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I'm going to be totally honest: Shopping for workout clothes when you're pregnant kinda sucks. Determined to stay active, I started looking for options when I was about five months in, and my normal activewear started feeling snug. Somehow, it was even more frustrating than searching for normal maternity wear (also not fun!).
For one thing, very few brands make maternity workout clothes. And those that do often offer limited options—or clothing that's made with lower-quality fabric and that doesn't stand up to the same fit standards as non-maternity wear.
I worked out in 20 different maternity activewear options to find the best picks. A lot of chafing and legging slippage occurred—but some pieces definitely stood apart from the rest.
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Gap Maternity GapFit Eclipse GFast Full Panel 7/8 Leggings
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Gap Maternity GapFit Eclipse GFast Full Panel 7/8 Leggings
The first thing I noticed about these leggings: They're made with a high-quality performance fabric—similar material to my non-maternity favorites (you'd be surprised how often the fabric feels like a cheaper version when you buy something specifically made for expecting moms). One thing worth noting: All of the Gap options I tried ran large, so take that into account.
When pregnancy bloat makes you feel anything but cute, this strappy-back tank is the perfect antidote. Same caveat as with the Gap leggings, though: This tends to run big.
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Old Navy Maternity Fitted Herringbone Performance Zip Jacket
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Old Navy Maternity Fitted Herringbone Performance Zip Jacket
Credit: Maternity Fitted Herringbone Performance Zip Jacket
If you're taking your workouts outside (or just want to do errands while wearing athleisure), this zip-up is the perfect layering staple. I especially love that it has room for an expanding belly without going overboard on the ruching.
Real talk: Maternity sports bras are the same as regular sports bras. But since you might need a bigger size these days, the racerback design helps give you extra support. Plus, Beyond Yoga's Supplex fabric is ideal for avoiding chafing (a real issue when your nipples are a little more...present...than usual).
These aren't specifically maternity wear, but they are hands-down my favorite leggings to wear while preggo. (Just order a size or two up from your normal—something you can do with basically any workout wear that's just fitting more snugly than usual.)
The material these leggings are made from is stretchy but lightweight, so it doesn't feel like it's constraining your stomach area. So comfy, whether you're doing an indoor cycling class or throwing on something for casual Friday.
Robin Hilmantel is the digital director at Women's Health, where she oversees the editorial strategy for WomensHealthMag.com and its social platforms. She has almost 10 years of experience writing and editing for national publications, and more than 8 years of experience writing and editing health, fitness, and nutrition content specifically. In addition to Women's Health, her work has also appeared in TIME, Food Network Magazine, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, SELF, Glamour.com and other publications.