In tears about swimming

[SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough]

I have been desperate to take my DD swimming for months (she is 17 months) but am struggling with coming to terms with post partum body and swimming costumes. I'm a healthy weight but it's the proportions that are making it impossible to find a swimming costume I feel confident in. Huge GG breastfeeding boobs that are odd sizes and come down past my belly button. I'm not overweight at 57kg and 165cm (though about 5kg more than I'm happy).

Its not even about looking good, it's just I cant find a costume that fits my boobs and body. all the fancy bikinis for bustier girls are way out of my budget - like £80 for a swimming costume?! 😅 That's more than I have to spend in a whole week! I'm looking for a basic costume to take my kid to the pool not a holiday beach sexy number.

I feel really terrible. I've bought a couple of vinted over the past few months but they have all stretched out of shape (sold as very good condition but about to fall apart on reality) and don't fit which has made me feel worse.

What would you do. How can I over come this?

I always do board shorts and a rash vest. Literally no one gives a shit what you are wearing and I think your confidence will only come from doing it.

If it's just for standing with your baby I'd even consider wearing a good supportive bra you don't mind being ruined with chlorine and a rash vest over the top.

I agree, invest in a rash vest or if you have any kind of sports fabric t shirts wear one of those with a bra underneath. Decathlon do a range of colours all under a tenner.

Freya do bikini tops which are as supportive as bras. I've found them for not too much on Amazon.

I agree with a rash vest. A friend of mine wears a bra under her costume and a rash vest over it.

I normally wear an old sports bra underneath when not feeding. Most of the women in my swim team do, regardless of size! Even supportive bikinis are only good for standing around. At the moment I wear the cheapest decathlon swimsuit (£5?) with my least favourite nursing bra under. It's so cheap it's very stretchy and easy to whip a breast out. It's only going to last a few months before it disintegrates but that should be enough

Hello! Great time of year to catch a bargain on swimwear. This one has lots of options for cup and back size left:
Turquoise halterneck bikini £11.40

You can then buy a rash vest to go over the top which is ideal for swimming with a baby (as you are not swimming, just floating, and that can be chilly!)

I have a dreadful body post-babies and my skin is all messed up too for other reasons. I’m sure a few people think “she’s a bit of a mess” but I don’t mind any more. I’m jealous as anything of the svelte bodies of some other mums!

You need to go into a shop instead of buying online. I have tried Vinted for swimwear before and it never worked out. I agree with others that decathlon is a good place to start, definitely affordable and then tend to have a good range of products.

I think bravissimo also do swimwear that could suit you, but I think they're quite expensive.

I'm big of boob, flabby of tummy and narrow of hip, and I swear by tankinis. Choose one where you can buy different sizes for top and bottom - I got my last one from Tu at Sainsburys.

I found for splashing around with young children, that being covered with something like a rash vest was more comfortable for the continuous bobbing in/ out of the water.

A rash vest means that you can get away with a cheaper cossie and cover fit issues. Decathlon do them cheaply.

I ended up lop-sided after mastitis until I stopped feeding; I had agonising vasospasms so ended up feeding 2:1 and my less-used side shrank closer to normal. I was a 34D/F until I stopped and both went back to their usual proportions.

Old black or navy etc bra under any swimming cozzy with a rash vest over the top. Nobody will notice or care. You will be comfy. Job done.

Hi OP, do you know your size in Freya? I have a couple of unworn, forgot-to-return sets in sizes 10G and 10GG. Happy to send to you if you want to PM me. You can sell them on vinted if they don't work out. I don't want any money for them, just want you to be able to swim!

I used to wear a tankini when doing baby swimming so I could get the suit on before heading to the pool. I'm an F cup.
I always buy cup sized and underworked swim tops from eBay - as others have said, Freya is a good brand. You probably want to go to a Bravissimo shop for a proper fitting though - buy one bra from them and the rest on eBay.

Yep another one saying wearing a sports bra too under my costume was game changer for big boobs. I wear a racer back swim suit so the straps line up. Go have fun with your little one enjoy their splashing smiles

I have a tankini from Shein of all places, and I have KK boobs (well actually one boob is a whole cup size bigger than the other. I also only wear shorts rather than the tranditional 'pants' type.
I've tried the expensive big boob designed Bikini tops and can't say they're any different to the cheap ones.

I've bought a tankini and shorts bikini bottoms. (Size 24, 38 JJ boobs) from bra stop. I've been three times swimming now and I nearly cried the first time I walked from the changing room to the pool because I felt so horrible. Honestly, nobody actually cared and you see all sorts of shapes and sizes there.

Zip up rash vest. And wear a normal bra under it. Or a swimsuit or tankini with properly sized cups. Mine are from M and S.

I can't be any help from a practical perspective as I'm the opposite...too thin and straight up and down.

So I sort of feel similar to you but for different reasons. Therefore last time I went on a family holiday I did look at a lot of other women, not in a judgy way but more in terms of are there others like me/does everyone else have great figures etc. It was pretty reassuring to see that, in reality, most other women didn't look like the stereotypical 'great' in a swimsuit to be completely honest. And I suspect most people are more concerned with how they look than worrying about others.

If I saw someone with huge boobs I'd more likely be jealous!

I've just thought: the fancy swimsuits you're buying on vinted are probably designed for holiday not swimming. They're not chlorine resistant and that's why they're disintegrating so fast.

Well done for looking for a solutio it can be lovely getting the little ones in the water. Another vote for a swim bra or a sports bra paired up with a rash vest and tankini bottoms. Did it the when the kids were small and did it again when i joined an aquacise group at 50 as the jumping activities were too much for my costume! Belle lingerie often have last years colours/styles on sale my swim bras were from elomi

I’m a 32h boob and a size 12 but weigh in quite a bit heavier than you - amazingly my one swimsuit I’m obsessed with for everyday swims with the kids is a racer back Tesco one.

for holidays I tend to go for pour moi or next shaper ones. I can’t use the everyday high street ones or low cut or low support ones they usually have to be properly cup sized.

Rash vest or tankini to and jammers for bottom (or men's swim shorts). Don't over think it.

Can get both those possibly in a charity shop for £10 combined.

Have a look on Amazon - they do ones for bigger boobs and are a good price.

I agree with tankini, I am similar to you and the full bra tankini top really helps.

I have GG boobs and only wear bikinis as I never get any swimsuit that fits my hips and my boobs, it's either or and that even with shopping at Bravissimo.

I did my share of baby swimming and a decent bra/sports bra and a synthetic top or rash vest are great. You will be standing and holding your child the majority of the time so it's about comfort.
I personally can't do rash vests as - again - I never found on that fits the boobs and is not too big everywhere else. But a top like a close fitted running shirt is great, that's what DD now wears for paddle boarding etc if she is not in a wetsuit.

these fit me when I was a JJ , they’re tight to get on but when it’s on your body your hold your boobs where you want them to sit and then pull the zip up and they stay there!!

That's a bargain and just what you need @SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough