in the city, when I was running (waddling?) around from meeting to meeting.” Most importantly, she says she felt like herself in them. “When you’re pregnant and feeling anything like yourself, you cling to those moments when you do.” After having four kids in five and a half years, she feels she got more than her money’s worth.
9. ASOS Design Maternity Slim Mom Jeans
Cassie S., 34, has ASOS on her shortlist of favorite maternity jeans. The brand has a variety of inexpensive styles, including an under-the-bump waistband—on this relaxed fit pair—for anyone who prefers a low-rise jean option but still wants the comfort of a soft, elastic waist that doesn’t dig into your skin.
10. Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Maternity Skinny Jeans
Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. Gold Label Maternity Skinny Jeans
Signature by Levi Strauss offers a huge variety of maternity jeans with all kinds of waistband styles and washes. With 4.2 stars and over 17,000 reviews on Amazon, these are a solid go-to for many people. The consensus is that for the price, they’re an excellent choice to have on hand throughout all stages of pregnancy (they run a little big, which you’ll be grateful for later on!).
11. Spanx Mama Ankle Jean-Ish Leggings
I love these maternity jeggings because they look a lot like skinny jeans and are thick and high quality, but they also have enough stretch to actually be comfortable when pregnant. The waistband lies at just the right spot and doesn’t sag or feel constricting. They also really accentuate my butt and make me feel sexy—which has been nice as I’m getting used to my newly visibly pregnant body!
12. Articles of Society Secret Fit Belly Sarah Ankle Maternity Jeans
Cassie S. recommends A Pea in the Pod if you’re interested in splurging on designer maternity jeans. As Jaime B. says, investing in a high-quality pair of pregnancy jeans is a great move if you plan to have multiple kids or know that a pair of great denim will make you feel confident throughout this era of your life. There are a ton of stylish options at the retailer—like these light wash ankle jeans—and you can usually find markdowns to make the prices more palatable.
13. Ingrid & Isabel Denim Maternity Overalls
In my adult life, I have never been an overalls kind of gal, but wow, these maternity overalls from Ingrid & Isabel completely changed my outlook. Something about my cute bump poking its way out just makes me really love how they look on me (for the first time since I was a kid). They’re also so comfortable: The material is super stretchy, and there are even buttons on the sides that allow you to expand the overalls about two inches, so they can literally grow along with your growing belly.
14. Motherhood Maternity Indigo Blue Super Stretch Secret Fit Belly Skinny Denim Jean
Multiple pregnant friends have recommended Motherhood Maternity to me for the retailer’s large selection of brands across all price points. These full-panel skinny jeans have 4.2 stars and almost 3,400 reviews on Amazon, with many reviewers pointing out these jeans have a ton of stretch—which comes in handy in the third trimester when your body tends to grow and let’s be honest, swell, faster than ever before.
15. Jessica Simpson Skinny Leg Maternity Jeggings
Jessica Simpson maternity jeans come highly recommended by a lot of people. Turns out, they fit well and are durable. “They’re super stretchy and comfortable and did not dig into my sides or cut weird under the belly,” says Dana S., 32. She got hers as a hand-me-down, and they’re still going strong. This skinny leg jegging style has a full over-the-belly panel and lots of stretch throughout.
