Denim jeans for pregnancy

If you’re the kind of woman who longs for the weekend mostly because it means you can slip back into your favourite jeans, then finding a suitable alternative for your growing bump is the one essential piece of maternitywear you should invest in.

Mamas & Papas’ 2010 collection sees their maternity jeans range offer the biggest choice ever. From skinny-fit to baggy, ‘boyfriend’ jeans to boot-cut styles, the M&P range is impressive, plus it all comes in three leg lengths and adjustable waist fittings to cover all shapes, sizes and preferences.

In blacks and dark blues, their everyday maternity jeans start at about £30, rising to more funky smart-casual flares and pale-wash options among a bigger range around £40. For something special, their newly launched Limited Edition range has been an instant success, offering a great tailored shape throughout pregnancy, in good quality Japanese denim and available in boot-cut or skinny fit for £100 a pair.

The ‘denim bar’ of the Blossom Mother and Child website is full of delights to make any pregnant woman feel like she’s an A-list mum-to-be. Ranging from the True Religion Billy straightleg style at £135 and scaling all the way up to the £234 True Religion Joey style with the Blossom Band around the waist, this collection includes white jeans, boot-cuts and even a couple of maxi denim skirts for those women hankering for a spot of rock festival (circa 1974) chic…

Séraphine have a small but impressive range of well-tailored maternity jeans that offer boot-cut, skinny fit and straight-leg looks within an appealing £39 to £59 price tag. Low waist fittings and discreet side panels means that their jeans won’t look too mumsy even in your biggest months – no surprise that Elle magazine rated their Skinny Maternity Jeans (£49) as the best they’d tried.

For Isabella Oliver, a small but focused offering is favoured, with just two styles available in dark denim or white. Their bootleg cut Marilyn jeans (£115) are made with stretch denim and go under the bump, with a ribbed-front waistband. The IO Jeans (£109) also come in a boot-cut style, with inside adjusters and a stretch-jersey waistband. They also have dark denim shorts for when you want to show off your legs…

The maternity range at Top Shop is worth checking out too, for a youthful rock-chick look to liven up your pregnancy. All their styles are £40 and highlights include the Martha Vintage Eva jeans – a sassy thigh-hugging look with fabulous flare finish available in sizes 6 to 16, with adjustable side panels. The Baxter jeans come with the lived-in pre-stained effect in a dark, ‘mid stone’ colour, or for a more regular look that suits daywear or a night out, go for their classy Elle Bootcut jeans in a dark indigo denim, or the baggy look with the Bette blue jeans. 

Five tips for perfect maternity jeans

• Check before you buy a certain brand whether you need to up your regular size or if the measurements you should go for are your normal sizes – it’s most likely that you should go for your usual jeans size because there will be inbuilt adjustability. If you opt for a larger size simply because you’re already feeling huge you might end up with too much sagginess.


• As with regular jeans, they might take a wash or two to really get snug to your shape. If you opt for a style you’re used to this will make it easier to trust your instincts in the changing room.


• Most maternity jeans will fit just under your bump rather than coming over the top. If you want to cover your bump when wearing maternity trousers, or to hide unfastened top buttons, it’s worth opting for a ‘belly band’  – a fabric covering that’s easy to wear with trousers or skirts, that will last for the whole pregnancy.


• If you don’t want to stock up on too many maternity items because you won’t be wearing them for very long, bear in mind that the early months after the birth will probably require more forgiving waistbands too! If you only want to buy just one pair of maternity jeans, go for ones that will look good with smart tops and a jacket for work as well as with a sweatshirt or cardigan at weekends.


• The elasticated side panels will expand as you do, but try not to loosen them too much by using them to hitch your jeans up as this will gradually pull them out of shape. Make sure you wash them at the temperature on the label as the elasticated panels probably won’t withstand your usual jeans-wash setting.