A Pea in the Pod Review: Stylish Maternity Wear for the Modern Mom-to-Be
About A Pea in the Pod
For over 40 years, A Pea in the Pod has been a leading destination for trendy and fashionable maternity clothing. Founded in 1982 by Rebecca Matthias, the brand seeks to provide pregnant women with stylish options beyond loungewear and baggy T-shirts. A Pea in the Pod believes that an expanding baby bump shouldn‘t equate to a fashion slump. Their mission is to help moms-to-be look and feel their best with clothing that is both comfortable and on-trend.
Today, A Pea in the Pod is beloved by celebrity mamas and everyday women alike. The brand has been worn and endorsed by stars like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba, and Kate Hudson. They‘ve also been featured extensively in the media, with write-ups in Vogue, People, InStyle, Glamour, and more.
On social media, A Pea in the Pod has amassed a large following, with over 234K fans on Facebook and 61K followers on Instagram. Expectant moms flock to the brand for their cute bump-friendly styles and designer collaborations. Some of their brand partners include AG Jeans, Splendid, Paige, and Articles of Society.
A Pea in the Pod Product Assortment
One of the biggest draws of A Pea in the Pod is their extensive product selection. The brand truly aims to be a one-stop shop for maternity wear. In addition to clothing, they also carry accessories, skincare, intimates, and baby gear. Shoppers can find everything from designer jeans and flowy maxi dresses to diaper bags and stretch mark cream.
A Pea in the Pod‘s clothing assortment spans casual basics, workwear, special occasion styles, sleepwear, activewear and more. They offer a range of fits from snug and supportive to loose and flowy to accommodate different stages of pregnancy and style preferences. Sizes run from XS-XL with select styles in 1X-3X.
Some of their most popular clothing categories include:
- Jeans & Pants: From classic skinny jeans to comfy joggers
- Dresses: Bodycon, swing, wrap dresses and more
- Tops: Basic tees, blouses, sweaters, tanks
- Loungewear: Pajamas, robes, sweatpants
- Activewear: Supportive leggings, tanks, jackets
- Coats & Jackets: Trenches, motos, parkas
- Swimwear: One-pieces and bikinis with bump coverage
- Intimates: Bras, underwear, shapewear
Accessories are also a key part of A Pea in the Pod‘s offerings. Expectant moms can shop for everything from belts and scarves to hats and jewelry to complete their maternity looks. The brand also sells several chic diaper bag options that don‘t scream "baby bag."
Another highlight is A Pea in the Pod‘s beauty and skincare assortment. They carry beloved maternity-safe brands like Belli, Mama Mio, basq and more. Products are specially formulated to tackle common pregnancy skin concerns and provide clean, gentle ingredients that are safe for mom and baby.
Lastly, A Pea in the Pod has a curated selection of baby gear and essentials. While clothing is their main focus, they also sell strollers, car seats, carriers, nursing pillows, and other registry items from premium baby brands. It‘s a helpful one-stop shop for new moms looking to tackle their baby prep all in one place.
Review of Bestselling A Pea in the Pod Styles
To give you a sense of A Pea in the Pod‘s signature styles and level of quality, we‘re spotlighting a few of their most popular pieces. These bestsellers are fan favorites that demonstrate what the brand does best:
Luxe Essentials Secret Fit Belly Maternity Leggings
These stretchy maternity leggings are a PregnancyMust-Have with hundreds of rave reviews. Made of a buttery soft fabric with plenty of bump-accommodating stretch, they provide gentle support and a smooth, flattering fit. The leggings feature a wide, stretchy Secret Fit Belly panel that can be worn over your bump or folded down underneath it. Moms love that they don‘t sag or feel too compressive. They‘re versatile, comfortable, and look great dressed up or down. The fabric is also thick enough to pass the "squat test" and not be see-through. At $40-50 depending on sales, they are pricier than some maternity leggings but the quality and comfort makes them worth it for many.
Side Ruched Maternity Tank Dress
This simple but chic maternity tank dress is a customer favorite for its flattering cut and bump-hugging silhouette. The side ruching provides gentle shaping and a feminine drape that highlights your curves. It‘s made of a soft, lightweight stretch rayon fabric that is comfy even on hot days. The tank dress works equally well for weekend errands, baby showers, or date nights depending on how you style it. The v-neckline and above-the-knee length show a bit of skin while still providing plenty of coverage. It comes in a variety of colors and prints to suit different style preferences. At around $100, it‘s an easy and versatile piece you can reach for all pregnancy long.
The Megan Maternity/Nursing Top
For nursing moms who are pregnant again, this 2-in-1 maternity and nursing top is a game-changer. It provides plenty of room for your growing bump with flowy fabric and an empire waist. But it also has discreet snap down cups that allow for easy breastfeeding access after baby arrives. The Megan top is made of a soft, drapey fabric that doesn‘t cling or feel restrictive even in later pregnancy. Many moms continue wearing it postpartum since it works so well for nursing too. It has a pretty, feminine aesthetic with 3/4 sleeves, a v-neckline, and decorative pleats. Depending on the color and print, it retails for $60-80 which is reasonable given its dual functionality.
Quality, Fit & Comfort
Based on customer feedback and independent product reviews, A Pea in the Pod consistently delivers on quality, fit, and comfort. The brand uses soft, stretch fabrics that adapt to your changing body and feel good against the skin. Materials like modal, rayon, and jersey knits are common. Pants use specialty panels and supportive waistbands to prevent sagging and provide gentle belly support.
In terms of fit, A Pea in the Pod offers a range of silhouettes from fitted and tailored to relaxed and flowy. Tops, dresses and jumpsuits tend to have a looser, more forgiving cut, while bottoms fit snug and hug your shape. Most styles accommodate a baby bump without swallowing your figure or feeling too oversized. That said, some reviewers recommend sizing up for a looser, more comfortable fit, especially in pants and slim-cut styles.
Comfort-wise, garments feel soft, breathable, and have plenty of stretch for ease of movement. Seams are smooth and tagless to prevent irritation. Many pieces have ruching, pleating, and gathering to ensure a flexible fit in every trimester. A Pea in the Pod also uses cotton for pieces closest to the skin like underwear and basic tees.
The brand offers inclusive sizing from 0-18 with a few specialty styles in 1X-3X. Petite and tall inseams are available for some pants. According to reviews, their sizing is fairly consistent and true to their size chart. However, a few reviewers thought their sizing skewed slightly small and recommended going one size up for the best fit.
Customer Reviews & Feedback
To get a sense of how A Pea in the Pod clothing performs in real life, we analyzed customer reviews and feedback from a few key sources:
On A Pea in the Pod‘s website, their bestselling styles have hundreds of reviews with average ratings of 4-5 stars. Frequent praise highlights the soft, comfortable fabrics, flattering fits, quality construction, and stylish designs. Moms especially love the Secret Fit Belly panel on their maternity jeans and leggings. Several reviews mention that A Pea in the Pod clothing helped them feel more like themselves during pregnancy.
On Facebook, the brand has a 3.6 out of 5 star rating based on the opinion of 87 people. Positive comments mention great quality, fit, and customer service. Critical reviews cite issues with shipping speeds, difficult returns, and disappointing quality compared to price.
Third party reviews on blogs and YouTube are largely positive. Moms rave about the comfort, style, and bump-flattering fits at A Pea in the Pod. However, the biggest callout is pricing, with some reviewers saying the clothing is overpriced for maternity wear you only wear for a short time. Sale shopping and investing in a few versatile pieces is often recommended.
Company Policies
Before you buy from A Pea in the Pod, it‘s helpful to have a sense of their shipping, return and customer service policies:
Shipping: A Pea in the Pod offers free standard shipping on all orders over $125 in the US. For orders under that threshold, shipping fees are $8-12 depending on the shipping speed you choose. They also offer expedited and rush shipping options for an added fee. Standard shipping typically takes 5-7 business days from the time of order.
Returns: A Pea in the Pod allows returns within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Items must be in new, unworn condition with original tags. Some items like underwear, swimwear, and final sale pieces are not eligible for return. Customers are responsible for the cost of return shipping.
Customer Service: If you have questions or issues with your order, A Pea in the Pod‘s customer service team is available by phone, email or live chat 7 days a week. They also have an extensive FAQ section that covers common questions about sizing, shipping, returns and more.
Pricing & Sales
There‘s no denying that A Pea in the Pod is one of the pricier maternity wear retailers on the market. Jeans are typically $100+, dresses average $100-200, and tops range from $50-150. While the quality and attention to detail is high, the price point can be a bit of sticker shock for moms on a budget.
Fortunately, the brand regularly has sales and promotions that provide significant discounts. You can often find 30-50% off deals on past season styles and patterns. They also offer frequent coupon codes for sitewide discounts of 20-40% off. Signing up for emails is a good way to stay in the loop on the latest offers.
A Pea in the Pod‘s pricing is comparable to other high-end maternity boutiques like Hatch, Seraphine, and Ingrid & Isabel. It‘s a step up from mall mainstays like Motherhood Maternity and Macy‘s. For the quality and designer styles, their prices are fair, but sale shopping is recommended for the most bang for your buck.
How A Pea in the Pod Compares to Other Maternity Brands
In the world of maternity fashion, A Pea in the Pod is one of the more premium and fashionable options. Their clothing has a feminine, on-trend aesthetic that rivals non-maternity contemporary brands. They‘re more design-conscious than many maternity lines with special attention to cut, drape, and detailing.
Compared to value-priced maternity at places like Target, H&M and Old Navy, A Pea in the Pod is notably higher quality. Their fabrics have better weight, softness, and durability, with seams that can withstand a whole pregnancy. The fits are also more tailored and flattering, with special construction to accommodate a baby bump.
Other maternity boutiques with a similar upscale positioning include Hatch, Isabella Oliver, and Seraphine. A Pea in the Pod has a wider breadth of styles and categories, especially with their designer collaborations and accessories. Hatch is a bit more fashion-forward and trendy, while Seraphine and Isabella Oliver skew classic and polished.
Where A Pea in the Pod really stands out is in their denim selection. Their designer maternity jeans with Secret Fit Belly panels consistently get rave reviews for comfort, fit and quality. Very few maternity lines can compete with their breadth of denim fits and washes. It‘s a strong differentiator for the brand.
Is A Pea in the Pod Worth It?
So, is it worth investing in maternity clothing from A Pea in the Pod? In our assessment – if you have the budget, absolutely. The quality, comfort, and style are a big step up from budget maternity wear. You truly get what you pay for in terms of fabrics, fits, and thoughtful design.
Many expecting moms find that having a few nicer, bump-flattering pieces is a big confidence booster during pregnancy. A Pea in the Pod‘s clothing makes you feel polished and put-together, even as your body changes. Their jeans in particular are a worthwhile splurge that you‘ll likely wear on heavy rotation.
However, A Pea in the Pod is definitely a "treat yourself" rather than an everyday maternity shopping destination for most. With jeans over $150 and dresses approaching $200, the prices are hard to swallow, especially for clothing you only wear for a few months. We recommend investing in a few versatile pieces and filling in the rest of your maternity wardrobe with more affordable basics from the likes of H&M, Gap, and ASOS.
Fortunately, with frequent sales, you can often score A Pea in the Pod‘s high quality pieces for 30-50% off. Look out for end of season clearance deals, holiday promos, and sitewide discount codes to get the best pricing. Also check the sale section for past-season gems at more reasonable prices.
The Verdict
All in all, our A Pea in the Pod review found that this brand is a worthwhile destination for high quality, stylish maternity clothing. With a wide range of bump-flattering essentials and trend-right pieces, they have all your maternity fashion needs covered. Expecting moms consistently rave about the comfort, fit, and style of their favorite A Pea in the Pod pieces.
While the pricing is high, you get premium fabrics, thoughtful design, and exceptional attention to detail. Wait for a good sale and invest in a few comfortable, versatile styles that will make you feel your best. A great pair of maternity jeans, a pretty dress for special occasions, and some mix-and-match tops and bottoms will take you through pregnancy in style.
If budget is top of mind, A Pea in the Pod may not be your everyday go-to. But for those special pieces that make you look and feel amazing with a baby bump, they‘re hard to beat. You‘ll appreciate their quality and wearability not just in pregnancy, but for those early postpartum months as well. A Pea in the Pod is an indulgence, but one that many moms say is totally worth the splurge.
