Research shows that staying active during pregnancy has benefits for both the mother and baby. This fact is backed by scientific studies and demonstrated by strong women like Serena Williams, Paula Radcliffe, and Alysia Montano. According to experts Dr. Catherine Cram and Dr. James Clapp (authors of Exercising Through Your Pregnancy), physical activity can lower the risk of excess weight gain, gestational diabetes and postpartum depression in the mother — without harming the baby or causing the child health problems later on (in fact, much the opposite). Staying active can help you have a shorter labour and recovery, increase your confidence in your body, and help your unborn baby with stress adaptation. Cool, huh!
With your beautiful changing body comes challenges to staying fit and healthy. To optimise your fitness journey — whether prenatal exercises, a gentle maternity yoga class, hiking, or home workouts — you'll need to invest in maternity activewear that gives you the support and comfort to help you move confidently and with ease. We definitely don't want maternity leggings or yoga pants that need constant adjusting as we move. And nursing sports bras that might cause more harm than good — ugh. Normal activewear during pregnancy also doesn't provide enough support, and the band tends to gather and roll, causing discomfort.
We've rounded up the important things to consider when buying maternity fitness wear so you can feel your best while staying active through every stage of your pregnancy.
During your pregnancy, we recommend the following:
1. Supportive Maternity Activewear
Maternity compression tights, maternity yoga pants, or maternity leggings with targeted support in crucial areas — pelvic floor, lower back, and pelvis.
Invest in maternity leggings or shorts that provide comfortable compression to reduce swelling in the legs, feet and ankles, and offer targeted support in areas like your lower back, bump, sacroiliac, and pelvic floor. Fabric quality matters too — look for 4-way stretch with quick-drying and moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool and dry.
At Everform, we offer a wide range of maternity leggings — perfect maternity activewear essentials you can wear during pregnancy and after giving birth.
2. Underwire-Free Maternity Sports Bra
The Australian Breastfeeding Association recommends underwire-free maternity bras to maintain breast health. A good maternity sports bra will be one of the best decisions you'll make for your pregnancy-to-postpartum wardrobe. Look for a bra that relieves aching neck, back, and shoulders with targeted posture support — one that performs across high-impact and low-impact activities (running, yoga, pilates, toddler wrangling). A firm fit ensures minimal breast bounce, and breathable, quick-drying, easy-to-wash fabric means you'll want to live in it.
3. Lightweight and Breathable Top
Maternity activewear tops should be airy, loose-fitting and comfortable — full range of motion, no overheating, no chafing. The good thing about loose t-shirts is you can wear them throughout your whole pregnancy without needing to update your closet to keep up with your changing body. Invest in tops that allow freedom, flexibility, and breathability for ultimate comfort. We love NZ brand Cadenshae!
Post-pregnancy, we recommend the following:
1. Postpartum Recovery Shorts
Postpartum recovery shorts are specifically designed to aid recovery from giving birth and provide support for common postnatal issues — pelvic floor injury, c-section recovery, swelling, back pain, pelvic girdle pain, abdominal separation (diastasis recti/DRAM), vulvar varicose veins, and more. They'll support your core not only when you return to exercise but during everyday motherhood tasks. They're also suitable to wear after a c-section, with carefully designed seams to protect against rubbing or irritating your scar area.
2. High-Waisted Maternity Leggings
Go for high-waisted maternity compression leggings if shorts aren't your thing. You can wear maternity compression tights high-waisted for gentle support, or rolled down for extra support under your bump.
3. Nursing Sports Bra
The Australian Breastfeeding Association recommends underwire-free bras for both pregnancy and breastfeeding, to maintain breast health. A good nursing bra may be one of the best maternity wardrobe decisions you make. Look for posture support to ease the aching neck, back, and shoulders from long hours of feeding, and a firm, well-fitting cut to keep breast bounce to a minimum during a return to exercise (running, yoga, pilates). Breathable, quick-drying, easy-to-wash fabric is essential — you'll want to live in it.
4. Nursing Tee or Nursing Tank Top
Go for nursing tees with discreetly placed zips for easy breastfeeding and hands-free pumping, and tank tops with dropped armholes for easy breastfeeding access. That way you invest in tops you can keep as forever wardrobe staples.
Some other things to consider are workout tools to facilitate your pregnancy fitness — we love @sweat.app pregnancy and postpartum programs, @amycarmodyyoga, @kic.app, just to name a few. As an expecting mum, especially a first-timer, having support — not just from what you wear, but from expert, on-call health professionals and a like-minded community of people going through (or who have been through) the same journey — is invaluable.
While investing in maternity activewear can feel expensive, it makes a real difference: optimal support and freedom of movement that makes daily life — not just fitness — more enjoyable and comfortable. You deserve to feel your best. The comfort of maternity fitness wear will make you want to wear it every day — lounging at home, doing errands, heading to the park, or working out. The best maternity activewear is gear that grows with you throughout your journey and accommodates the changes from pregnancy to postpartum.
At Everform, we also offer health insurance rebates on all our support products — designed to last for your entire motherhood journey.
