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Best maternity jeans for comfort and style 2024
You can’t beat a good pair of jeans and that doesn’t change when you’re pregnant. Find the best maternity jeans to suit your figure throughout pregnancy and beyond.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated May 20, 2024
It’s hard enough finding a pair of jeans to flatter your figure when you’re not pregnant so it can get even more complicated once you have a pregnancy bump, which will expand on a daily basis.
You can live in maternity dresses and leggings, of course, but nothing’s quite so useful and go-with-everything as a great pair of jeans. In recent years the top retailers for maternity clothes have really stepped up their denim game, designing size-inclusive pieces with trend as well as comfort in mind, making now a better time than ever to shop for the best maternity jeans to accommodate a pre- (and post) natal figure in style. As many a Mumsnetter reports, you may even find yourself still reaching for your favourite pair long after you've shelved your pregnancy books and put away your prenatal vitamins.
The best maternity jeans: at a glance
As home to the largest online network of UK parents, Mumsnet users are a wealth of information when it comes to all things pregnancy and parenting-related from the best TENS machines to the most useful parenting books. Using their top recommendations, we've rounded up our pick of the best maternity jeans for 2024, from under bump to over bump and side panel styles. We've also made every effort to keep our listings as up to date as possible, so whether you're looking for denim shorts or cropped and casual for the summer months, boyfriend, mom, girlfriend or skinnies, our pick of the best maternity jeans have you covered no matter what the season.
Here's our pick of the best maternity jeans UK 2024.
Seraphine
Large range of styles to choose from
Very good quality jeans
Good range of sizes and leg lengths
Jeans are quite pricey compared to other brands
Not very many colour options
Price range: From £35 - £69 | Sizes: 6 - 26, Petite, Regular, Long
Worn by the likes of Kate Hudson and Kate Middleton, you’re in good company if you choose Seraphine maternity jeans (or any of their maternity clothes, for that matter). While they're a little pricier than some of the more budget brands on our list, the quality means that if you're looking for a maternity wardrobe staple, a pair of these are well worth the investment.
From cropped to skinny, boyfriend, ripped, jeggings and bootcut, there's a pair to suit every style and every season. We also love the inclusive sizing including petite and longer leg lengths as well as a Curve range.
Read next: Find the best pregnancy pillow and comfiest maternity leggings as tried and tested by Mumsnetters.
H&M MAMA
Great range of styles
Affordable
Sizing can be a little hit and miss
Price range: From £28 - £55 | Sizes: XS - XXL
Mumsnetters love H&M MAMA for maternity wear, and the high street retailer's online range of maternity jeans offer a great choice of styles and sizes for a slightly lower price point than Seraphine. From on-trend wide-legged to summer-ready shorts, most pairs come in a range of colour options too.
Some reviewers did note that the sizing can be a little off, so it might be worth trying out a couple of different options.
Related: The best stretch mark cream and baby gifts tried and tested by real mums
New Look Maternity
Affordable
Highly rated
Not as great a range of styles as other brands - mostly skinny jeans
Sizing not as inclusive as other brands
Price range: From £9 | Sizes: 8 - 20
With sale prices as low as £9 (at the time of writing) New Look Maternity jeans are a great option if you're watching the pennies during pregnancy.
Although the current maternity denim range tends to err towards the skinny jean style, New Look changes things up pretty frequently, so whether your bag is distressed denim or dungaree shorts, it's worth checking back if your favourite style isn't currently in stock.
Related: The best maternity bras and birthing balls as recommended by real mums-to-be
M&S Maternity Ivy Over Bump Skinny Jeans
Good range of sizes and leg lengths
Trusted brand
Affordable
Might be a bit too warm if shopping in summer months
Some reviewers say they run short
Price on writing: £35 | Sizes: 6 - 22, Petite, Regular, Long
Some say that skinny jeans have had their moment, but if they're still a staple part of your pre-maternity wardrobe, there's no reason for that to change once your regular pair no longer fits.
These pull-on skinny jeans feature added stretch for extra comfort and are designed to hug the leg in a sleek, flattering style which works whatever the weather. Plus, they're made from responsibly-sourced cotton which uses less water, which is always a bonus for those conscious of spending too much on items they will only wear temporarily.
Reviewers like the fit, comfort and style of these jeans, though some say they run a little short so it may well be worth measuring before ordering a pair.
Related: Find the best pregnancy and ovulation tests according to Mumsnet
TU Maternity Overbump Mom Jeans
Improved fit
Comfy overbump panel
On-trend, laid back style
No choice of leg length
No choice of colour options
Price on writing: £20 | Sizes: 8 - 22
If you're looking for a simple pair of comfy maternity jeans in the universally loved, laid-back 'Mom' style, this pair from TU Clothing at Sainsbury's ticks the boxes.
At just £20, it's a budget-friendly option and the beauty of Mom jeans are that they can be rolled up for a cropped, summery style or worn full length with trainers or ankle boots and look great either way. This pair features added stretch and a soft over-bump panel for added comfort.
Read next: The best pregnancy and parenting books we love
GAP Maternity True Waistband Girlfriend Jenas
Made with Washwell program which saves water
5 real pockets
Pricey
Not available in longer or shorter leg lengths
Price on writing: £80 | Sizes: Waist size 26 to 32, length R
GAP usually reigns supreme when it comes to comfortable clothes and these on-trend girlfriend maternity jeans don’t let the side down. Offering plenty of give to accommodate a rapidly growing baby bump, the stretch denim means that you can slide in and out of them quite easily - always a winner when you get to the ‘I can’t see my own feet’ later stages of pregnancy.
The girlfriend style is a great option for warmer months as the bottoms can be rolled up and create an effortlessly casual look with a pair of white trainers or chunky sandals.
Related: Combine with a pair of the best maternity underwear for extra comfort as your body changes.
MAMAJEANS Milano Maternity Jeans
Good variety of colours to choose from
Made in Italy
Sizing is Italian so best to consult sizing chart and reviews before purchase
Pricey
Price on writing: From £47 | Sizes: 6 - 22
If you’re feeling bored of the usual denim tones of black or blue, these MAMAJEANS offer a decent alternative.
With colours ranging from ice grey to bright red, you’re sure to find at least one pair of the MAMAJEANS Milano Jeans to suit your taste and wardrobe. They also feature a cotton elastane mix and a soft, stretchy over-bump band to keep them secure and snug.
Read next: Struggling with post-partum incontinence? You're not alone: read up to discover what Mumsnet users have to say about the best pelvic floor trainer to help strengthen and tighten those muscles post-baby.
More of the best maternity jeans
Buy now from ASOSOver bump Joni from Topshop are lovely- so comfy and look great. My sister passed her maternity clothes on to me and the Topshop jeans are still in good enough shape four pregnancies later.
See the range from ASOSI loved my maternity jeans and wore them for probably too long after giving birth! I preferred the under bump to over bump and got a few pairs from ASOS own brand.
Buy now from H&MH&M do comfy maternity shorts (denim). I bought a pair and have been living in them during the hot weather!
What week do you start wearing maternity jeans?
There are no definite rules when it comes to maternity wear - do what feels most comfortable to you! However, you may feel that your bump is starting to grow around 14 weeks although you may not be showing yet. Most women start showing around 16 weeks and, by 20 weeks, you may find that loose-fitting or maternity clothes feel most comfortable.
Should you size up in maternity jeans?
It may be tempting to just buy your usual style of jeans in a bigger size but this doesn’t generally work because, while your abdomen may be fast expanding, the rest of your body will remain the same or thereabouts.
Maternity wear works in the same way as regular clothes - your usual size will be made to fit your proportions. For that reason, it’s best to buy your usual size in maternity jeans and, when trying them on, check that they fit well around your legs and bum. Buying too big may mean that they keep falling down, which can be incredibly annoying when you’re just trying to get on with your day.
What are the different types of maternity jeans?
You can wear maternity jeans with a stretchy waistband that fit under your bump or maternity jeans with a wide stretchy panel - usually made from soft jersey fabric - that will fit over your growing bump.
What is the difference between under bump and over bump maternity jeans?
Maternity wear is all about personal choice and comfort. While some pregnant women may prefer to wear their jeans under their bump, others will prefer the snugness of a jersey bump panel. Bear in mind that there are drawbacks to both options of course - with a bump panel, you can’t tuck in your tops. Under the bump jeans may not feel quite so secure and may occasionally slip down a little.
What jeans are best for pregnancy?
Seraphine Cotton Organic Over Bump Maternity Jeans are the best maternity jeans in our roundup. Beloved by A-list celebrity mums-to-be and Mumsnetters (who are all A-listers as far as we’re concerned), they offer comfort and style points through pregnancy and beyond.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from other style mavens, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which maternity jeans were rated by fashionable Mumsnet users. We compiled a list of the best maternity jeans they loved for fit, practicality, style and value for money. We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which maternity jeans were recommended by fashion experts and bloggers - and what customer reviews said about them too. Having collated all that information, we picked the best maternity jeans that we thought would make the best buys.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things pregnancy and child play related.