9 Best Office Chairs for Pregnancy

Being pregnant brings new challenges in your life. Many soon-to-be moms still work during pregnancy. Unfortunately, many pregnant women experience back pain. There are many possible reasons for this such as hormonal changes, weight gain, posture changes, stress, and muscle separation.

It’s imperative to maintain a healthy posture and find an office chair that supports your full body while working in an office. To help you during this precious time of your life, we’ve compiled our top 9 office chairs for pregnant ladies. 

Best Office Chairs for Pregnant Ladies

• Herman Miller Aeron – Best Overall
• Staples Hyken – Budget Pick
• Workpro Quantum 9000 – Best Value
• Steelcase Gesture – Best for Hip Pain
• Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming
• Steelcase Leap – Most Comfortable
• Herman Miller Embody – Best for Back Pain
• DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Office Chair
• Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Leather Office Chair

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Herman Miller Aeron – Overall Best Office Chair for Pregnancy

Read our full Herman Miller Office Chairs Review & Buying Guide

Pregnant women are at risk of suffering from back pain. There are many reasons such as hormonal changes, changes in your center gravity and the additional weight can lead to back pain. The Herman Miller Aeron has many supportive qualities to ensure a healthy posture.

With its patented 8Z pellicle material, it offers flexible suspension to allow some forgiveness for comfort, but also supportive, so that you don’t sink in too deeply. In addition, this flexible nature eliminates the pressure points in your body to keep you relaxed while sitting.

In addition, the Aeron features the PostureFit SL which are adjustable lumbar pads. These pads can be adjusted separately to ensure that it fits in the arch of your spine. Users can also tilt their backrest from upright to mid-recline to full-recline when needed. 

Pros:

• Available in three sizes to fit your height and weight
• Herman Miller ships chair fully assembled and it comes with a 12-year warranty 
• Patented 8Z pellicle design offers a flexible suspension that relieves tension 
• PostureFit SL adjustable lumbar pads can be adjusted to support and prevent lower back pain
• Able to adjust to three recline positions 

Cons:

• Fairly expensive for an office chair 

Staples Hyken – Best Cheap Office Chair for Pregnant Ladies

Sweating can be a normal side effect for pregnant women. Increased blood flow and changing hormones from pregnancy will cause a slight raise in body temperature causing you to sweat especially in the first and third trimesters. 

The Staples Hyken uses a full mesh fabric which allows air and water to pass through the chair. As a result, you’ll stay cool and dry for hours. 

In addition, the Hyken also offers plenty of ergonomic benefits. The chair can be adjusted in many ways such as seat height, backrest angle, armrest and headrest, this allows users to sit in a healthy posture. 

Not to mention, it’s seat is designed with a waterfall edge where the seat edge slopes downward. This helps to increase blood flow to your lower legs, especially under your thighs. For it’s low price, we’re very impressed with Hyken’s quality and ergonomic features available. 

Pros:

• Breathable mesh material to keep you cool and sweat-free throughout the day
• Mesh fabric is relatively soft and bouncy 
• Headrest is adjustable to prevent neck pain
• Waterfall seat edge design improves blood circulation in your legs 
• Very affordable office chair 

Cons:

• Armrests are only height adjustable 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $200

Workpro Quantum 9000 – Best Value Office Chair for Pregnancy

The Workpro Quantum 9000 looks very similar to the Herman Miller Aeron, but with less ergonomic features and build quality. However, considering it only costs a fraction of the price, it makes our list for the best value chair in the market. 

One of it’s unique aspects is their Synchro Tilt mechanism. Most office chairs allow you to recline your chair. However, this doesn’t allow you to work effectively, since the seat angle remains stationary. With the synchro-tilt mechanism, the seat angle will tilt upwards as the backrest reclines. As a result, you’ll maintain great posture when sitting in a reclined position. 

Just like the Aeron, it features a flexible mesh fabric that has a nice suspension to it. The mesh keeps you cool and relaxed so that you can focus while working. In addition, the seat has a waterfall seat edge that slopes downward. Unlike most standard office chairs, the Quantum 9000 slopes from the center which further reduces stress from your legs. 

Pros:

• Armrests is 3D adjustable
• It has both seat height and seat depth adjustability
• Offer lumbar support to support your lower back and spine
• Chair is able to tilt 30 degrees back to reduce pressure on your spine
• Mesh back allows ventilation and airflow

Cons:

• Backrest unable to rock back and forth when tilt is locked 

Steelcase Gesture – Best Office Chair for Pregnant Ladies with Hip Pain

About 20% of women experience some form of hip pain during pregnancy. There are many causes to hip pain such as weight gain, change in posture and the release of a hormone called Relaxin. 

To alleviate and prevent hip pain, it’s important to keep a healthy posture and allow for movement while sitting. The beauty of the Gesture is that it twists and bends to adapt to movement. For example, the edge of the seat flexes to relieve tension in your hip flexors and under your thighs. 

Also, the Gesture uses their patented 3D LiveBack technology, which also flexes based on your body movement. So, if you lean in one direction, the backrest provides equal support to your back ensuring your posture remains supported. There’s even air pockets in the seat cushion, which conform to the shape of your body. As a result, you won’t feel like any one area in your body has any built-up pressure or tension. 

Pros:

• Edge of the seat bends and is flexible, which relieves pressure under your thighs and hips
• Armrests can be rotated 360 degrees for proper arm positioning
• 3D LiveBack technology mimics and responds to your every movement
• Backrest is contoured to match the shape of a human spine for optimized support
• The chair offers plenty of adjustments 

Cons:

• There isn’t much cushion 

Check out our full guide on the Best Office Chairs for Hip Pain

Secretlab Titan – Best Gaming Chair for Pregnancy

Read our full Secretlab Gaming Chairs Review & Buying Guide

For gamers, the Secretlab Titan is among the best options to choose from. Most gaming chairs feel very clunky and a bit corny. However, the Titan has a very sleek and modern look, while also offering plenty of useful ergonomic benefits.

The Titan can help pregnant women to keep an upright and healthy posture with it’s built-in lumbar support system. With the knob in the back of the chair, you can adjust the height and depth of the support. The height adjustment ensures the support fits the curve of your back. However, the depth lets you control the amount that the support protrudes outward. 

In addition, it’s also important to lighten the load on your spine. Holding your posture up for long periods puts a lot of pressure on the base of your spine and lumbar area. The Titan’s backrest can recline 165 degrees and lock into position, which allows your spine to relax. 

Pros:

• Includes a built-in lumbar support with adjustable depth and height to prevent lower back pain
• Armrests are 4D adjustable, which prevents carpal tunnel syndrome 
• Memory foam external pillows are optional
• Backrest tilts up to 165 degrees
• Plenty of aesthetic designs to choose from 

Cons:

• Not ideal for shorter people

Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric Office Chair for Pregnancy

When it comes to comfort, the Steelcase Leap is at the top of our list. The Leap uses a fabric upholstered seat cushion, which is soft to sit on, but has just the right amount of firmness to feel supportive. Fabric upholstery provides a cozier feeling to you seat and the cushion helps to relieve the pressure points in your buttocks and hips. 

Like the Steelcase Gesture, the Leap also has tiny air pockets in the seat cushion which conform to your body and flexible edges to alleviate tension in your hips. In addition, the Leap offers a unique Natural Glide adjustment where the seat will glide forward as you tilt your chair back. As a result, you’re still able to optimally focus even as you sit in a reclined position. 

For pregnant women, it can be advantageous to sit in a slightly reclined position. Leaning back relieves the spine compression and reverses the hunched position. As a result, it unloads the pressure on your spine and even opens up your chest allowing you to breathe better. The more oxygen in your system, the better you’ll be able to focus. This reduces the feeling of lethargy you may feel while sitting for long periods. 

Pros:

• Armrests are fully adjustable to ensure arms and shoulders are relaxed
• 3D LiveBack Technology mimics and adapts to every micromovement to keep you fully supported 
• Lower back support has a firmness control and height adjustment 
• Natural Glide technology glides seat forward as you recline to keep your zone of focus 
• Built-in air pockets on the seat to relieve pressure points underneath your thighs

Cons:

• Some people may prefer a mesh fabric for greater breathability 

Check out our full guide on the Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

Herman Miller Embody – Best Office Chair for Pregnant Ladies with Back Pain

Back pain is quite normal especially for pregnant women. However, nagging back pain can be difficult to deal with especially while working in an office. The Embody has features to help alleviate the stress you feel in your back. Instead of using the normal foam cushion, the Embody has a suspended coil spring system, also known as their pixelate support. This pixelated support adapts to your body’s micro-mopvements, reduces pressure in your body and distributes the weight evenly. 

In addition to the pixelated support, it has a unique BackFit system. The backrest is curved in the exact way that the human spine curves. This BackFit adjustment allows users to position the backrest to align exactly with your natural curve of your spine. Users can adjust the tilt tension, which changes the amount of tension needed to recline. The right amount of tension allows you to feel balanced and supported. 

We also like that the Embody has seat height and seat depth adjustabilties. It’s impossible to have the correct posture with these adjustable components. The seat depth adjusts the seat pan of your chair, so that your back is fully rested on the backrest, without cutting off circulation in your legs. Also, the seat height ensures your feet are properly planted on the floor and you remain eye level to your computer screen. 

Pros:

• Narrow backrest encourages freedom of movement
• Pixelated support system reacts to the smallest movements 
• Backfit lets you adjust and align backrest with your spine
• Tilt tension lets you adjust the amount of resistance while you recline
• Embody has seat height and seat depth capabilities

Cons:

• Not much cushion 
• Fairly expensive 

Check out our full guide on the Best Gaming Chairs for Back Pain

DRAGONN by VIVO – Best Kneeling Office Chair for Pregnancy

Kneeling chairs are designed to shift your body forward by angling the seat and shin rests forward. Rather than placing the pressure on your seat and back, kneeling chairs transfer that pressure forward to the shin rests. 

With the Dragonn by Vivo kneeling chair, it features a seat in a slanted angle and shin rest to rest your shins. As a result, it tilts the pelvis forward and keeps your spine in proper alignments. Since the chest remains in an open posture, it also helps to improve breathing and digestion. 

The Dragonn by Vivo kneeling chair also helps promote active sitting. Users have to engage their back and core muscles to keep themselves upright. Also since your hips slide forward in a kneeling hair, it helps to evenly distribute the weight to your shoulders, neck and back. This even weight distribution helps to eliminate the spinal compressor and reduces pain throughout your back and neck. 

Pain can be a huge distraction at work. This helps to remove the pain and stiffness you feel from sitting too long and having improper posture. The Dragonn kneeling chair helps to keep you pain free and focused while working. 

Pros:

• Very inexpensive 
• Seat is height adjustable
• Knee has two times the cushion compared to competitors 
• Chair design helps strengthen abdominal muscles
• Casters are able to lock in place 

Cons:

• Some people may prefer a normal office chair 

Serta AIR Health and Wellness – Best Leather Office Chair for Pregnancy

Read our full Serta Office Chairs Review & Buying Guide

The Serta AIR Health and Wellness office chair is the best leather office chair we’ve seen in the market. It solves many of the issues that leather chairs typically encounter. For example, leather chairs usually have heat buildup. And the leather upholstery can feel very rigid and inflexible.

However, the Serta is different. It has perforated mesh accents throughout the chair allowing ventilation in your backrest. These accents contain tiny holes that let air pass through the chair. In addition, the lumber support is much more flexible and dynamic. It is able to bend and twist in response to your movements to ensure you’re supported at all times. 

During pregnancy, weight gain is normal. This means you may be at a higher risk of pressure injury. For example, too much pressure in one area can lead to chronic pain or injury. The Serta has deep layers of padding throughout the chair to relieve pressure points and distribute your weight evenly. 

Pros:

• It offers deep layered body pillows for enhanced comfort
• Perforated mesh positioned along the chair for breathability 
• Dynamic lumbar support flexes and twists as you move in your seat
• Levers conveniently located under your seat on the edges
• Bonded leather adds an upscale appearance to your office space 

Cons:

• Armrests aren’t adjustable

Choosing the Best Office Chair for Pregnant Ladies – Buyer’s Guide 

For pregnant ladies, finding an office chair may be difficult. Ergonomics, support and comfort plays an even bigger role and should meet your preferences. 

Build Quality

The build quality of the chair is often the most overlooked element of buying a chair. You should always check the materials and construction of the chair. To give you a basic overview, we recommend looking for a steel or aluminum base. These materials are the strongest and most durable. Avoid chairs that have plastic compoentns in the base. 

In addition, we recommend looking at the warranty. High quality brands such as the Herman Miller and the Steelcase offer an impressive 12-year warranty on their parts and will usually replace defective parts. This is a credit to their incredible craftsmanship and confidence in their product to provide such a great warranty. 

Other components to look for are the cushion and upholstery. With cushions, you want to look for thick cushions with high density or high resiliency. This ensures that the thickness and structure of the foam cushions remain intact for a long time. The upholstery should be a durable one. For example, mesh is quite durable. PU leather may be prone to wearing down, however, bonded leather lasts longer. 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics refer to how the chair is designed in order to maximize efficiency in the workplace. For instance, a chair with proper back support, lumbar support, armrests and other adjustments will ensure you can sit in the most optimal position for focus. Simply sitting in an upright posture improves your breathing. As a result, more oxygen into your body gives you more energy and helps you be more alert.

In some cases, there are chairs that offer other features to help you focus. For example, sitting in a warm chair can feel uncomfortable. Mesh fabric has holes in them to allow air and liquid to pass through. For pregnant ladies, the extra weight and change in hormones can cause sweating. Having a mesh back enables airflow to keep you cool even during the hottest climates. Staying cool is one way to keep you focused while at work. 

Another issue might be lack of circulation. Sitting for long periods may cause your legs to fall asleep. Some chairs have a seat pan that slopes downward. This downward slope places less pressure under your thighs, which ultimately improves blood circulation. As a result, you’ll be able to focus better. 

Adjustability

In order to achieve proper posture, your office chair needs to have plenty of adjustments. These adjustments should include seat height, seat depth, back angle, armrest, tilt tension and lumbar support. 

Adjusting the seat height and depth ensures that you’re able to sit in a healthy posture. Your seat height should allow your eyes to remain parallel to your computer screen and your feet should be flat on the floor. The back angle lets you relax and take some pressure off of your spine. Sitting in one position for a long time can cause stiffness and pain. Adjusting the back angle alleviates the tension in your back. The armrest should be parallel to your workstation and helps to take the pressure off your shoulder and neck. In addition, your arms should be in a comfortable position, where you don’t have to strain your wrists while typing. 

In addition to the basic adjustments, some chairs may offer more refined adjustable features. For example, the synchro tilt mechanism will adjust the seat angle upwards as you recline. This ensures your posture remains at a 90 degree angle despite reclining backwards. Or the Steelcase Leap offers their signature Natural Glide adjustments. The seat pan will glide forward as your backrest reclines. This allows you to work optimally despite being in a reclined position. 

Seat Comfort

Prenancy can be a delicate time in a woman’s life. Most people believe a seat should be as soft as possible. However, that’s the case. Seat comfort needs to strike a balance between soft, yet supportive. Some of the most comfortable chairs such as the Herman Miller Aeron or the Steelcase Gesture offer little to no cushion. 

For example, even though the Aeron doesn’t have a seat cushion, their mesh fabric has a lot of suspension. This suspension is very forgiving and will reduce the compression and pressure in your hips, tailbone and spine. In addition, it helps to distribute the weight evenly, so that you feel relaxed. 

If you do opt for a seat cushion, we recommend the Secretlab Titan or Serta AIR office chair. These chairs have a highly dense cushion to alleviate the pressure and allow more circulation in your lower legs. Some chairs have a waterfall seat edge to allow more bloodflow under your thighs. 

Back Support

Back pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy. You’re experiencing weight gain, your hormones are relaxing the ligaments in your joints of your pelvis and your center of gravity is shifting forward. This is a recipe for back problems. Back support is a necessity for women going through pregnancy. 

We recommend back support that will adjust to your movements and has an adjustable lumbar support. Many office chairs are becoming more sohpisticated. For example, the Herman Miller Embody uses pixelated support to respond to your micromovements. So as you’re shifting your weight in one direction, the support follows. Or the Aeron has their unique 8Z pellicle mesh, which is most forgiving in areas where your body makes contact. As a result, you feel less pressure throughout your body and prevent back pain. 

The lumbar support should fit in the curve of your spine. The Secretlab Titan has a knob to adjust the height of the support. Depending on your height, you’ll need to adjust it accordingly. The depth and firmness can sometimes be adjusted as well. Some people prefer a lumbar support that protrudes far out, while others prefer a more subtle support. Also, some may prefer a very firm lumbar support, while others want a softer cushion. Having these adjustments available can help you feel relaxed and support you while working. 

Weight Capacity

Depending on your weight, you may want to make sure your chair can support your weight. On average, office chairs support about 250 pounds. However, some chairs which use more durable frames and bodies have a higher weight capacity. For example, the Steelcase Gesture can support up to 400 pounds. The last thing you’d want is to notice wear and tear in the components from excessive weight. 

Price

Ultimately, the chair you end up buying may come down to your budget. Luckily, we’ve provided a list of office chairs that vary in price. Many of the lower priced chairs such as the Staples Hyken and Workpro Quantum 9000 have plenty of adjustable and ergonomic features without sacrificing a lot in quality. 

For mid-tier chairs, we recommend the Secretlab Titan or the Serta AIR Health and Wellness. These chairs add a bit more to the table. For example, the Serta AIR has a dynamic lumbar back that bends and flexes to your movement. For premium chairs, we suggest going with the Herman Miller Aeron, Embody or Steelcase Gesture or Leap. All of them have patented features that are only unique to their specific brand. For instance, the Aeron has their Posturefit SL that supports the sacrum of your back and lumbar area. These chairs also have the highest quality in build and have a 12-year manufacturers warranty. Although the price may sound hefty, it may end up saving you more money in the long run. 

Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Pregnant Ladies

Best Pregnant Office Chairs	Award
Herman Miller Aeron	Best Overall
Staples Hyken	Budget Pick
Workpro Quantum 9000	Best Value
Steelcase Gesture	Best for Hip Pain
Secretlab Titan	Best for Gaming
Steelcase Leap	Most Comfortable
Herman Miller Embody	Best for Back Pain
DRAGONN by VIVO	Best Kneeling Office Chair
Serta AIR Health and Wellness	Best Leather Office Chair

FAQs

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