-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SgbeiTK15E7ebCO/fXW9csx/eaOGagsGaaBZH60U3yaDBFBXwKa4SM+VyOuFeKii
 qIAKaCtuZa8eO8HNx/trMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001076204-08-000001.txt : 20080215
<SEC-HEADER>0001076204-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080215172754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001076204-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOTHERS WORK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896985
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				133045573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		456 N 5TH ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19123
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2158732200

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STADIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001076204
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21196
		FILM NUMBER:		08623843

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19785 VILLAGE OFFICE CT
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			BEND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5413220600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19785 VILLAGE OFFICE CT
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			BEND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOTHERS WORK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MWRK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001076204</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STADIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>19785 VILLAGE OFFICE CT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 101</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55249</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.868</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>585850</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bradley R. Kent, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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