Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
Maternity panties come in two main cuts. Under bump styles sit low on the hips below the belly, feel cool and familiar, and suit the early months. Over bump styles rise above the belly button, cover the bump lightly and stay put as it grows, which many women find easier from the later second trimester.
A note before the comparison: The Mom Store currently stocks over bump and high waist styles only. Where under bump makes more sense, we say so. Not sure you need maternity underwear yet? Start with our eight signs it is time to switch.
How the two cuts differ
Under bump panties are closest to what you already wear. The waistband curves below the belly, so nothing touches the bump itself. They feel cooler and suit women who dislike fabric on their stomach. The trade off comes later. As the bump grows and drops, a low waistband has less to hold on to and can slide or roll, especially when you sit, squat or climb in and out of a car or auto.
Over bump panties have a tall front panel that stretches over the belly. Because the waistband sits above the widest part of the bump, it has nothing to roll off. The fabric gives a light, even cover rather than real support, and it sits smoothly under maternity leggings and pants with an over belly panel. The trade off is one more layer on your stomach, which some women find warm in peak summer.
The styles side by side
| Style | Trimester fit | Cover on the bump | In the heat | Suits | In our range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under bump (low rise) | First and second; some women all through | None, sits below the belly | Coolest | Hot weather, anyone who dislikes fabric on the bump | Not stocked |
| Over bump (high waist brief) | Second and third | Light, even cover | Warmer, more fabric | A growing bump, leggings and maternity pants | Yes |
| High waist boyshort | Second and third | Light cover, plus thigh coverage | Warmest | Dresses, sarees, long days on your feet | Yes |
| Mid rise | First | None | Cool | The early weeks, before the bump shows | Not stocked |
| Seamless | Depends on the rise | Depends on the rise | Often synthetic, can trap heat | Fitted clothes, no visible lines | Not stocked |
| Your regular brief | First | None | Cool if cotton | Buying time before you switch | Your own drawer |
In Indian weather the heat column matters as much as the cut.
Trimester by trimester
First trimester, weeks 1 to 13
Most women do not need maternity panties yet. Regular cotton briefs or a mid rise hipster usually do the job, perhaps one size up on bloated days. The change worth making now is fabric: if your drawer is mostly synthetic lace, add a few plain cotton pairs.
Second trimester, weeks 14 to 27
This is when most women switch, and when you find out which camp you are in. Early on, an under bump cut often still works. As the bump rounds out, low waistbands tend to slip when you sit, and that is the point to try an over bump pair. Try one before you buy a pack, because rise and stretch vary a lot from brand to brand.
From our range
Grey Mama Over Belly Support Panties
A single pair to test the fit: sits above the belly button, with a 100% cotton gusset and a button adjustable waistband. View product
Third trimester, weeks 28 to 40
Over bump styles suit most women now. The panel covers the bump without a waistband pressing into it, nothing rolls when you stand up, and you stop hitching your underwear through the day. Some women still prefer under bump in the hottest months, and that is a fair choice if it stays in place. A button adjustable waistband helps, because your measurements at 36 weeks are not the ones you had at 24.
When a boyshort helps
A high waist boyshort is an over bump panty with a leg that reaches mid thigh. It is useful in a few situations:
Thigh rubbing under dresses, kurtas with palazzos or sarees, where a layer of fabric between the thighs is more comfortable.
Long days on your feet, such as wedding functions, temple visits or long waits at hospital appointments.
Coverage under flowy maternity dresses, where it works like a slip without an extra garment.
The trade off is heat, so many women keep a few of each and pick by the day ahead.
From our range
Combo Of 2 High Waist Mama Boyshorts
Two high rise boyshorts that sit over the bump, with a mid thigh leg and a button adjustable waistband, in cotton mix. View product
What makes a panty a maternity panty
The rise. A normal panty sits where your waist used to be, which is now the middle of your bump. Maternity cuts sit clearly below it or clearly over it.
The front panel. Over bump styles have a tall, stretchy panel cut to expand with the belly, rather than a normal pattern stretched tighter.
The waistband. Maternity waistbands are usually softer and wider, and some adjust with a button so the same pair lasts more weeks.
Can you manage with normal panties a size up? Some women do early on. The usual problem is that sizing up fixes the waist but leaves the leg openings gaping, which is the gap maternity cuts close.
Getting the size right
Do not guess from your old size in either direction. Hips and thighs often widen in pregnancy, so measure your hips at the widest point today and match that to the size chart on the product page. If you fall between sizes, the larger one is usually more comfortable for an over bump style, since the panel needs room in the final weeks.
Innerwear is often not returnable for hygiene reasons, so read the returns note on the product page before ordering. Two minutes with a measuring tape saves a drawer of pairs that do not fit.
How many pairs to buy
Seven to ten pairs is a practical target for the second half of pregnancy. Discharge usually increases, many women change more than once a day in summer, and nobody wants to do laundry every night at 34 weeks. Build up in stages.
| Stage | What to buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First trimester | Nothing new, or two or three plain cotton briefs | Your usual size often still fits |
| When the bump starts to show | One or two over bump pairs to test | Find your style and size before committing |
| A week later | A pack of two or three in whatever worked | You already know the fit |
| Third trimester | Top up to seven to ten, with a boyshort or two if you wear dresses | Enough for daily changes plus a few for the hospital bag |
Why the gusset should be cotton
Whichever cut you choose, check the gusset, the lining between the legs. The NHS page on vaginal discharge in pregnancy says it is normal to have more discharge than before, and suggests loose cotton underwear to help prevent thrush. A synthetic lace panty can look lovely in the morning and feel damp by lunch. A cotton or cotton mix body with a cotton gusset is a sensible middle ground for Indian weather.
The same NHS page lists the signs to see your midwife or doctor about: discharge that smells unpleasant or strange, discharge that is green or yellow, itching or soreness around the vagina, or pain when you pee. Any vaginal bleeding in pregnancy needs a call to your doctor straight away. Changing your underwear will not fix these, so do not wait.
What a good fit feels like
Over bump brief: the waistband rests above the belly button without pressing, the front panel lies flat, and it stays in place when you sit cross legged on the floor.
High waist boyshort: the legs stay at mid thigh when you walk instead of riding up, and the leg band leaves no deep mark.
Under bump: the waistband sits on the hip bones, not on the lower curve of the bump, and does not slide when you bend.
If a pair digs in by evening, use the next button setting or go up a size. For the wider question of pressure on the belly, read our post on whether tight clothes can affect pregnancy.
After delivery
High waist styles often carry on into the first weeks after birth, because the rise sits softly over a tender tummy, and after a C section many women prefer a waistband that does not sit on the scar. Ask your doctor or midwife what suits your recovery. Our guide to choosing maternity innerwear for pregnancy and postpartum covers bras, recovery underwear and pads.
