The 13 best maternity jeans for every trimester
Designer and affordable jeans that will flatter your growing bump.
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Is your bulging belly getting in the way of rocking your favorite pair of jeans? Don’t worry: No matter how big the bump, your denim-wearing days are actually far from over. That’s because denim brands and maternity brands have collided to gift us with jeans that work wonders on our new growing figures.
In fact, maternity jeans are likely to become the core of your maternity wardrobe. And though shopping for jeans is never an easy feat–least of all when you have a baby growing inside of you–you can and will find the perfect pair that will carry you all the way to birth in style. But how do you find the perfect pair?
To answer this burning question (and speak to all things maternity jeans) we chatted with Shae Haning, professional tailor, owner of the largest tailor shop in the Midwest, Tallgrass Tailor, and host of the popular YouTube show, “The Sew Show with Shae“. Oh, and also? She just so happens to be pregnant with her first baby. In short? She gets the struggle.
“Every time you think you’ve picked out something that’s going to work, in two weeks it doesn’t anymore. And you don’t even always know why! The weight is in different places. It’s dispersed differently, there’s different density. Some places it’s soft, some places it’s hard, the overall weight distribution shifts. Coupling that with your visual perception of yourself, it’s just mounting layers of challenge to work through as you grow.”
When should you start wearing maternity jeans?
You’re in luck because you know what? There are absolutely no rules that state when you can wear pregnancy jeans. (Let’s just say Joey Tribbiani was onto something when he called them Thanksgiving pants.) That said, most of us, Haning included, have gotten away with modifying our regular jeans with a belly band or the super budget-friendly hair tie hack through the first trimester. (Hook an elastic hair tie around the button hole and then connect it to the button as an extender. Voila! Pants that fit for an extra few weeks!)
But you do you, mama. If your non-maternity jeans are starting to get uncomfortable, it’s time to treat yourself.
How to choose a pair you’ll love
Finding the right pair of maternity jeans will probably take some trial and error, but Haning has a brilliant tip. Choose the shoes you’ll be wearing most often first and work backward.
“Finding a few or at least one good pair of shoes that you’re going to wear multiple times a week, that make those jeans look good, is the way to go. After all, the majority of the world sees you with your shoes on.” Chances are, you won’t be cruising around in heels too often. Think about the pairs you’ll reach for most days of the week and try your jeans on with them to get the full picture.
As you begin to shop around, you’ll find maternity jeans typically fall into three main categories: Elastic waistbands, pocket insert elastic, and full over-the-belly panel. With Haning’s help, we’ve broken down the benefits of each as well hunted down some of the top-rated styles in each category below.
From skinnies to overalls, here are 16 of the best maternity jeans for every body type and every budget. Spoiler alert: they are so comfy, you may actually consider wearing them after baby is born.
Elastic band maternity jeans
According to Haning, this is a great style for the first trimester. The inches wide elastic band, encased in soft fabric, sits at or below the belly while the rest of the jeans could easily pass as non-maternity.
As Haning points out, at this stage, you’re likely just rocking some “fluff.” “In the beginning, I was very soft, putting on this weight that doesn’t have any density or hold shape. The structure of the elastic band, holding everything in place, makes you feel more confident, but it’s also a lot more comfortable because it still has that ability to expand.” This is also a great style to circle back to postpartum.
Our favorite maternity jeans with elastic bands
Elastic side panel maternity jeans
As your belly begins to become more watermelon-esque, you might find a wide elastic band a bit to pokey or restrictive. Instead, Haning suggests opting for styles that provide room via elastic inserts. She says, “They’re designed to move in and out throughout the day as you sit, stand, eat, and everything keeps moving around in there.” Because these panels, which are situated at the pockets or hips, offer a wider range of expansion, they’re ideal for the second trimester when one meal can change everything.
Our favorite maternity jeans with elastic side panels
Full over-the-belly panel maternity jeans
And when you hit that final stage? It’s Thanksgiving pants all the way. Full belly panels, with their loving, stretchy material you can hike all the way up to your boobs can feel downright blissful. And as Haning points out, they give you the ability to wear something besides sweatpants and leggings everyday. “We all want to feel like we are actually getting dressed. I think the psychological components of that cannot be understated.”
Our favorite over-the-belly maternity jeans
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