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The Best Underwear for Pregnancy, A Maternity Must-Have


During pregnancy, your body undergoes so many changes that you may constantly feel uncomfortable. The last thing you need is your underwear to give you troubles! That’s why I created this list of the best underwear for pregnancy.

The best underwear for pregnancy are the Intimate Portal Women Under the Bump Underwear in my opinion. These bikini-style underwear sit under the bump and give full coverage while being ridiculously comfy. I love them!

Even if you don’t like bikini undies, we’ve got all styles, from thongs to boyshorts in our guide below.

Best Cotton Underwear :
Most Comfortable Underwear:
Best Cheeky Underwear:
Best Over the Bump Underwear:
Best Maternity Thong:
Best Full-Coverage Underwear:


Best Cotton Maternity Underwear

The NBB Women’s Maternity Panties are 100% cotton panties that goes over your baby bump and the over the belly panel expands as your baby grows, and the GIFTPOCKET Women’s Under the Bump Maternity Panties are made of premium cotton with the crossover style resting underneath the baby bump. 

Intimate Portal Women Under the Bump Pregnancy Underwear

Intimate Portal Maternity Panties Cotton Postpartum Underwear Womens Pregnancy Bikinis Under the Bump 3-Pk Basics S
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Of all the pregnancy underwear, the Intimate Portal Women Under the Bump Maternity Panties Pregnancy Underwear is my favorite. With their low rise in the front and full coverage in the rear, they provide exactly what I look for in a maternity panty.

Features

The body of the panty is made of 95% cotton and 5% Spandex. This allows for breathability and a comfortable fit. The cotton feels nice on your skin, and the Spandex helps to ensure that your underwear has some stretch and give to it.

There is a 100% cotton, light colored crotch inner liner. Intimate Portal specifically uses light colored liners to make it easier for you to notice spotting.

The classic crossover style of the Intimate Portal Women Under the Bump Maternity Panties Pregnancy Underwear makes it easier to wear panties while your baby grows.

If you’re not very far in to your pregnancy yet, you haven’t already experienced the panty crisis that comes with the third trimester. As your baby grows and drops, it significantly impacts your relationship with your underwear. In fact, your growing baby can make wearing regular underwear nearly impossible. That’s why this crossover style is so important. It’s a gradual “V” in the front of your panties that helps to avoid your baby.

This maternity panty offers full rear coverage. Sometimes, maternity panties can feel very skimpy. It can be tough to find panties that have reduced material in the front to allow for the baby and still have enough fabric in the back to cover your whole bottom.

Another benefit to these undies is that you can wear them postpartum. The low rise front can be particularly beneficial for anyone healing from a C-section.

Possible Issues

  • Make sure that you read the instructions about how to choose your size. That being said, some women who followed the instructions still felt like the underwear ran smaller than expected. Others found that they were too loose.
  • The lace trim is especially prone to fray.
  • As with any article of clothing, there may be manufacturing issues. This means you could have your liner misaligned with the crotch of your panty or other things like that.

Motherhood Maternity Women’s Maternity Hipster Panties

Sometimes you just want a basic and comfortable panty to wear while you are pregnant. Having an under-the-bump cut or thong is nice for some things, but what about basic undies? These Motherhood Maternity Hipster Panties give you the stretch and fit you need. They have just enough stretch to be comfy, while being breathable and some of the best basic undies you’ll own.

Features

The 95% cotton with 5% spandex gives you that softness and breathability that you crave, combined with the stretch that you need. These do have a bit of a lower front cut without the v shape.Those two features combined mean that these work perfectly with your baby bump, no matter the size. And don’t worry, they won’t roll under when you reach those last few weeks and your bump is bigger than ever!

There’s elastic in the waist of these Motherhood Maternity underwear, which is good for keeping them where you want them to be. No riding up and no sliding down, provided that you order the correct size of the Motherhood Maternity Hipster Panties.

The hipster cut gives you good coverage in the front, sides, and the rear. There’s also a little bit of shirring at the top of the back, which helps remind you that pregnant mommies are sexy too!

The price is good, the fit is comfy, and these are easy to wash and won’t shrink. Sounds like a winner to me!

Possible Issues

  • Manufacturing issues with the seams unravelling was an issue for a few wearers.
  • Size them right to get the right fit! If you order up a whole size, they may not fit until the end of your pregnancy. Follow the size chart and you should be good.
  • No elastic in the legs means that they might ride up in the back for some ladies.

Cosabella Women’s Never Say Never Maternity Hot Pant

Cosabella Women's Never Say Never Maternity Briefs, Blush, Tan, S
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Many people don’t realize that wearing a pair of fun or sexy undies can help lift your mood. When you choose to wear a specific pair of underwear, you’re doing something for yourself. No one has to see what you’ve chosen; it’s for your eyes only. If you’re looking for a great pair of lacy maternity panties, try the  Cosabella Women’s Never Say Never Maternity Hot Pant.

Features

These undies are 50% cotton, 28% polyamide, 12% elastane, and 10% viscose. If you’re like me, you might have no idea what polyamide, elastane, and viscose are. Polyamide is another name for certain synthetic fibers like nylon. Elastane is a common elastic material used in underwear, panty hose, and other close-fitting garments. Viscose is rayon fabric or fiber.

There is a cotton liner in the crotch of the panties. This helps the panties stay hygienic and breathable.

The scalloped lace at the top and around the leg holes of the underwear provide a delicate design. Also, the lace helps the panties to lie flat on the skin and avoid irritation.

The Cosabella Women’s Never Say Never Maternity Hot Pant have a cheeky fit, so expect that this undie will not fully cover your bottom.

Possible Issues

  • Since people are shaped differently, what’s comfortable and just right for one person might not be so for another.
  • This undie doesn’t fully cover your bottom. This could be a deterrent for some people.
  • As with all articles of clothing, there may be manufacturing issues.
  • It’s recommended that you hand wash these delicate undies.

NBB Lingerie Women’s Adjustable High Cut Cotton Over Bump Underwear

NBB Women's Adjustable Maternity high cut 100% Cotton underwear, Brief Black Small
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Sometimes in pregnancy, over the bump underwear is just more comfortable. For example, if your belly button starts to pop out and is sensitive, you might want something to cover and protect that delicate area. If you’re searching for some over the bump coverage, I would choose NBB Lingerie Women’s Adjustable Maternity Panties High Cut Cotton Over Bump Underwear Brief.

Features

This over the belly underwear is 100% cotton, which means that it will be soft, comfortable, and breathable.

The main tummy section expands as your baby grows. Directly beneath this part of the panties is a light tummy support band. The support band is fully integrated into the panty, so there’s no annoying seams.

You’ll probably like these for postpartum wearing, too. The bigger cut means that you can easily accommodate a postpartum pad.

Possible Issues

  • Since people are shaped differently, what’s comfortable and just right for one person might not be so for another. Some people have complained that the undies were an awkward fit for them, that there wasn’t enough coverage of the bottom.
  • Because of the nature of this style of underwear, it might leave a noticeable panty line along your waist.
  • As with all articles of clothing, there may be manufacturing issues.

GIFTPOCKET Women’s Under Bump Maternity Underwear

GIFTPOCKET Women's Under the Bump Maternity Panties Underwear, Pack of 5, Assorted Random Designs and Colors, XL
Price$$$
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If you’re not interested in the Intimate Portal Women Under the Bump Maternity Panties Pregnancy Underwear, I recommend the GIFTPOCKET Women’s Under Bump Maternity Panties Healthy Underwear. It was only by a small margin that these pregnancy undies came in second place.

Features

The GIFTPOCKET Women’s Under Bump Maternity Panties Healthy Underwear is made with premium cotton. This means the undies will be soft and comfortable.

The crotch is made of 100% cotton. Cotton liners are incredibly common in undies because they make them more hygenic.

The crossover design ensures that your undies won’t be impacted by your baby bump. Because of the rather low “V” in the front, the growth (or descending) of your baby shouldn’t impact how your undies fit.

This style of underwear offers moderate rear coverage. This means that your bottom won’t be fully covered.

These undies are machine washable. With all the other challenges that come with pregnancy, the last thing is need is to worry about how to care for your underwear.

You can pair these with a comfy pregnancy bra and be on your way!

Possible Issues

  • Make sure that you read the instructions about how to choose your size. That being said, some women who followed the instructions still felt like the underwear ran smaller than expected. Others found that they were too loose.
  • Since people are shaped differently, what’s comfortable and just right for one person might not be so for another.
  • This undie doesn’t fully cover your bottom. This could be a deterrent for some people.
  • As with all articles of clothing, there may be manufacturing issues.

Best Maternity Thong

Hanky Panky Signature Lace Original Rise Thong

hanky panky, Signature Lace Original Rise Thong, One Size (4-14), Black
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The good news is that most thongs really tend to work well with your baby bump. So, if you’re a pregnant thong lover, it’s very likely that whatever you have will still work during your pregnancy. However, if you’re looking for some lingerie to spice up date night or just wanting to add to your stash, I recommend the Hanky Panky Signature Lace Original Rise Thong.

Features

Although this thong is marketed as a regular thong, it will definitely work as a maternity thong. With its low rise style, the Hanky Panky Signature Lace Original Rise Thong should allow enough room for your baby to grow. This is important because you don’t want your bump to push down your underwear.

This style of Hanky Panky pregnancy thong sits higher on the hips than some of their other styles, which should help your panties stay put even as your baby grows and moves.

These panties are made of soft, stretchable cotton and lace. Plus, they come in three colors.

Since these show off a little more skin, you may want to grab some good stretch mark cream!

Possible Issues

    • Thongs are often listed as one size fits all. It’s very rarely true that one garment can fit one person in the exact same way that it fits another, so be prepared.
    • It appears that if you wear larger than a size 14, these thongs might not be the best choice for you.
    • As with all articles of clothing, there may be manufacturing issues.

Best Full-Coverage Maternity Panties

Kindred Bravely Under the Bump Maternity Underwear

Kindred Bravely Under the Belly Maternity Underwear | Pregnancy Bikini Underwear - 5 Pack (Assorted Pastels, Medium)
Price$$$$
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Does anybody else’s skin riot during pregnancy? Lotions that never bothered me suddenly do, and all my clothes that aren’t a soft material are suddenly very itchy! It’s probably from all that increased circulation. If this sounds like you, give the Kindred Bravely Under The Bump Maternity Underwear a shot. They’re super soft, comfortable, and highly rated by moms of all shapes and sizes.

Features

These pregnancy panties are made from 95% rayon with a 5% hint of spandex. Having a non-itchy fabric that right on the baby bump is fabulous, because I don’t want to have to worry about itching my already bulging bump. Plus, the stretch of spandex means no muffin top!

These Kindred Bravely Under the Bump Pregnancy Panties have the v-shaped, crossover front design that’s characteristic of most maternity panties. While there is less material in the front, there is lots of material on the sides and rear, so you get full bum coverage. As Kindred Bravely put it: no cheek peeks!

The five colors are bright and beautiful without being obnoxious. You also get to old stand-bys of black, gray, and nude-colored panties. The 5 pack is a great way to save some cash on panties that you’ll only be wearing for about a year (because these work great for after baby is born, too!).

The thinner material isn’t entirely no-show, but it works well under most pants and leggings. There’s also a 100% cotton gusset in the crotch, to make it easier to see if you are spotting (you’ll want this past week 38, trust me!).

Possible Issues

    • These run on the small side, so make sure to order true to your size and then go up a size to account for the healthy hips that pregnancy gives you.
    • Not made of cotton, so the breathability is only so-so…which is not great for those swampy summer months.

Comparing Maternity Underwear

The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.


FAQs for Best Underwear for Pregnancy

Do you need to wear maternity underwear when pregnant?

Wearing maternity underwear during pregnancy is completely up to your comfort. Some women enjoy wearing maternity underwear as soon as they start feeling uncomfortable in their normal underwear which could be as soon as the first trimester. On the other hand, some women may not feel the need to wear maternity underwear until the last trimester or ever! Wearing maternity underwear during pregnancy is completely a personal preference.

What’s the benefit of maternity underwear during pregnancy?

Maternity underwear comes in a couple of shapes to help make pregnancy more comfortable. The first option is maternity underwear that comes up above your belly like a belly band. This can be quite comfortable for pregnant women and cover up the belly button to help give a more smooth appearance when wearing shirts.

The other option for maternity underwear is those that sit below a pregnant belly. This is also a comfortable way, for some women, to wear underwear so that it’s out of the way and not rolling down from a growing pregnant belly.

Can you wear cotton underwear during pregnancy?

Wearing cotton underwear during pregnancy is completely fine to do. It is typically a comfortable and cool fabric to wear during all months of pregnancy, especially if you’re pregnant during the hot summer.


Sarah Stockett

After graduating from TCU with a degree in English, I took a break from writing. After accumulating some life experiences and children, I returned because I finally had something to say. I'm passionate about helping people be their best. Whether it's giving advice for success in parenting or information about how to improve your personal health, my top priority is to give you the best information possible.



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