From first trimester to fourth – the best maternity activewear for every stage of pregnancy (2025)

For years, the advice for pregnant women was to take it easy, put their feet up and avoid any kind of strenuous physical activity. Thankfully, that outdated mindset has shifted – especially for women who rely on exercise to stay sane. In fact, the NHS says that gentle exercise during pregnancy is good (and safe) for you and your baby (and can also help prepare your body for labour).

That said, every pregnancy is different. Personally, my pregnancy workouts (if we can even call them that...) have been limited to walking, swimming, and prenatal Pilates (and I was far too sick to move far from the bathroom floor – let alone dream of exercise – for the first five months of this pregnancy).

But for many mammas-to-be, staying active is not only doable – it's encouraged. Aside, of course, from a couple of obvious no-nos (let’s leave contact rugby, hockey and netball off the list – as well as scuba diving and skydiving, please!), if you're used to doing regular exercise pre-pregnancy, then most forms of exercise are perfectly safe. But what to wear for your expanding waistline? Maternity activewear, of course.

Ultra-tight, compressive running leggings? No, thank you. Teeny tiny low-impact yoga bralettes with basically no support? Not for my growing body. Suddenly half the fitness gear in my wardrobe no longer fit – and I knew I needed to invest in a couple of stretchy, maternity-specific pieces to make my Pilates sessions a bit more comfortable.

I got my hands on a couple of essentials from brands including Natal Active, Nike and H&M – including; sports bras that actually do up, sweat-wicking leggings that don’t dig in and go over (and flatter) my bump, and long-line tops that don’t just look like crop tops. There were a couple of other (non-maternity specific) items in my wardrobe from Lululemon and FP Movement that have surprisingly stretched with my growing body, so I'll give you the low-down on which pieces are seriously worth investing in, for pre-pregnancy and beyond.

So whether you’re an avid runner or yogi, or just looking for a comfy pair of leggings, here’s everything you need to know about the best maternity activewear out there.

During a time when it feels like everything (boobs, belly, relationships) is changing, maternity activewear helps to provide both expecting and postpartum mothers with a constant: performance apparel that’s supportive and designed specifically to meet their needs.

Maternity activewear differs from regular workout clothes in a couple of ways:

1. It's super stretchy – maternity-specific leggings and shorts often have a high-rise, over-the-bump waistband that stretches with your growing belly
2. Nursing-friendly – a lot of maternity sports bras have clip-down or crossover designs for easy breastfeeding.
3. Extra bust support – maternity sports bras also often have wider straps and more stretch, to offer more support for increasing breast size.

Whether you're looking for budget-friendly essentials, mid-range comfort, or high-end performance wear, there's a maternity brand out there for every style and budget.

From affordable basics at H&M to specialist maternity and postnatal activewear from Natal Active, these maternity activewear brands offer plenty of support and stretch to keep you moving throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Keep reading for our favourite tried-and-tested pieces, and where to buy them.

Best for: Stylish, functional maternity workout clothes

Designed and founded by mum Claire Gleave, who says; ‘After three pregnancies wearing my husband's t-shirts on runs, and then breastfeeding three babies while trying to wrestle my boobs out of uncomfortable sports bras, I had had enough. I was sick of looking a mess and being uncomfortable, and on realising I couldn’t be the only mum out there feeling the same, the Natal Active range became baby number 4’.

Natal Active is arguably the best maternity activewear on the market – it easily adapts to women’s changing shapes and support needs as their bumps get bigger.

I tested out both the bestselling nursing sports bra (£45) and the Luxe Maternity & Postnatal Leggings (£55) – and I’ll be honest and say I haven’t really wanted to wear anything else to my pre-natal Pilates classes.

The sports bra offers a high level of support (it definitely has enough support if you’re still planning on running during pregnancy) and is designed for both pregnancy and postpartum, with clip-down cups for easy nursing access. It even comes with an ‘extender’, so if you need a wider band in the later stages of pregnancy, you can extend the band to ensure it still fits comfortably.

As soon as I tried Natal Active's maternity leggings in my second trimester (when my usual leggings started feeling too tight), I understood the hype. Soft, squat-proof, sweat-wicking and stretchy with a wide, non-slip over-the-bump panel, they even come with thigh pockets big enough to hold your phone (something that all leggings should have as standard IMO).

Top maternity activewear picks from Natal Active

Where to buy? natalactive.com

Best for: Ultra-soft maternity tops that actually go over your bump

Sweaty Betty workout gear already has a firm place in my activewear wardrobe. The Power 6" Cycling Shorts (£60) have got me through many a chafe-free long training run! But sadly the high-performance compressive nature of these beloved shorts meant they were one of the first things that I stopped being able to fit into with my growing bump (and, yes, my youngest sister did come and raid my activewear wardrobe and stole all the SB Power Shorts I own, so I’ll be needing to get those back for post-partum!)

Luckily, Sweaty Betty has launched a maternity-specific collection (apparently it’s most-requested collection!) which features maternity shorts and maternity leggings in five or so different colours, plus a longline sweatshirt, a two-in-one nursing t-shirt and even a maternity ‘bump’ dress.

The standout item has to be the All Day Maternity Vest (£40). I saw another pregnant woman wearing this top in my prenatal Pilates class and it looked so good with the soft ruching at the sides, that I knew I too had to get my hands on one. Not only does the stretchy material actually go over my bump, I also really like the low-ish scoop neck at the back of this top – it’s really flattering, and that’s not a word we tend to use to describe pregnant women.

Top maternity activewear picks from Sweaty Betty

Where to buy? sweatybetty.com/shop/maternity

Best for: Affordable maternity activewear

When I say I’ve been living in these H&M MAMA Before & After sports tights (£27.99), I’m not lying. Whether I’m working from home, doing the weekly food shop or heading out for a little stroll into town – these are the maternity leggings I reach for. They’ve got a wide, foldover waistband which goes over my bump and feels supportive without being too tight – and they’re also silky to touch thanks to their fast-drying, seamless functional fabric.

There are no pockets, so paired with an oversized shirt and pair of ballet flats means I can even get away with wearing these in the office – since they don’t look overly ‘fitness’.

I also can’t talk about H&M’s maternity activewear without mentioning the price. If you’re looking for budget-friendly maternity activewear that doesn’t compromise on comfort, then H&M MAMA is a great go-to for those not wishing to break the bank. Of course, it won’t replace premium brands for any super high-intensity workouts, but if you need functional and affordable pieces, it’s hard to beat.

Top maternity activewear picks from H&M MAMA

Where to buy? hm.com

Best for: Active mums-to-be who want sweat-wicking performance gear

Nike’s maternity range isn’t particularly large. In fact, at the time of writing this, there are currently only three (!) maternity-specific items available on the Nike website. That said, after trying on the Women's High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings with Pockets (£49.99) I do have to admit that these maternity leggings do feel like they’ve been designed for movement in mind (in comparison to some maternity pieces that perhaps feel more ‘loungewear’ that ‘workout’).

Last spring, Nike launched a new, versatile wearable pump-compatible sports bra – The Nike (M) Swoosh Bra – but sadly it’s no longer available online. It featured adjustable cups for wearable breast pumps, drop-down straps for nursing, and a moisture-managing interior lining that helped prevent visible leaks.

‘The market is limited when it comes to nursing sports bras, especially in the performance space – they’re either too stretchy and unsupportive or they’re too structured and can’t expand to adjust to hourly breast size fluctuations or wearable breast pumps,’ says Fanny Ho, Nike Senior Manager, Design Innovation.

‘We spoke to countless women throughout this project who felt they were always having to compromise between comfort and support, and we wanted to create a product that could give them both.’

Fingers crossed Nike brings it back soon!

Top maternity activewear picks from Nike

Where to buy? nike.com

Best for: Premium activewear that's not specifically designed for pregnancy

Sadly, Lululemon does not have a specific maternity activewear collection – but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear some of their items throughout pregnancy! Bonus: I know they’ll be just as good postpartum.

Lululemon’s famous Align High-Rise leggings (£88), have managed (so far, at least) to stretch with me for all of my pregnancy, thanks to their super buttery-soft, stretchy material. And, it’s also worth noting that Lululemon produces the cult-famous Align leggings in a ‘Super High-Rise’ version – which essentially just has a wider belly band and enough stretch to accommodate a growing bump without feeling restrictive. I’d recommend sizing up one size in these if you want them to last the whole nine months of pregnancy though.

At the back of my workout wardrobe, I had a couple of Swiftly Short-Sleeve Tops (£58) which, in the past, I’ve mainly worn for running but I’ve always found fit quite long on my body. I was genuinely surprised by how well the Swiftly Tech tops have worked for pregnancy workouts – they’re long enough to go over my bump, and the fabric is super stretchy yet breathable (which is a lifesaver when you feel like a human radiator at all times) and they’re tight fitting so give an extra layer of support.

So while Lululemon doesn’t market their activewear as maternity, their Align leggings and Swiftly tops have ended up being pregnancy staples for me (and best of all, I already had them in my wardrobe!). So if you want high-performance, bump-friendly activewear that doesn’t scream ‘maternity’, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Top maternity activewear picks from Lululemon

Where to buy? lululemon.co.uk

Best for: Soft, flexible and non-restrictive activewear

Similar to Lululemon, FP Movement also doesn’t have a dedicated maternity activewear range. Although, last year FP Movement did collaborate with Hatch – an American maternity wear brand – for a maternity activewear range, but this has now sadly sold out.

However, all is not lost if you’re a fan of Free People’s effortlessly cool vibe, because their Never Better line offers some lovely maternity-appropriate pieces (I’m wearing the Never Better Crop as I type!)

The Simply Layer Top (£68) is another item I’ve been wearing throughout pregnancy, which I bought pre-pregnancy – its baggy, lightweight, extra-long length means it easily floats over a growing bump. It’s perfect for chucking over a tank, great for lounging, layering or light workouts.

Top maternity activewear picks from FP Movement

More gymwear to try:

• The top gym trainers for every workout
• The best gym bags for women
• The best grip socks for Pilates, yoga and barre

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