Pregnant or not, I’m pretty picky about my undergarments. I am not an adventurous underwear gal – for the most part I’ve been wearing the same style of underwear and the same two bras in the same basic colors for years. When I find options that I like, I stick to them.
That being said, I’ve branched out a bit since 2020 aka the year I abandoned underwires (for the most part). Comfort is always key for me when it comes to clothing and even more so when it comes to undergarments (especially in pregnancy!). Underwires have a time in a place for me, but simply aren’t in my everyday rotation anymore! I’ve found other styles that more than make up for that.
I figured I’d round up my all of my tried and true favorites, in case anyone else needs *support* in this area (harharhar). These are more everyday essentials – as of right now I do not cover specialty situations like strapless or backless etc. Also, I realized all of these link to Nordstrom, which wasn’t intentional. I simply often shop there for underwear because they have great customer service and an unreal return policy – plus they carry all of the brands I love.
BRAS
In general my requirements for bras include: comfortable, no excess padding, neutral colors, can be worn with most things. I have a wide set rib cage, broad shoulders, and have ranged from a 34B-34C for most of my life. When pregnant I am, well… the limit does not exist. So, for pregnancy I was especially not interested in spending a lot of money on underwires because all my boobs do is grow. At present, I have options that are flexible and can grow with me! Will note those below.
Everyday Underwire – Natori Understated Underwire T-Shirt Bra
This is without a doubt the best t-shirt bra I’ve ever found. I’ve had a few bra sizings in my life (you know, with professionals) and have always ended up with at least one of these! I LOVE the thin straps and the shape of the cups. The style is by far the most verastile and flattering I’ve worn. It also wears and washes well (I stick mine in a lingerie bag and wash with my lights and our regular detergent).
Low Neck Underwire – Natori Feathers Underwire Contour Bra
Sometimes I prefer a little oomph but don’t love a proper push-up (2005 me sure did though). In that case I’ll go with a low cut option that is flexible for all necklines. This still works well with tshirts and I do like it with summer tops or anything that is slightly sheer because of the lace detail.
Everyday Bralette (with support) – Skims Fits Everybody Crossover Bralette
This is the bra I currently wear every single day. It was my first Skims purchase and for sure will not be my last! I admit I was kind of overwhelmed by all of the options, but this seemed the most flexible and size inclusive. It’s a bralette with the softest and extendable band. Like I said, I need it to grow WITH the girls so both of those components are key. I also love Skims because in addition to being size inclusive, they have SO many color options for a wide range of skin types and tones. I followed the size guide and sized up one from my normal size and it’s worked really well so far! I love that there is no gapping, pinching or puckering. I will say this is not padded in any way, so if you’re cold… well, ya know.
Functional Bralette (less support) – True Body Triangle Convertible Strap Bralette *removable pads
This is a FANTASTIC bralette option that fits under most clothing. The fabric itself is super soft and thin, but it does have adjustable and convertible straps with removable pads. I sized up originally and think I should have stayed TTS for more support. My size medium bras are just starting to feel secure.
Comfy Bralette (less support) – True Body Scoop Neck Bralette
The same bra as above but with a different cut and less functional straps! The style difference really comes down to preference. This one works really well under the Hill House Nap Dress.
UNDERWEAR
Let me start by saying that for the most part, I despise pantylines. For me that means I used to be a 100% thong girl. Like…every single day, easy peasy. I found these to be the most comfortable, so I’ve been wearing them for YEARS. That being said, fertility treatments and pregnancy really make thongs less appealing (IYKYK). And, having been through so much, I care much less about pantylines but still don’t love them in jeans. And I don’t do underwear with leggings (too many layers and compression, yuck) so that’s a non-starter!
Everyday High Waisted – Chantelle Soft Stretch High Waist Briefs
Ooooweeee. I found these in 2020 and while they are pricey they are ABSOLUTELY worth it. They do not show pantylines, are great with high rise bottoms, are super comfortable and pretty much feel like nothing. Please note these are one size fits size 4-16. They are NOT supportive or shaping so if that is your bag, these are definitely not for you. I’ve had mine for two years and wear them pretty much daily and they have stretched a bit with time but are by no means stretched out. I can wear these during pregnancy! They fit right over my bump without digging in or feeling restrictive.
Everyday Bikini – Chantelle Soft Stretch Bikini
The same idea as above, but a lower waist style. I like these with my maternity jeans!
Everyday Thong – Hanky Panky Original Thong or Hanky Panky Low Rise Lace Thong
MY OG UNDIES! As a formerly exclusive Hanky Panky wearer and one that has tried pretty much every single knock off I can say that I don’t believe there’s anything that holds up as well as the real thing. I usually stock up on these yearly during Nordstrom sales. They don’t show pantylines, never dig in to my skin and 99% of the time I forget I’m wearing them. I also like that they stay put once on.
Softest Reasonable High Rise – Pact High Rise Hipster
I found these when I wanted to try high rise full bottom undies and didn’t want to pay a premium to do so. They are 100% organic cotton, so so soft and super durable/easy to clean. I think they compare pretty well to Chantelle – the cotton is super thin and very breathable – but don’t quite hit the mark. They are a bit cheeky and do show pantylines, so I usually wear them with loose fitting dresses or sweats aka times when that doesn’t really pose an issue. These fit over my bump and were great during fertility treatments and IVF – they fit a Lola pantiliner perfectly (key for my IVF pals who have to use vaginal progesterone suppositories).
Cheapy High Rise – INNERSY High Waisted Cotton Panties
Another 2020 find! These DEF show pantylines but if you are a 100% cotton gal then these are another reasonable option! They are much thicker and way more supportive so if you’re looking for a bit of shaping, these might fit the bill! The bottoms are full coverage. This may be a bit triggering, but I wore these throughout all of my miscarriages. They felt supportive and held heavy duty pads like a champ. Plus if they got ruined, I didn’t feel bad.
For Light Periods and Fertility Treatments – Thinx Hip Hugger Period Underwear
I experimented quite a bit with period panties during my fertility treatments and early pregnancy. I say this because in non-pregnant life, I don’t actually get a period (I have PCOS and don’t ovulate almost ever) so I cannot speak to how great these are for heavier flows. I used them religiously during my fertility treatment induced periods, miscarriages and progesterone suppository days. They wash well and despite guidance I do put them in the dryer sometimes. They also don’t show staining and are really durable. Obviously they do show pantylines since they are a bit heavier duty than most but don’t feel restrictive or like a diaper. I will say THEY RUN SMALL so size up 1-2 sizes for comfort. I tried other brands but so far would only recommend Thinx.
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