After you give birth, there’s a good chance you’ll want a good selection of comfortable, supportive, and stylish clothing. Postpartum leggings have become a popular solution, offering a comfortable and stretchy option for women recovering from childbirth.
With that said, so many legging options are available out there, which can make knowing which ones are worth buying a bit difficult.
We’re here to help – we will break down what to look for in a pair of high-quality postpartum leggings and the ten best leggings on the market that cater to every kind of preference and are perfect for everyday wear.
Personally, as a two-time c-section mom, I lived in my leggings after birth. They were the only pants that didn’t irritate my c-section incision and also offered gentle compression and support when I needed it.
Quick shop:
- Seamless Construction: Blanqi Everyday High Waist Postpartum Leggings
- Budget-Friendly: Mothers Essentials High Waist Tummy Compression Control Slimming Leggings
- Fun Prints: Storq Signature Leggings
- Soft Support: HATCH The Ultra Soft Before, During, and After Legging
- Mama-Magic Waistband: Spanx Mama Look At Me Now Seamless Leggings
- Pockets Available: Kindred Bravely Louisa Postpartum Leggings
- Zipper Detail: Storq Zip Leggings
- Made in the USA: BaoBei Sculpt and Recovery Postpartum Leggings
- Available at Target: Ingrid and Isabel’s Active Postpartum Legging
- Super-High Waist: Belly Bandit Mother Tucker Postpartum Compression Support Leggings
Are postpartum leggings and maternity leggings the same?
While you can absolutely wear your maternity leggings as long as they’re comfortable after you give birth, postpartum and maternity leggings serve different purposes.
Maternity leggings are designed to accommodate a growing baby bump with a high, stretchy waistband made from soft material intended to be pulled over the belly to offer extra support.
On the other hand, postpartum leggings are specifically designed to support the postpartum body after childbirth. These leggings also have a high waistband, but they’re designed to compress the abdomen a bit and provide more support to the pelvic floor.
They’re more advanced design-wise than regular leggings, too.
Many new mothers feel more confident and comfortable in a good-quality pair of postpartum leggings after giving birth, especially if they offer light compression in all the right places.
What to look for in postpartum leggings
There are a few things you want to consider when picking out your desired pair(s) of postpartum leggings. These leggings will make you feel comfortable, supported, and stylish as your body recovers from pregnancy and childbirth.
When choosing your postpartum leggings, you initially want to ensure the pair has a high waistband for optimal support. You also want to ensure the legging material is made of soft, breathable fabric with slight compression qualities.
You want to look for leggings that fit snuggly without any discomfort.
It’s also important to remember that if you’ve had a c-section, you want to go for leggings where the band comes up high enough over your incision site and avoid pairs that put too much pressure on your incision.
Compression leggings are a-okay to wear after a c-section and can even help support the healing process as your muscles are working hard to take their pre-pregnancy form.
The 10 comfiest postpartum leggings
1. Blanqi Everyday High Waist Postpartum Leggings
Blanqi is undoubtedly a crowd favorite when it comes to postpartum leggings.
Their Highwaist Postpartum and Nursing Support Leggings come high up around your belly for the utmost support, provide gentle compression to help re-engage your core muscles, and are super comfortable.
They offer just the right amount of compression, too.
2. Mothers Essentials High Waist Tummy Compression Control Slimming Leggings
These ultra-high-waisted leggings check off all the boxes – they are seamless to help avoid irritation, come high up around the waist for excellent support, offer four levels of compression (hello, blood flow), and are super budget-friendly!
What’s not to love about all that?
3. Storq Signature Leggings
Another huge fan favorite is the Storq Signature Leggings. These leggings are great to wear while pregnant when you enter the postpartum period, and long after that! The material is luxuriously soft and safe to wear if you’ve had a c-section.
4. HATCH The Ultra Soft Before, During, and After Legging
The HATCH Ultra Soft Before, During, and After Legging will be your best friend throughout your pregnancy and then some. Super soft and stretchy, these leggings don’t offer much compression, but they’re still very supportive and extremely comfortable.
I think they’re similar compression-wise to the Lululemon Align leggings.
5. Spanx Mama Look At Me Now Seamless Leggings
Available in a wide range of sizes and complete with an exceptionally high waistband, these leggings from Spanx can easily stretch as your bump grows and still be the perfect fit postpartum.
They’re a great pair of leggings but don’t have the most affordable price tag.
Speaking from personal experience, seamless leggings are perfect for avoiding irritation in extra sensitive areas after birth, and these are a top pick by moms who have had a c-section, too.
They seem to offer some extra stretch, too, and go above your belly button.
6. Kindred Bravely Louisa Postpartum Leggings
Another fantastic option that can be worn throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period, the Kindred Bravely Louisa Postpartum Leggings are unbelievably stretchy, supportive, and comfortable.
They offer a fair degree of compression you’ll love, and the waistband is high enough to provide extra coverage if desired. There’s even a version available with pockets.
7. Storq Zip Leggings
If you’re looking for a pair of postpartum leggings that are a bit more stylish than your essential pair, look no further.
The Storq Zip Leggings come in various inclusive sizes and have a tasteful design that sets them apart from typical athleisure-style leggings.
I love the sleek look that can take you from your postpartum journey back into the office if needed. They’re the perfect solution offering good support, high-quality materials, and classic style.
8. Bao Bei Sculpt and Recovery Postpartum Leggings
The Bao Bei Sculpt and Recovery Postpartum Leggings are what you want to opt for if you want a good level of compression that will support your abdomen, back, pelvis, and legs excellently while remaining unbelievably soft and stretchy.
9. Ingrid and Isabel’s Active Postpartum Legging
These leggings offer an unmatched level of support and stretch; you can also find them at your local Target! These are ideal for active mamas who want their postpartum leggings to be soft and stay in place.
There’s also a special extra-low belly panel seam intended for those recovering from a c-section.
10. Belly Bandit Mother Tucker Postpartum Compression Support Leggings
The Belly Bandit Mother Tucker Postpartum Compression Support Leggings are complete with the company’s one-of-a-kind compression technology that you’ll simply adore.
These come up high enough around the waist to provide discretion while you nurse, and the material couldn’t be any softer. These leggings are also a top choice among moms with a C-section due to their wonderful compression qualities.
Adjust to motherhood in comfort and style with the best postpartum leggings
Postpartum leggings can be essential for new moms who want to feel comfortable, practical, and stylish as they navigate the early stages of motherhood.
These leggings are designed to support the muscles in the abdomen and accommodate changes in the shape of your body while being stylish enough to dress up and comfortable enough to lounge around in.
Investing in a high-quality pair of postpartum leggings makes you feel confident and ready to take on motherhood with the utmost ease.
Other articles you might enjoy
