Maternity nightwear is often sold as a special category at a special price. For a nighty, it rarely needs to be — the features that make a good maternity nighty are the features that make a good nighty.
First trimester
Little has changed on the outside, but a great deal has changed in how you feel. Nausea is often worse when you are too warm, and many women notice they run hotter at night from very early on. A loose cotton nighty with a placket you can open helps more than you would expect. Nothing tight across the chest, which becomes tender early.
Second trimester
This is where normal clothes stop working and most women buy. The instinct is to buy maternity-specific wear; the better move for nightwear is simply to size up in an A-line cut. Because the flare starts at the yoke rather than the waist, there is room for a bump without any special panel. Take one or two sizes above your usual — XXL or XXXL for most women.
Avoid anything with elastic or a defined waist. It will be uncomfortable now and useless later.
Third trimester
Sleep is harder: heat, heartburn, getting up repeatedly, and difficulty turning over. Nightwear should make none of that worse.
- Loose everywhere. Fabric that rides up as you turn is a constant irritation. Ankle length and an A-line fall stay put.
- Cotton. Overheating at night is near-universal in the third trimester. See why fabric decides this.
- Front buttons. You will need them within weeks, and they make the many night-time bathroom trips easier now.
Into the fourth trimester
This is the real argument for a plain, well-cut cotton nighty over maternity-branded wear: the same garment works for feeding afterwards. Front placket, roomy cut, pure cotton for postpartum night sweats. Nothing needs replacing at the worst possible moment. See feeding and maternity nighties and the feeding nighty guide.
By trimester, at a glance
| Stage | What changes | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| First trimester | Nausea, running warm, tender chest | Loose cotton, nothing tight at the bust |
| Second | The bump arrives | Size up in an A-line cut; no waistband |
| Third | Heat, heartburn, turning over at night | Ankle length, A-line, front buttons |
| After the birth | Feeding, night sweats, a healing body | The same nighty — front placket, pure cotton |
Our view on maternity-branded nightwear: for a nighty, it is usually an unnecessary premium. A well-cut A-line in a larger size does the same job and keeps working for months after the birth, which maternity-specific pieces rarely do.
What to buy, practically
Three or four, one or two sizes up, front open, 100% cotton, dark or mid-tone prints. They will carry you from the second trimester through to several months after the birth. If a caesarean is planned or possible, read what to wear after a c-section before packing the hospital bag.
Questions we get asked
Do I need maternity-specific nightwear?
For a nighty, usually not. An A-line cut one or two sizes up leaves room through the bump and keeps working for months after the birth, which maternity-branded pieces rarely do.
What size should I order?
One to two sizes above your usual — XXL or XXXL for most women. Nothing with elastic or a defined waist.
When should I buy?
Second trimester is when most women need to. Buy three or four then, front open and pure cotton, and they will carry you through to several months postpartum.
