Compression during pregnancy: a guide to support shorts and leggings

Pregnancy changes how your body carries load. Hormones soften the ligaments around the pelvis, your centre of gravity moves forward as your bump grows, and your legs work harder to return blood to your heart. For many women that adds up to pelvic girdle pain, lower back pain, heavy legs or swelling.

Pregnancy compression wear, especially support shorts and leggings, is one of the simplest tools to help you keep moving. This guide covers how it works, what the research says, when to start, which compression level to choose and how to get the size right. It is general information, so please check with your midwife, obstetrician, GP or women's health physio about your own pregnancy.

What does pregnancy compression wear do?

Good pregnancy support wear does two jobs.

• Pelvic and lower back support. A firm, supportive waistband and body-mapped panels support the pelvis and lower back, helping the joints feel more stable when you walk, climb stairs or roll over in bed.
• Gentle graduated compression. Compression through the thighs and legs supports circulation, which can help with heavy, tired or swollen legs.

Supacore's pregnancy range was designed with physiotherapist Dr Carolyn Taylor. The Emma pregnancy support shorts and Jenny pregnancy support leggings have the patented CORETECH® waistband with a sacroiliac (SI) belt knitted in, plus a soft, stretchy bump zone.

What does the research say?

A 2019 study published in PeerJ, "Compression shorts reduce prenatal pelvic and low back pain", followed 55 pregnant women between 16 and 31 weeks. One group wore compression shorts as well as their usual care, and the other group had usual care alone. After six weeks, the compression shorts group had significantly greater reductions in pain and disability. The women also recorded their body temperature daily, and 99.7% of readings stayed between 35.4 and 38.0 °C, so the authors concluded the shorts were effective and thermally safe.

European guidelines on pelvic girdle pain describe pelvic support as something that can help, but not as a stand-alone treatment. That matches what women's health physios tell us: compression works best alongside exercise, advice and, when needed, hands-on treatment.

Is compression safe during pregnancy?

Garments designed for pregnancy, at a medium compression level, are widely used. Look for:

• a bump zone that stretches rather than squashing your tummy;
• a waistband that sits under or around the bump without digging in;
• breathable, seamless fabric, which matters in an Australian summer.

If wearing any support garment increases your pain, causes numbness or tingling, or you have a medical condition affecting circulation, stop and check with your midwife or doctor.

When should I start wearing pregnancy support shorts?

There is no fixed week. Most women start when discomfort begins, which is often in the first or second trimester for pelvic girdle pain and later for heavy legs. You can keep wearing them right up to birth, and many women go on to postpartum compression afterwards (see postpartum compression shorts and leggings).

What compression level should I choose in pregnancy?

Pregnancy support wear usually uses a medium compression level rather than the firm levels used after birth or for POTS. The Emma shorts and Jenny leggings are 15-20 mmHg. Both are registered with the TGA (ARTG 372671), and you may be eligible for a private health fund rebate under Extras cover.

Shorts or leggings?

• Shorts (Emma) suit pelvic girdle pain, SPD and lower back pain, warm weather, and wearing under dresses or with your usual clothes.
• Leggings (Jenny) add compression through the calves for heavy, tired or swollen legs, cooler weather or long days on your feet.
• Many women use both. The Emma + Jenny pregnancy support bundle combines them.

Can compression help swollen legs and varicose veins in pregnancy?

Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, and hormones relax the walls of your veins. At the same time, your growing uterus presses on the large veins in the pelvis. Together these slow the return of blood from your legs, which is why many women notice heavy, aching or swollen legs and ankles, especially at the end of the day or in hot weather. Some women develop varicose veins in the legs or vulva for the first time.

Graduated compression supports the veins and helps blood flow back towards the heart. Full-length support leggings, such as the Jenny leggings, compress the calves as well as the thighs, so they suit leg symptoms better than shorts. Put them on in the morning, before swelling builds. Elevating your legs when you can, staying active and avoiding standing still for long periods also help.

Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, or swelling in only one leg with pain or redness, is not normal. Contact your midwife or doctor straight away.

How do I choose the right size in pregnancy?

Supacore compression is sized by height and weight, not your pre-pregnancy clothing size. Use the women's size guide, and if you are between sizes, choose the smaller size. The bump zone is designed to grow with you. Some women need a second size later in pregnancy; contact us and we will discount your second pair.

What else helps pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?

Alongside support wear, these everyday tips are commonly recommended by physios and the NHS:

• Stay active within your comfort, for example walking, swimming or pregnancy pilates.
• Keep your knees together when getting in and out of the car or bed.
• Avoid standing on one leg; sit down to put on pants, shorts and shoes.
• Take stairs one step at a time if they hurt.
• Sleep with a pillow between your knees.
• See a women's health physio early. Pelvic girdle pain is common, but you don't have to just put up with it.

How do I wash pregnancy compression wear?

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, inside out, and line dry in the shade. Don't bleach, tumble dry, iron or use fabric softener.

Shop pregnancy support wear

Browse the pregnancy support shorts and leggings collection. Shipping is free within Australia and internationally on orders of A$199 and over, with free size exchanges and 30-day returns on unworn items (see shipping and returns). Questions? Call us on +61 468 072 885.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to wear compression shorts while pregnant?

Compression garments designed for pregnancy are widely used and, in a 2019 study published in PeerJ, wearers' body temperatures stayed within normal ranges. Choose garments made for pregnancy with a stretchy bump zone, and stop and talk to your midwife or physio if wearing them increases your pain.

When should I start wearing pregnancy support shorts?

You can start whenever pelvic, back or leg discomfort begins, often in the first or second trimester, and wear them right up to birth.

What compression level is right in pregnancy?

Pregnancy support garments usually use a medium compression level. Supacore's Emma shorts and Jenny leggings are 15-20 mmHg.

Can compression help pelvic girdle pain and SPD?

Many women find support garments helpful for pelvic girdle pain (including symphysis pubis dysfunction), alongside physio, exercise and activity changes. Guidelines describe pelvic support as one part of care, not a stand-alone treatment.

What size pregnancy shorts should I buy?

Supacore compression is sized by height and weight. Use the women's size guide, and if you are between sizes, choose the smaller size. The bump zone stretches as you grow.