Leggings — a great staple to have in your closet on any normal day and a desperately desired staple to have when you’re pregnant (especially in the cold weather seasons).

Back when I had a baby on the way, I tested out two of the most talked-about brands in maternity leggings, Spanx and Blanqi, as well as a third, stylish option that received great reviews in an effort to find the BEST maternity leggings.

Maternity Leggings That Check All The Boxes: SPANX, Blanqi, or Ingrid & Isabel?

Hey, mamas, this post has been updated for 2023.

When I first got pregnant, I declared that I wasn’t going to buy any maternity clothing. That worked for a little while, especially since these non-maternity leggings are comfortable and stretchy enough to work wonders in those first months of a growing bump. Fast-forward to my third trimester, and I was buying up more maternity pieces than you would likely believe.

So, what switched? UHM, uterus pressure, hip pain, and needing an option beyond dresses. I rounded up my favorite maternity jeans in a separate post, but what I REALLY wanted to find this pregnancy was the perfect maternity legging.

Even a few years later, my reviews still stand — I’ll never forget the last-minute baby-prepping necessities (folding tiny laundry, preparing the crib and installing that car seat)!

1. Blanqi Everyday Maternity Belly Support Leggings

You know how you say something out loud once, and your phone immediately begins showing you advertisements catered to that something? When I found out I was pregnant, Blanqi maternity leggings were probably the first thing to show up all across my social media channels.

It was springtime, so its biker shorts were specifically pushed my way (and I loooove good biking shorts). I was still in the phase of, “Maternity clothing, what? Why?” so I never took the clickbait (my BAD). When everything changed and I decided to find the best maternity leggings, Blanqi leggings were the first one I thought about.

I shouldn’t have been so surprised to find that these. leggings. are. amazing. I ordered what I would have in pre-pregnancy sizing — a medium — and they have everything I love in a pair of leggings: slightly compressing in all the right areas, long enough to reach my ankles…and the belly support? An amazing fit that feels like it’s offering a slightly lifted hug to my larger-than-life belly. Not all belly bands are created the same, but Blanqi got it right. If there was a little more time in my pregnancy journey, I would totally grab this same pair in blue.

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2. SPANX Mama Maternity “Look At Me Now” Leggings

These SPANX maternity leggings are remarkably similar to the Blanqi pair. (More sizes here.) The length hits perfectly, they have great compression, and the belly band is supportive. The differences are few but should be noted. First, the material these are made from isn’t quite as soft as the Blanqi Everyday leggings. Second, the compression is a bit firmer — which is to be expected, since SPANX is famous for body-hugging and -shaping materials.

The biggest difference, however, is that after a full day of wearing these, they begin sliding down just slightly. Not enough to not love them, but just so that I feel like I need to hike them up in the upper thighs once in awhile.

There’s one major thing the SPANX “Look At Me Now” leggings have on the Blanqi leggings, however. My husband, who took all these pictures, lowered the camera while shooting this pair and said, “Your butt looks great in these.” Gold, pure gold. I pretty much don’t have a butt — like, none whatsoever — so this was a huge statement.

And, ladies, if there’s one thing we need while our bodies are ever-expanding during pregnancy, it’s finding ways to still feel confident. Of course, looks aren’t everything, but comments like that from the hubs? “Alexa, play ‘Flawless’ by Beyonce.”

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3. Ingrid & Isabel Faux-Leather Maternity Leggings

I was originally eyeing up the SPANX maternity leggings in a faux-leather material, but the maternity pair doesn’t seem to be as beloved as the original version. Instead, I opted to try Ingrid & Isabel’s faux-leather leggings, which received mostly great reviews as I hunted around the internet.

I won’t beat around the bush here: These aren’t my favorite. My longer legs cause these to crop a bit shorter than I personally prefer. The faux material is very slight — not enough to look like I’m rocking leather pants. The belly band is a different material than the pants, which totally makes sense (who wants faux leather on the belly?), but I prefer the other two pairs, which have a seamless flow from the band to the leggings, allowing for more styling options.

Last, because of the more stylish material, these don’t provide much in the way of compression. They wear much more like pants rather than leggings that keep everything held in. Perhaps that’s why reviewers love these over the SPANX version; if you’re not looking for the typical compression leggings but instead want more of a normal pair of pants — these could be the thing for you.

The Best Maternity Leggings: Verdict?

So, WHAT is my vote for the best maternity leggings? I should’ve taken note of those dang Instagram ads months ago, because the Blanqi Everyday Maternity Belly Support Leggings receive five stars in every way. But let’s not forget the Spanx pair — that comment from the hubs alone reserved a spot for them in my closet.

Xx,
Amy

Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing my pregnancy journey, professional photo work, a daily dose of optimism + positive affirmations, and the random favorites that fill my days like cats & binging “Gilmore Girls.” See you there!

P.S. This one’s for the pinners..