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…
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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.”
@sukiwaterhouse / Instagram
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…
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