You don't always need maternity-specific pajamas: a soft knit with some stretch, a waistband that can sit below the bump and a button-front top cover a lot of what pregnancy asks of sleepwear. Eberjey isn't a maternity brand, but our size range starts at XXS, and our Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long and Relaxed Short sets (95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane) go up to XXL; if you want built-in nursing features such as clips or pull-down panels, look for a dedicated maternity and nursing set.
Below is how our styles fit as your body changes, what to check on any label, and when a maternity-specific set may suit you better.
Do You Need Maternity Pajamas?
Not necessarily. Dedicated maternity pajamas add features such as pull-down or clip-down nursing tops and extra-wide waistbands. Regular pajamas can work through pregnancy if they have three things:
- Stretch in the fabric. Our Gisele fabric is a knit with 5% elastane, so it gives as you move.
- A waistband you can wear low, or none at all. The pant in the Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long PJ Set is low-rise with a thin elastic waistband. A sleepshirt skips the waistband entirely.
- A top that opens at the front. Button-front tops are easier to get on and off, and they stay useful after the birth.
How Should Pajamas Fit in Each Trimester?
First trimester
You may still be in your usual size. In pregnancy, your breasts may feel swollen and tender early on, and they usually get larger and heavier as the weeks go on, so you may need a bigger bra. If a top starts to pull across the bust, a relaxed-fit top or the next size up is the easiest fix.
Good fit: the Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long PJ Set ($158, XXS to XXL). The top is listed as Relaxed Fit, roomy and easy, with a button front and notch collar; the pant is a Classic Fit, low-rise straight leg with a thin elastic waistband.
Second trimester
As the bump grows, look for room through the body and a waistband that sits under it rather than across it.
Good fit: the Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Relaxed Short PJ Set ($148, XXS to XXL), which we describe as a roomy shape with extra coverage: a loose-fit, button-front short-sleeve top and a mid-rise boyfriend-fit short with a thin elastic waistband. The Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Slouchy PJ Set ($148, XXS to XL) has an adjustable tie waistband on a low-rise slouchy pant, so you can loosen it as you go.
Third trimester
Comfort usually means fewer waistbands and more length in the top.
Good fit: the Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Sleepshirt ($128, XS to XL): a button-front, long-sleeve sleepshirt with a notch collar and a curved hem, and no waistband at all. If you would rather keep a pant, size up in the Long PJ Set or wear the low-rise pant under the bump.
When to size up
Our tops are cut in different fits (Relaxed, Classic or Slim), so check the fit note on each product page. As a rule of thumb, size up when a top pulls across the bust or rides up over the bump; keep your usual size if only the waistband feels snug and the pant can sit lower. Our women's pajama size guide (and our full pajama fit guide) lists bust, waist and hip in inches for every size, and the Gisele Long PJ Set size guide adds garment measurements: the top length runs from 25 inches (XXS) to 28 inches (XXL).
Which Eberjey Styles Work Best for a Growing Bump?
Here is how our pregnancy-friendly styles compare side by side.
| Set | Price | Fabric | Sizes | Bump and nursing features | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Long PJ Set | $158 | 95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane | XXS–XXL | Button-front top; low-rise pant with thin elastic waistband. No nursing panel. | Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low |
| Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Relaxed Short PJ Set | $148 | 95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane | XXS–XXL | Loose, button-front top; mid-rise short. No nursing panel. | Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low |
| Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Slouchy PJ Set | $148 | 95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane | XXS–XL | Low-rise slouchy pant with adjustable tie waistband. | Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low |
| Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Sleepshirt | $128 | 95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal, 5% elastane | XS–XL | Button front, no waistband. | Machine wash cold, gentle; tumble dry low |
The honest summary: if you want a set built specifically for pregnancy and nursing, with clips or pull-down panels, or you need sizes above XXL, a dedicated maternity set is the better fit. If you want pajamas you'll keep wearing long after the baby arrives, our Gisele sets give you the stretch and the button front without a maternity-specific cut.
What Should You Check on the Label?
- Read the fiber content. Look for a soft, breathable knit with a little stretch.
- Look for OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (what the certification means). For a certified article, every thread, button and accessory has been tested against a list of more than 1,000 harmful substances. Our Gisele Long, Relaxed Short and Shortie sets are verified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
- Check the waistband. Low-rise, adjustable-tie or no waistband at all are the easiest to live with as the bump grows.
- Think ahead to night feeds. A button-front top works for nursing; a dedicated nursing top adds clips or a pull-down panel.
- Check the care label. Gisele TENCEL™ Modal goes in the machine: turn it inside out, wash cold on a gentle cycle with like colors and tumble dry low.
When Is a Maternity-Specific Set the Better Choice?
- We don't make nursing clips, pull-down panels or maternity-specific cuts.
- Our women's pajama sizes stop at XXL (US 18 in our size guide); the Sleepshirt stops at XL.
- If your care team has given you specific advice about clothing, follow it first.
For the weeks after the birth, read our postpartum pajama guide and what new moms reach for.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need maternity pajamas, or can I wear regular pajamas while pregnant?
Regular pajamas can work if they have stretch, a waistband you can wear low (or none) and a front-opening top. Maternity pajamas add features such as nursing panels and wider waistbands.
Should I size up in pajamas during pregnancy?
Size up when a top pulls across the bust or rides up over the bump. If only the waistband feels snug, a low-rise pant worn under the bump may let you keep your usual size. Check our size guide for bust, waist and hip in inches.
Which Eberjey pajamas work best for a growing bump?
The Gisele TENCEL™ Modal Relaxed Short PJ Set ($148, XXS–XXL) has a roomy shape, the Slouchy PJ Set has an adjustable tie waistband, and the Gisele Sleepshirt ($128) has no waistband at all. All are 95% LENZING™ TENCEL™ Modal and 5% elastane.
Are Eberjey pajamas nursing-friendly?
Our Gisele Long, Relaxed Short and Short Sleeve & Pant sets have button-front tops, which open for night feeds, but they don't have the nursing clips or pull-down panels you'll find on dedicated nursing pajamas.
What does OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 mean for pregnancy pajamas?
An article verified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 has been tested against a list of more than 1,000 harmful substances. Our Gisele Long, Relaxed Short and Shortie sets are verified by OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
