After giving birth to my son, I pretty much lived in loungewear and pajamas and it became important to me to invest in high quality, versatile sets that would last me even beyond the newborn stage. I also really appreciated having aesthetically pleasing loungewear for the postpartum period, so I didn’t feel the need to change when visitors arrived. Now, as I prepare for the arrival of our twins, I’m still wearing many of the same pieces. Here are my tips for purchasing maternity loungewear that will see you through pregnancy and beyond:
What to Look for in Maternity Loungewear
- Versatility: When investing in maternity loungewear that will get you through the various phases of pregnancy & postpartum life, look for something that can grow with you and will also allow for breastfeeding, pumping, and skin-to-skin. Buttons and quarter/half-zips are great for this purpose, or you may find that you gravitate towards wrap pieces. Alternatively, often times sizing up a size or two will give you the room you need to stay comfortable throughout. And, of course, elastic waistbands provide a ton of flexibility in sizing.
- Fabric Choice: Stretchy & soft are my priorities when it comes to maternity & postpartum loungewear. Fabrics like jersey cotton and bamboo feel great on the skin and will last you through pregnancy. Organic cotton is another great option. And, for the comfiest luxe pieces (especially in the winter), I love cashmere and merino wool.
- Style: In addition to pieces that feel nice, I also look for pieces that look nice. This helped me feel more put together during a rather chaotic period and also meant I didn’t need to change before we had visitors. Plus, once your baby arrives, you’ll be filling up your camera roll! I like to stock up on a number of neutral/basic sets plus a few fun ones so I can mix & match when I’m feeling adventurous but have some off-the-shelf outfits ready to go when I’m not.
Top Brands for Maternity Loungewear
I sometimes find maternity-specific brands to be a bit bland and to have an odd fit outside of the heavily pregnant/immediately postpartum stage. However, there are some really clever pieces from brands like Seraphine Maternity and Hatch, especially when it comes to nursing friendly options. There are also maternity lines available from some non-maternity brands which often involve more color/patterns. Here are some brands that I recommend for maternity and postpartum loungewear:
Maternity-Specific Brands
- H&M MAMA has some great affordable pieces for before & after pregnancy. It is fast fashion, but I tend to find that the pieces last well enough and I like that they often release new styles, so it feels like there is more of a variety than other maternity brands. This is also my go-to for postpartum basics such as nursing bras/tanks.
- LAKE Pajamas is somewhere I always place an order when I am visiting the US. Their normal pajamas will see you through most of pregnancy, but I also absolutely love the extra room (and buttons) in their maternity styles. They also have some great matching family styles if you’re thinking further ahead – the kids sizes runs lightly small, so I buy my son’s a size or two up and he can usually wear them right away and continue to grow into them. And the 100% pima cotton feels SO GOOD on the skin.
- Bumpsuit is a splurge that’s worth every penny. The actual bumpsuits are great for dressing up and down during pregnancy (I have a Lucy and a Kate), but I think that the cloud lounge set is the true star of the show for postpartum. It’s so soft and roomy and the top is cropped enough that it’s still convenient for breastfeeding even without buttons. It’s a set that I wore frequently in between pregnancies, too.
- Chelsea Peers is the first place I look when I’m looking for a fun or seasonal set of pajamas. They’re a great (not too expensive) treat and I always love seeing what new patterns they come out with. There is a maternity pajama line (highly recommend the TENCEL Modal Set), but you can also get by with sizing up in a lot of the non-maternity pieces.
Non-Maternity Brands with Bump & Breastfeeding Friendly Pieces
- Free People is great for knit co-ords and they have a number of styles that are nursing friendly. I also love that most pieces are available in so many colors – once you find something that works, you can go back for more.
- Eberjey is my go-to pajama brand outside of pregnancy. I have their jersey pajamas in multiple styles and they’re the first thing I reach for in my pajama drawer. They’re definitely on the pricier side, but you can often find sets in the sales (e.g., Selfridges, Anthropologie) or on The Outnet.
- Activewear brands like Lululemon and Fabletics are great non-maternity options. The lululemon super high-rise align leggings are non-maternity but lasted me through my last pregnancy. I also love the Softstreme Pant (size up for pregnancy).
- Additionally, pattern-forward brands like Desmond & Dempsey, Damson Madder, and Anthropologie feature many pieces with buttons & ties; I find it harder to get the sizing right with these, but you could find some gems with a bit of sizing up/trial & error.
- Amazon is hit or miss when it comes to fashion (I keep probably 30-40% of what I order); however, if you want Free People looks at a lower price point, it’s definitely worth a look. I’ve linked a number of maternity-friendly sets on my Amazon Storefront.
My Maternity Loungewear Picks
Though I tend to lean away from maternity brands, this 4-piece set is a great option to get you through pregnancy & postpartum and the pieces can serve as bases for many outfits. For a cheaper option, I imagine this 2-piece set from H&M will get lots of wear (*adds to cart*). And this H&M set ~looks~ identical to the Bumpsuit cloud set (at a much nicer price point!).
If you’re looking for something a bit bolder, the dramatic collar of this Damson Madder set is a fun twist to a very practical button-down pajama top. For something you can actually wear out of the house, I just bought this Free People Knit Co-Ord and already have this Knit Skirt Set from Amazon, which I love to lounge around the house in. And I can’t mention Amazon without mentioning the Amazon Essentials x Sofia Grainge pajama set which I’ve been recommending to absolutely everyone recently.
For those of you in a warmer climate, I love this Free People Sweater Set. You also can’t go wrong with a shortie set from Chelsea Peers or Eberjey.
Finally, for a total splurge that I’ve yet to take the plunge on, these Chinti + Parker cashmere trousers can be paired with any of the matching sweater options to make the chicest set!
Loungewear: Skirt Set | Bumpsuit | Cardigan Set | Cashmere Sweater | Cashmere Pants | Linen Shirt | Softstreme Pants Pajamas: Eberjey Nightie | D&D Set | Heart Pajama Set | Lake Maternity Pajamas | Amazon Essentials Pajama Set | H&M Lounge Set | Eberjey Shortie Set | D&D Tie Set
How to Accessorize Maternity Loungewear for Pregnancy and Postpartum
If you’re looking to take a set of pajamas from night to day or want to make a loungewear set look a bit more like a real outfit, accessories can take you a long way! If you’re breastfeeding, cardigans will become your best friend. It’s so easy to create an outfit out of a cardigan & leggings, with a nursing tank underneath. Sezane is great for timeless, high quality cardigans and I’ve heard great things about this lightweight cardigan from H&M. Longer cardigans are also a great substitute for bathrobes if you don’t want to be in your bathrobe when visitors come over. A long cashmere cardigan or merino wool cardigan is a great one to treat yourself to (or ask for as a gift).
Hair accessories are another great way to take a loungewear look from the couch to the pub. Headbands have always been my go-to and postpartum was no exception. They work wonders to hide dirty hair (and PP hair loss) and make you look a bit more put together. I also loved throwing on a baseball cap and a nice coat over a loungewear set for a casual out-of-the-house look. Currently, Clementine & Mint is my favorite for headbands; I only wear hats from ’47; and, I love to browse Anthropologie for fun hair accessories – headbands, clips, scrunchies, and more.
Lastly, trainers! Whether you’re walking a baby to sleep or just trying to get from A to B while pushing a heavy buggy, trainers will likely become your shoe of choice. I recommend a couple pairs of trendy but functional trainers so you can create outfits you love without sacrificing comfort. My favorites are the New Balance 327s, On’s The Roger Centre Court, and any slip-on, slip-off option from Kizik.
