Maternity swimwear

[Augustina123]

I'm looking into buying a maternity swimsuit, and was wondering what type of swimwear women on here have found good/not so good.

I'm not a bikini person, so the decision is between tankini and one-piece. I'm looking for something to wear from now (Week 20, small bump) until the end of pregnancy - would a one-piece be comfortable all the way through, or would it be either too loose in the beginning or too tight towards the end?

I was leaning towards a tankini as I've thought that it would be difficult to find a one-piece that would fit for the next 20 weeks, but then wondered whether a tankini top might ride up later on, and/or hang funny underneath the bump once it gets bigger? My current, non-maternity tankini top keeps riding up now that I'm bigger than before, so wouldn't want the same thing to happen with a maternity one once I'm even bigger!

[Whatsinaname2011]

Jojo maman Bebe has nice ones. Maternity tankinis have super big pants and super long top halfs so they definitely don't ride up.

I've always found one pieces (maternity) fit all the way thru easily, they're so stretchy.

[Augustina123]

Thanks for your speedy reply, Whatsinaname2011!

Super big pants, hmm - my bottom is still the same size it has always been, so if the pants were big there, too, then they wouldn't fit...

[Impatientwino]

I'm a frequent swimmer and I got a lovely tankini in mothercare which I'm really please with and they have a sale on currently so it's reduced to £12 annoyingly! Some of them are as little as £8

[Augustina123]

Also, same size as pre-pregnancy or a size up? I usually wear a Size 10 in my tops, and a Size 8 in my bottoms, so swimwear is difficult to find even when not pregnant...

[Augustina123]

Brilliant, Impatientwino, I'll check it out!

[Fluffy24]

I got a normal maternity swimsuit from sports direct for about a fiver, it expanded really well and later the whole pregnancy though about 3 months PP it was starting to get a bit baggy and the electric was going.

[museumum]

I got a tankini and wore it with my normal bikini bottoms (all black) at first and my bikini top under at times. Moving to the tankini bottoms when my bump dropped lower.
I wore the tankini top in the birthing pool too.

[RubyWoooo]

Mine is from Next. Fits well I'm fucking huge at 37 weeks and washes nicely. Good support in the boob department too.

[Whatsinaname2011]

I mean super LONG pants then not super tall. They come up really high like with a bump band so that even if your top rode up which it won't nothing is exposed.

[Whatsinaname2011]

Sorry not super big I mean

[BathshebaDarkstone]

I think I got my tankini from Mothercare, just plain black but it did the job!

[Runningupthathill82]

I got a plain black one-piece from mothercare in my first pregnancy. Did the job ok-ish, but no boob support - and mine were HUGE by the end.

This time I stuck with non-maternity bottoms as long as I could, with a maternity tankini top from Asos sale. This worked out ok, as my bum was pretty much the same size til it ballooned late in the third trimester. I was a completely different size and shape at 20 weeks than I now am at 37... size 8/10 before, definitely a 14 now. Sigh.

[somersetsinger]

I bought a maternity tankini from eBay for about £5. I expect some people buy maternity swimwear and only use it a few times, and this one was as good as new. I'm only 23 weeks, but have a proper bump. The tankini top rides up unless I tuck it into the bottoms (and that only lasts for a length) which is annoying.

My friend lent me her maternity wear, including a swimsuit. It fits well at the moment, but obviously I don't know if it will last the whole way through.

Both costumes are Mothercare. Quality and fit is good. Neither is massively supportive of my increasingly massive boobs, but once I'm in the water, I don't care.

Thanks to the poster who mentioned wearing the tankini top in the birthing pool. If I get to use the birthing pool and care at all about clothes at that point, I will try it!

[frikadela01]

I hate that all the swimwear I've seen are halterneck straps... I couldnt cope with this before pregancy without getting really bad neck ache, I dread to think how I'd manage now my boobs are even more humongous.

[Augustina123]

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful. I hadn't even thought about boob support beforehand!

Whatsinaname2011, thank you for clarifying, super long bottoms will def be useful.

museumum and Runningupthathill82, good idea about combining the non-maternity tankini bottoms with maternity tankini top in the beginning!

frikadela01, I can't stand halterneck tops either, but there seemed to be a few with 'normal' straps around, e.g.
direct.asda.com/george/womens/swimwear/maternity-polka-dot-swimsuit/G005237284,default,pd.html
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+navy-white-dot-maternity-tankini-in-maternity-swimwear+d5023
www.amazon.co.uk/Maternity-Smimsuit-Swimming-Pregnancy-Swimwear/dp/B016AG759Q/ref=sr_1_30?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1451940660&sr=1-30&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-maternity-suit-ladies-354131?colcode=35413106

I have ordered a Jojo Maman Bebe tankini in the sales (swayed by their nice colours... ), now waiting to see how it fits when it gets delivered.

[2ManySweets]

I'm 36 weeks and only just today had to switch costumes from my normal non-maternity size 12 (Tescos purchased 2013) and into a size 14 Mamas and Papas one.

Don't restrict yourself by seeking out two pieces cos you think you'll be too big for a one piece, unless you're expecting twins you'll be fine; Lycra is your friend!

[Ughnotagain]

I got mine from George. I've always found Asda swimwear to be surprisingly good and I really liked it (it did have halter straps though!)

[TriJo]

I'm 29 weeks and I've just been steadily sizing up in basic model Speedo Endurance ones, 11-13 quid a go from Wiggle. I started at a 32 and am now in a 38. I have big boobs (30FF before - 32HH/J now) and find the shape of the back very important in swimwear, I get no support from a U-shaped back and shelf bras tend to be too small by a long way. I prefer the stronger crossover backs on a non-maternity athletic swimsuit.

Found Jojo Maman Bebe absolutely useless - I asked them about maternity swimwear when I was about 4 months along on their live chat, the response was "You need a size 18 top and size 10 bottoms. We don't do separates".

[Augustina123]

Hi all,

Thanks again for all your tips! I've been in the pool in my new tankini twice - fits well, and it's great to finally be doing some exercise again (even though I'm a very poor swimmer and 'exercise' might be an exaggeration).