13 best maternity knickers I lived in as a first-time mum
When you first see that blue line on the pregnancy test, buying maternity knickers may not be on the top of your priority list. In fact, it might not be on the list at all.
Because while you're busy considering every last inch of the ‘underwear’ to stock up on for the tiny human about to enter your life (what size nappies will they need? What brand is the best? Which will be the most absorbent? What about being kind to their skin? Etc.), you've probably forgotten that before that chaos begins, your own underwear drawer might need something of an overhaul.
After all, your body is going through something of a transformation right now, and the last thing you want to be wearing is uncomfortable undies…
The best maternity knickers, at a glance:
Aside from all those other maternity clothes (read: maternity jeans, the best maternity leggings, maternity nightwear/pyjamas and a baby changing bag), moisture-wicking pregnancy underwear is a must. During your first trimester, maternity underwear might not seem like such an important purchase – but you’d be surprised at how quickly you’ll change your mind.
Far from an indulgent or frivolous buy, the best maternity knickers are often the difference between feeling as though you’re being cut in half from too-tight waistbands and, well, supreme comfort. I know which one I’d opt for.
It seems Suki Waterhouse wholeheartedly agrees, too – even post-partum. She posted an OOTD on Instagram, sporting one of my personal favourite pairs from FridaMom, and said: “The fourth trimester has been… humbling! The postpartum period has been filled with exhilarating joy, so much laughter, tears, soo many hormones! I’m proud of everything my body has achieved and proud of the kindness and grace I’ve given myself during this recovery period.”
Put it this way: when you’ve got someone's wedding to attend, where you'll be wearing one of your best maternity wedding guest dresses, the last thing you want is your pre-pregnancy thong digging in and giving you a VPL. Maternity pants are a stretchy and sure-fire way to guarantee comfort for you, make incontinence more comfortable, and support your bump.
Maternity briefs are something you’ll depend upon come bedtime, too – alongside your body pillow and nursing bra or sleep bra. A full night’s kip is imperative when you’re creating a little human being, so some comfy maternity undies with high absorbency will only help you drift off. And no, they don’t have to be Bridget Jones-style pants, either (though, let's be honest, they're arguably the most comfortable pair ever).
Why you can trust us
Fashion Editor, Charlie Teather, and Freelance Contributor, Rebecca Cope, both became first-time mums over the last few years, and – alongside, you know, prepping for one of humankind's toughest physical feats and the subsequent life-altering reality of a tiny new human to care for 24/7 – rediscovering how to dress a body that was changing every single day posed a real challenge.
We didn't want to lose our personal style identities, but we also wanted to celebrate and not just ‘disguise’ this incredible moment in our lives. And if we were finding this balance hard to strike, after working our whole adult lives in the fashion and magazine industry, we figured others must be too. So, we made it something of a personal/professional mission to compile the ultimate maternity fashion guides. If for nothing more than for us to refer back to if/when we ever do this pregnancy thing again, because (spoiler alert) baby brain is no joke, people…
How we tested the best maternity knickers
Charlie and Rebecca used our own pregnancies as the perfect excuse to trial run the best maternity knickers out there and compile this edit. We shopped for underwear staples from independent, designer and high street maternity brands during our second and third trimesters (with varying success), and have also asked our well-dressed pregnant pals and new mums for their top tips to find high-quality maternity lingerie. Not to mention, we've scoured Instagram for the ultimate inspiration too. For mums-to-be, Glamour's edit of the best maternity knickers of 2025 is essential reading…
Ahead, the 13 best maternity knickers to shop now.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 5
- Sizes available: XXS-XXXXL
- Made from: 90% Cotton, 10% Elastane
Why we love them: Trust Kim Kardashian to take the Bridget Jones knicker and make it wholly cool. This cotton set are not only anything but ‘granny pants’, but they're also incredibly soft and have the perfect amount of stretch without feeling loose. They also reach right over the bump, and don't stop halfway up like so many irritatingly do. The grey cotton makes them feel almost like loungewear, too, and are perfect for those sofa days at home when you're feeling hot and bothered with nothing but an oversized t-shirt thrown over.
After discounted Skims? Check out our guide to the Skims Black Friday sale.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 8
- Sizes available: One size
- Made from: Microfiber and spandex
Why we love them: They're Suki Waterhouse's go-to, and they're disposable – so you don't even have to worry about how they wash. They're also perfect for post-birth, when (spoiler!) you'll likely be bleeding. A lot. For weeks. The super soft microfibre and spandex design is breathable and latex free (unlike the ones you get from hospital).
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- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 1
- Sizes available: XXS-XXXXL
- Made from: 76% Polyamide, 24% Elastane
Why we love them: One for the thong-girlies, there's no need to switch the habit of a lifetime and opt for extra bum-coverage just because of that baby bump. But if you're leaning towards bump-coverage, then this is without doubt the knicker for you. Super supportive, super comfortable, super stretchy and super soft, there's quite literally nothing we'd change about the Skims maternity thong.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 3
- Sizes available: S-XXL
- Made from: 88% polyamide, 11% elastane, 1% cotton
Why we love them: Truly seamless and truly comfortable, if ‘over the bump’ is the style you're leaning towards then you cannot go wrong with this pack of neutrals as your day-to-day maternity knickers.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 1
- Sizes available: XS-XXL
- Made from: Cotton and lace
Why we love them: There is a real dearth of pretty maternity and postpartum lingerie on the market, which is why we adore these lacey briefs from Seraphine. Available in two contrasting colours, the ‘gusset’ is made from comfy cotton, while the over-the-bump waistband is lace.
- Style: Under the bump
- Pack size: 1
- Sizes available: XS-XXXL
- Made from: 92% Tencel Lyocell, 8% Elastane
Why we love them: Renue does brilliant maternity bras and shorts, but we found that their thongs were also perfect during pregnancy do to their second-skin comfort and stretch which has been specifically designed to ‘accommodate the ever-changing female body’. Charlie champions a thong, and that didn't change through pregnancy, and these were always the first style she reached for.
- Style: High waist briefs
- Pack size: 5
- Sizes available: 6-28
- Made from: Cotton lycra mix with lace
Why we love them: Though not strictly maternity, these high-waist M&S briefs were ideal at the earlier stages of pregnancy for more coverage. A great choice if you don’t want to splurge on specific maternity pants and would prefer to have something that you can wear afterwards, too.
Save when you shop for the best maternity knickers with these M&S promo codes. Read more on the best maternity clothes.
- Style: Under the bump
- Pack size: 5
- Sizes available: XS-XXL
- Made from: Cotton
Why we love them: These H&M bargains are perfect for buying for everyday wear in the first and second trimesters in particular, when you need less support. Sitting under the bump, they’re fully lined for any leakages, and have wide sides plus good coverage at the back, so you won’t feel like you’re always pulling them up.
Save when you shop for the best maternity knickers with these H&M promo codes.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 2
- Sizes available: S- XL
- Made from: Cotton, polyamide and elastane mix
Why we love them: Two words all pregnant women love reading: elasticated waist. These pants are great at stretching to adapt to all stages of your bump and are cheap and cheerful at just £9 a pair. The fabric is really thick, too, which is great for feeling even more supported.
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- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 2
- Sizes available: XS- XL
- Made from: Cotton and lace
Why we love them: Very much like other over-bump styles by Seraphine, but in a slinkier finish with absolutely no VPL (akin to the best shapewear). Ideal for wearing to the gym underneath your leggings so you can’t see your knickers when you’re squatting and lunging (if you are that is… kudos to you!).
- Style: Under the bump
- Pack size: 6
- Sizes available: S-XXL
- Made from: Cotton
Why we love them: The crossover design of these under-the-bump knickers gives a little bit of extra oomph around the belly as its expanding, without going for full-on up-to-the-naval coverage. Cheap as chips and in beautiful pastel shades, these are a great addition to your underwear drawer for everyday and take the stress out of shopping for loads of new pants.
Save when you shop for the best maternity knickers with these Amazon promo codes.
- Style: Over the bump
- Pack size: 3
- Sizes available: M, L, XL
- Made from: Cotton
Why we love them: Made from a Modal Cotton hybrid, these knickers are far too soft and comfy to only work out at £4 a pair, but we’re not going to interrogate it. We also love that they come in a selection of black and white, so you can easily match to your existing bras.
- Style: Postpartum
- Pack size: 7
- Sizes available: Medium and Large
- Made from: Polyamide
Why we love them: Super handy for your hospital bag, these disposable postpartum knickers from Jojo Maman Bebe are unusual in that they are actually pretty – most disposable pants are grey – so I really appreciated that little dopamine hit. I found them to be really comfortable on my C-section scar, too, with no itchiness or chafing – which is a tough ask.
READ MORE: the best cotton underwear for women.
Your maternity knickers FAQs, answered:
Do I need to buy maternity knickers?
You don't need to do anything, and if your bump is on the petite side, then you might get away with some pants a size or two bigger than usual. However, in my experience, it's great to not only have the extra support but also the peace of mind afforded by maternity knickers. Yes, I'm talking about the in-build leak-proof factor that many have.
Also, and this is silly, there's just something nice about treating yourself to pretty new pants rather than a mass of baggy cheap ones you'll want to burn postpartum.
What are maternity knickers?
Maternity knickers come in all different shapes, sizes and fabrics. You can opt for disposable briefs - like this seven pack from JoJo Maman Bébé which are great for after you’ve given birth – or something more permanent like these seamless over-bump briefs from Seraphine.
Whether or not you need maternity knickers all depends on personal preference and the size of your bump (some are bigger or smaller than others, not every body is the same). Maternity underwear is designed to fit your growing belly throughout pregnancy and so will stay in place a lot better than your regular briefs – it’s recommended you buy maternity styles to save your non-preggo pairs from stretching out, even if they do still fit.
When should I buy maternity knickers?
Personally, I left buying maternity knickers far too late (read: mid-third trimester). One day, I woke up and realised I had an actual red line across my tummy where my woefully too small pants had dug in. ‘Oh, that’s why I keep getting a tummy ache!' I thought. I immediately did a bulk buy of cheap knickers a few sizes too big, but I learned the hard way that these just wouldn't cut it.
The maternity knickers I eventually bought were perfect throughout the third and fourth (postpartum) trimesters, when my tummy was still a little swollen and also sore post C-section. Don't do what I did: buy some you like as soon as your bump starts to get bigger – around the 20-week mark, I'd say – then you'll definitely get the most wear out of them.
More maternity content:
After more maternity content? Head this way for the best body pillows and in this direction for the best maternity jeans. We've also got nursing bras, maternity dresses, maternity loungewear and baby changing bags for your perusal.
