Let me start by saying that I never thought I’d become a girl with opinions about maternity jean waistbands. Like, ever. But at 7 months pregnant and still striving to create content that doesn’t scream “THIS ENTIRE PERSONALITY OF MINE IS OBVIOUSLY NOW PREGNANCY” I’ve been slowly becoming a wee bit obsessed with all things over bump jean construction.
You hit that moment when you realize straight up low-rise or mid-rise maternity jeans just aren’t cutting it for you anymore, right? When your bump is hanging out so far that literally anything underneath it inevitably rolls down your stomach every five minutes whether you’re standing still or not? ENTER: over bump jeans.
Before we dive into this small collection of maternity jeans that I ACTUALLY LOVE, let’s talk about why most options out there are just…no good. I mean, truly an atrocity in ways that make you question whether or not the designer has ever actually been pregnant before.
I’ve tried on some that felt like a giant tube sock was sewn around my torso, some where the panel was so thick and not breathable it literally felt like I was smooshing my belly into death, and some where the denim half was basically leggings pretending to be jeans.
When curating this small collection, I removed any jeans that made the belly panel feel like an afterthought, or made the actual jean half of the jeans feel cheap and costume-y. I wanted versions that actually helped distribute weight around your bump, rather than create new pressure points. Which is why I kept the ones that engineered the panel to come UP high enough on your stomach to help support your baby village without digging into your actual waist, and also had the side seams placed far enough away from your torso that they don’t create that weird tug-y feeling when you bend over.
I did not include ones that used that thin cheap jersey feeling material that wrinkles and shows every line of your underwear, and rolls down if you look at it funny. Did I mention comfort is key for me, because obviously I’m zooming around setting up ring lights for videos all day (down on the floor, bending over to steady the light), crouching down for low angle shots, sitting indian-style on floors for flat lay shots, pacing around running my cute boutique helping customers all day too. Ya know, full content creator and small business owner lifestyle.
I wanted versions that would NOT dig into my stomach when I’m sitting hunched over editing videos for hours on end, and that wouldn’t create weird lines under tighter tops when filming try-on videos. I wanted versions that actually looked like REAL jeans, not maternity costume jeans. Maternity costume jeans to me are anything that look like jeggings with a belly panel added on.
Some brands do that weird thing where you can clearly tell it’s maternity gear because the denim is just too thin and the wash isn’t realistic (aka no actual fading or distressing that looks natural.) I wanted at least one pair that could double for non-maternity jeans in photos, because sometimes I like to do Outfit of the Day style videos where my bump isn’t the main focus of the shoot. DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS. These are what sold me on each pair.
I only included versions that had REAL belt loops (yes you’ll prob never wear a belt with these but they help it *look* like jeans!) and real back pockets with actual stitches that look authentic, and front pockets that are big enough to actually use the front pockets. So many maternity jeans brands opt for fake front pockets or pockets that are so tiny you don’t even bother. And please note I didn’t care what crazy trendy distressing or embellishments were popular in denim right now, I’d rather have a classic well-photographing wash that feels good over bump fit any day.
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Another thing I considered were options that flatter different stages of your pregnancy. Because maybe in your first trimester you want something with less stretch that also doesn’t scream pregnancy, but then by your third trimester you just care about maximum comfortability and having room to grow. So I made sure to include options that would work for you whether you’re in the “I still kind of want to look somewhat put together for videos” phase or the “Comfort IS LIFE” phase.
I did a lot of digging to find versions that used the right panel fabric. I couldn’t in good conscious include any that had panels that were see-through thin, ultra thick and heavy, or made out of that weird slippery material that never quite stays put. The pairs I loved used a thick-but-breathable knit that moves with you and won’t make you feel gross and sweaty like some baggy clothes made from synthetic materials can.
I disqualified any pairs that felt cheap/plasticky or had that weird sheen that cheap workout clothes are made of. How they washed AND cared for was also something I considered when choosing these. OK hear me out, when you’re pregnant and hustling hard you need things that can be thrown in the wash frequently without losing their shape or color.
All of these washed AND stayed true to size even after multiple washes. I didn’t want to include any that shrunk up or had panels that stretched out and looked saggy after one wash like some cheaper versions tend to do. Also, let’s be real – NO ONE has time for things that need to be dry cleaned while you’re growing humans and running a business and trying to create content.
The fit through the leg was another one of my non-negotiables.
I obviously wanted options that would work well with the chunkier sneakers and boots I wear to work every day at the boutique, but also looked good with some of the dressier shoes I wear when filming more “outfit-focused” content. Different leg silhouettes were important because you never know what you’ll feel like wearing as your body changes!
Some days you’ll feel like rocking the slim cut jean, other days you just want the ease of something more relaxed-fitting. Lastly, I kept ones that PHOTOGRAPHED well…because ya know, I actually have to post about these on Instagram. No shame in my game.
Over bump jeans can sometimes look a little weird in photos if the rise isn’t placed right, or if the panel creates a disproportionate silhouette under fitted shirts. Ones that made the cut all have panels that smoothly hug your bump under fitted tees and knit sweaters without creating bulk or visible pant lines, and have a rise that wasn’t too high or too low where it made me look like I had an extra short torso in ANY of my mirror selfies. And of course they all HAVE to pass the “I wore these from opening the boutique at 8am to closing up and editing photos & videos until 10pm” test.
I didn’t want any that required me to constantly adjust them throughout the day, nor did I want anything that looked legitimately worse after a full day of wear than it did when I first pulled it out of my closet in the morning. These all pass what I like to call the “full content creation day test” – shooting content in the morning, working retail in the afternoon, then editing until my eyes can’t stay open at night, all while still feeling put together instead of “ugh why did I even try.” I honestly love that this collection has an option for each of my go-to three moods: classy enough to grab for content you’ve prepped all week, comfy enough to wear ALL day at work, and everything in between. They’re effortlessly chic and not trying to be “trendy maternity” jeans, they’re just straight up good jeans that happen to have the added bonus of having a panel for your baby bump.
Which is what I unknowingly desperately wanted all those lazy summer afternoons I spent scrolling www.stilltryingtonotlookpregnant.com.
