Our textile pros and pregnant mom testers all love the buttery-soft material with a barely-there feel for everyday wear and low-impact workouts, like yoga. They also appreciate the wide assortment, including three inseams (25", 28" or 31"), 11 sizes and more than 20 colors. As you can see, there are loads of reasons why maternity tights are a pregnancy essential. Here are some of the main benefits of choosing maternity tights: When testing maternity leggings, we considered size, fabric, comfort and durability, value for money, versatility and extra features.

These Gap Maternity leggings are super soft, breathable, and a breeze to wash. They even stretched to fit a third-trimester belly without sacrificing comfort, regardless of activity. When it comes to buying maternity tights, there is a huge selection available. So, which ones should you choose? Take a look at the different types of maternity tights to help you choose the best option for you: Maternity support tights Basically, there are three main styles of pregnancy-friendly leggings out there–over-the-bump, under-the-bump, and non-maternity pairs. Here’s what you need to know about ‘em, and some tips on how to choose the best maternity leggings you'll never wanna take off.

Unfortunately, the deep red color isn’t as forgiving when showing texture. “You can see lumps and bumps on the skin, which is not ideal in terms of feeling comfortable or confident,” our editor said, so she took to wearing these with a long tunic or sweatshirt. Some pregnant wearers may find a full panel to feel constricting in general, but this one is lighter and more breathable over the actual bump. It also sits high up, which is great for preventing the material from rolling down. Plus, the fabric itself is buttery soft for wear-all-day comfort, though keep in mind the buttery-feel fabrics tend to pill more easily. Construction : Analysts inspect the leggings, playing close attention to the feel of the fabric, the type of waistband, whether the seams are raised or flat and whether there's a gusset at the crotch. These features let our experts know which activities they're best suited for. Pilling resistance: Our Martindale abrasion tester rubs swatches of fabric together 1,000 times to see if the fabric will stay smooth or develop unsightly pills. Why We Like It: With strong (but not too tight) compression, they hug body in all the right places.

Our pregnant testers evaluated 25 maternity leggings in the comfort of their homes, assessing each on durability, fit, comfort, opaqueness, hold, and overall value. We also followed guidance from the American Pregnancy Association.Moreover, we spoke with OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine specialist Kecia Gaither, M.D., MPH, MS/MBA, FACOGand retired OB-GYN Kimberly Langdon, M.D. At the same time, some of those immense transformations you experience during pregnancy, such as hormones loosening your ligaments and increasing the capacity of your belly and breasts, will make tight-fitting clothing uncomfortable. Leave your wardrobe options open, with some compression clothing and some loose-fitting clothing, so you can switch it up as your body dictates.Nike Maternity Performance Leggings: These Nike maternity leggings were soft and comfortable to move in but slightly faded after washing and sagged a bit during yoga. From the minute I put these on each day, I never felt like I needed or wanted to take them off," our editor said. They have extra fabric on the waistband which either goes over or under your lovely growing bump. This means that you won't have the discomfort of the material digging into your body. What size maternity leggings should I buy?

First, we unboxed the maternity leggings and tried them on. We noted how the leggings felt when pulling them on and if the fabric was soft and breathable. Next, we wore the leggings during usual activities, like running errands, working from home, or watching TV, for at least seven days during a four-week testing period. Additionally, we documented whether the leggings were stretchy for various ranges of motion, sagged at any point, cut into the skin, had a loose waistband, or felt too tight or loose in places. Maternity tights are designed to stay in place, making them super comfortable for you to wear throughout your pregnancy as they grow with your bump. Most maternity tights also have a wide waistband and front panel that provides extra support for your bump. Considerations for maternity tights Another vital consideration when purchasing tights for pregnancy is to think about your changing shape. Throughout the next nine months, your tummy is going to grow significantly, so selecting maternity tights that are designed to support your bump and fit around it properly is essential. Looking for maternity tights that offer specific bump support is the best way to find tights that will perfectly fit you throughout your pregnancy. Comfortable featuresBefore you start buying maternity tights, it is helpful to know what to watch out for when you start shopping to ensure your new maternity tights last throughout your pregnancy and keep you comfortable at all times. Here are some factors to consider when choosing maternity tights: Material Besides choosing the type of maternity leggings based on bump coverage, here are other important factors you should keep in mind as you shop: Wondering whether you need maternity tights? The answer to this question is a definite yes! While you may be able to squeeze into your normal tights for the first few months of your pregnancy, you will soon find that they dig into your waist and don’t stay in place as your bump grows. Why We Like It: These extra-soft leggings do not roll down or bunch, even though they're not designed for pregnancy.

Though the elasticized fold-over waistband didn’t cover our editor’s belly entirely (she is 5 foot 11), it didn’t roll down or sag. Of the three color options currently available, we tried the heather gray leggings, which failed to be completely opaque. Colored underwear showed slightly through the pants in the butt area, but skin-tone matching underwear solved that problem. The leggings fit true to size in testing, and no underwear showed through the material. They also remained durable and looked brand new after multiple washes. Construction: A quality pair of leggings will have flat seams and a gusset. If the seams are raised instead of flat, the fabric can irritate you during movement, especially with exercise. If the leggings don't have a gusset — i.e., an extra piece of fabric at the crotch — they may ride up and cause wedgies. Over-the-bump maternity leggings: Thanks to a large, belly-snuggling panel of soft, stretchy fabric, these kinda look like the highest high-rise leggings ever created, and can be especially useful during the final stretch of pregnancy. They’re designed to cover your whole bump (yep, all the way through your third trimester!) and offer lots of support. Comfort: Our reviewers give a comfort score based on their experience. They also have the opportunity to answer open-ended questions to provide more insight about how the leggings felt.At Seraphine we offer a variety of super soft legging styles that cater to both maternity and postpartum , with styles that range from loungewear to activewear. Our selection of compression styles that offer support around the tummy area after baby arrives and our bamboo leggings are the perfect choice if you are looking for a super soft legging option post c-section.” How we tested the best maternity leggings These polyester-spandex leggings have what Nike calls Dri-Fit technology to keep you cool, a perk for sweaty pregnant life. Unlike other “cooling” fabrics, which I have found can actually be less breathable than natural fibers, these do keep you dry and help you feel less sweaty in the first place. You can pull the waistband up over your belly when you want extra support or fold it down under it when you want to feel a bit freer. The key thing when it comes to leggings during your pregnancy and postpartum journey is finding soft, breathable fabrics that sculpt to your changing body (and don't go saggy!). Whether you decide to go for over-bump or under-bump styles, they need to stay up and be comfortable all day long. Increased skin sensitivity is a common symptom for pregnant women, choosing super soft fabrics will really increase comfort levels. When choosing maternity tights, the material is a crucial consideration. To ensure you feel as comfortable as possible, it is a good idea to look for maternity tights that feature a cotton gusset. The cotton gusset will ensure breathability and help to prevent you from becoming too hot when wearing the tights. Fit It can be confusing to know which size to buy when choosing maternity tights. You may wonder whether to buy your normal size or a larger size. Well, buying your normal size in tights is the best way to shop for maternity tights.