As a mom, leggings are a no-brainer wardrobe essential most days. School drop off? Leggings and a sweater. Running errands? Leggings with sneakers and comfy top. I could go on (and on). By the time I was pregnant with my fifth baby, my stash of maternity leggings was not doing the trick for me anymore and I didn’t want to stretch out any of my non-maternity styles.
Fortunately, I had recently purchased my first-ever pair of Lululemon Align leggings. As I discovered, they were all I needed to make it through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. The best part? Five years after my “baby” was born, these leggings are still go-tos in my daily wardrobe. Despite all the changes my body has gone through, they still hug me and fit me just right.
Lululemon Align High-Rise Leggings 28″
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I bought my Lululemon Align High-Rise Leggings in my pre-pregnancy size. I didn’t plan on using them as maternity leggings, but that’s what happened. As my pregnancy progressed, I found myself pulling on the leggings over and over again. I was drawn to the soft fabric, which didn’t pull or constrict my waist but still offered support, and the high-rise style because it comfortably fit over my growing bump.
We also need to talk about the impressive stretch of these leggings. They’re not intended to be maternity leggings, but they were able to stretch with me through nearly my entire pregnancy. I wore them constantly: while working out, at home, and just going for walks. And when I tell you I was not a little pregnant person, I mean it. I gained over 60 pounds, and I had a condition where my body produced excess amniotic fluid, which meant my “bump” was mega-sized. But these Lululemon leggings kept up with me. I admit that I had never associated the brand with pregnancy—in my mind, it was for thin women who lunched and went to yoga classes. So I was pleasantly surprised to find stretch and comfort for someone like me, a middle-aged mom of five kids, just trying to find pants to fit me during my pregnancy.
Parents
When Parents tested maternity leggings, the Align pair also impressed our pregnant editor with how well they fit, despite not being specifically designed for maternity. “I’m thrilled with the fit. They’re true to size, even with my rapidly growing belly,” said Rachel, a mom in her third trimester.
Lululemon Align High-Rise Leggings 28″
lululemon
The Align High-Rise leggings from Lululemon come in four different lengths: 23 and 25 inches, which are cropped styles, and 28 and 31 inches, which are full-length styles. I went with the full-length leggings because they felt more versatile to wear year-round. If you’re wondering how the leggings held up post-pregnancy, they became my BFF postpartum too. Because I wore them constantly—and through a combined total weight gain and loss of over 100 pounds—I did experience some stretching in the thigh and butt areas, but nothing that has stopped me from continuing to rock them.
The only thing I might have changed about my Lululemons was the lack of pockets, but fortunately, the brand now also offers Align High-Rise leggings with two side pockets, making them ideal when you’re fresh out of room to wear a crossbody bag over your bump.
My Align leggings were my first-ever pair of Lululemons, and I’ve been more than satisfied with the purchase. I am still wearing them today, and I’ve also added a cropped 23″ length to my collection. I’m forever a Lululemon believer, so here are some other leggings from the athleisure brand that could work for pregnancy and beyond.
