These Are the Pregnancy Leggings Babylist Parents Recommend Again and Again
According to Babylist staffers, these are the best maternity leggings (and they aren't even maternity).
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We poll our real Babylist parents and users often, and every time we ask about their favorite pair of maternity leggings, the lululemon Align leggings are the ones they rave about the most. They feature light compression and are made of a nylon and lycra blend that is made to stretch and last. Plus, the fit will take you from the first trimester to your baby’s first birthday, but the funny thing is, the most popular maternity leggings aren’t actually maternity at all.
While it’s clear that the lululemon Align leggings have a devoted pregnant fanbase, we wanted to learn more about what makes them essential maternity wear (despite not being designed for the bump). We turned to a few of our Babylist staff members who are currently expecting or recently postpartum to test the Align leggings in real life.
To give you a full picture of how well these leggings perform during pregnancy, we asked pregnant women in every trimester—including the often-overlooked fourth—to wear them the way they’d wear any other pair of maternity pants: running errands, heading to work, lounging at home and everything in between. They paid close attention to comfort, stretch, support and overall fit as their bodies changed, so we could understand how the leggings hold up from the first weeks of pregnancy through postpartum recovery.
Before we get into the testing, note that there are three versions of these leggings: the original Align, a seamless version called No Line Align and the Align Super High Rise. Our testers tried all three.
What Makes lululemon Align Leggings Superior
Since these leggings aren’t actually maternity leggings, what about them makes them ideal for cradling a growing bump comfortably? Answer: the stretch, which is one of the standout features that make these leggings truly bump-friendly. With the wearability to go the long haul of pregnancy, they are able to conform to and cradle the bump comfortably. “The fabric has incredible stretch—honestly, I probably could have stayed with my usual size, though I did choose to size up for extra comfort during pregnancy,” Kelsey Riefberg, Babylist Partnerships manager, who is in her second trimester. If you’re trying to figure out the right size for yourself, it truly depends on the fit you’re looking for and the stage of pregnancy you’re in when you buy them.
If you like a snugger fit with more compressive support, sticking with your pre-pregnancy size is likely to work best. If you don’t like too much compression and prefer a roomier, comfortable fit, sizing up one should work well.
But it’s not just the stretch; let’s break down the other standout features that make these leggings surprisingly bump-friendly.
The Material
Made from lululemon’s signature material, Nulu (a nylon and Lycra blend), the leggings have a weightless, super-soft feel that’s super stretchy (essential for comfort during pregnancy). Aside from being notably soft, the material is extra stretchy, an essential feature for comfortable maternity wear. Nulu fabric is also breathable, so if you’re a victim of pregnancy sweats, your lower half will appreciate the extra airflow. And while this is not their highest-performing fabric (compared to their high-intensity-exercise materials), it still has moisture-wicking properties that enhance breathability.
The Fit
Snug without adding too much compression, the Align leggings are in the brand’s lower support category, making them great for lounging, light activity (like prenatal yoga) and daily wear. We asked our testers to rate the compression on a scale from one to five, and Jess MacArthur, Babylist’s visual designer, who is a couple of months postpartum, described it as a “light but in the best way. Supportive enough to feel secure, yet soft enough to forget you’re wearing them.”
What Babylist parents love most is that the stretchiness doesn’t wear out over time, unlike with other leggings. That means they’ll fit as comfortably at the very end of your pregnancy as they did when you first bought them. Additionally, since the leggings come in sizes 0-20 and are available in four length options (as a tall mom, that’s music to my ears), you’re very likely to find a fit that works for your body type.
Longevity
While the price is on the higher end, when compared to other options on the market, “they fit before, during and after pregnancy and don't stretch out,” Babylist Senior Gear Editor Jen LaBracio says. Through frequent wear and washes, they’ll hold up, so you can think of them as an investment clothing item. An added bonus: since they aren’t maternity-specific, you’ll be able to wear them no matter where you are in your pregnancy journey (including well beyond).
The Aligns in Every Stage of Pregnancy
Early Pregnancy
A solid pair of maternity-friendly leggings should feel comfortable enough to wear during those early, awkward stages of pregnancy, where your bump isn’t fully formed yet, but you can’t fit your pre-pregnancy clothes. Thanks to the buttery-soft material and lightweight, stretchy fabric, the Align leggings will leave room for any extra bloating.
Unlike standard maternity leggings that rely on a front panel, which are often made with less stretch and can feel baggy or saggy during those early days, the Align leggings skip the panel altogether. Instead, they’re designed with the same ultra-stretchy fabric from waistband to ankle, creating a smooth, consistent fit that expands comfortably with your bump. Plus, the barely-there material won’t feel overly snug on your belly. Kristin Phillips, Babylist’s Sr. Technical Recruiter, noted that in the first half of pregnancy, they aren’t so tight they cut into her skin, but aren’t so roomy that they roll down constantly on her.
Mid-Pregnancy
After the 20-week mark, your bump might be starting to take shape, and the need for stretchier clothes is likely more evident. Kelsey Riefberg, Babylist Partnerships Manager, who is just over 21 weeks pregnant, tested the Align No Line High Rise Pant (a seamless version of the original Align leggings) and said she was “immediately impressed on my first wear.” Standing at 5-foot-11-inches, Riefberg says that the seamless version, which doesn’t have a banding at the top, was more comfortable and didn’t feel overly restrictive. “The seamless design means there's no uncomfortable pressure or banding across my stomach, which has been a game-changer as my bump has grown. The absence of those extra seams really makes a difference when you're expecting,” Riefberg shares.
When it came to activity, Riefberg put them to the test, from walking her dog daily to pilates sessions, and she said they were able to keep up through it all. “They performed really well—I wasn't constantly having to adjust or pull up the waistband, which can be such an annoying distraction during a workout. They maintained that supportive feel throughout my activities without ever feeling too tight or constrictive around my bump. For low to moderate-impact movement during pregnancy, they definitely held up and let me focus on my workout rather than my leggings.”
Late Pregnancy
Whether you’re carrying high or low or you have a round bump or a b-shaped belly, the stretchiness of the Align leggings will conform to fit your bump comfortably (and without feeling like it’s in a vise grip). Virley Arcidy, an expectant mom who is just over 30 weeks pregnant, tested out all three cuts of the lululemon Align leggings and the Align Super-High-Rise were her favorite. Arcidy noted that the super high waist “fits really well around my bump and covers most of it. Feels more supportive and less likely to roll down,” and the compression was a comfortable 3 out of 5 (which felt more tolerable for her compared to the other two legging cuts). Also, since she’s at the final stretch of pregnancy, the high waist hitting above the widest part of her bump ensures that the material isn’t cutting into her skin.
4th Trimester and Beyond
The biggest draw of the Align leggings for pregnancy is that you can wear them during your postpartum period and beyond. The material bounces back, so the fit is snug and comfy instead of overly stretched and saggy. Jess MacArthur, Babylist’s visual designer, who is a few months postpartum, tried both the seam and seamless versions of the leggings. While she rated both as being supportive, giving her a feeling of being held in and overall breathable and comfortable, MacArthur noted that the No Line version “feels like the polished version of the original.”
MacArthur wore the original version of the leggings to Disney and while walking for hours, along with baby wearing, she noted that the “waistband did not dig into my skin at all, and they were so comfortable it honestly felt like I was not even wearing pants.” While the waistband did roll a bit while she sat on rides, they stayed in place for the most part.
As for the seamless version, MacArthur wore them to a mommy-and-me class (which meant lots of sitting and standing) and the pants had the same light-as-air feel, were secure and comfy.
Some Things to Consider
If you plan to wear these from the beginning of your pregnancy through the end and beyond, you can choose to size up but one of our testers noted that your regular size can work too. Plus, the 4-way stretch suggests that sticking to your regular size works well, too.
Maternity-specific leggings may offer more direct bump support, as the panel pulls up over your bump rather than stopping halfway up.
