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?

Sorry, but your point is?

Really? That's poor.

My local pool has a notice saying you can basically wear anything from a huge list. I live in a city where a lot of women choose to wear swimwear that covers their legs and arms for reasons relating to religion for example. Some wear a top that has a hood to cover their hair.

Rash vest, swim shorts, leggings, long sleeves, all perfectly acceptable at pools near me. Great suggestions for @SoloMumJustMuddlingThrough – I would add it’s worth looking at Speedo as well for swimsuits that come high at the armpit if that makes sense. I swim a lot and have big boobs – my current cozzy is a version of this one and holds them in well.

I know Speedo may seem £££ but I find they last really well. I swim 2-3 x a week and can get a year out of a Speedo swimmy.
https://www.speedo.com/women-s-printed-hydrasuit-blue-green/16549238.html

I wear a sports bra under my costume and picked up some cheap bought new with tags quality swimming costumes from Vinted . I think certain brands do bust measured ones. Good luck!

So glad you can do this for you both. It’s horrible when you feel rubbish. I hope you find what works and you can enjoy the swimming. And yes it’s expensive I’m afraid - but once you’ve got the kit you’ll be set!! Good luck and have fun!!! Well done for persevering!

Definitely rash vest. I learned this the hard way when baby DS flashed my boob to the whole pool!

I think I've found it hard because before DD I was a toned size 6 with perky double Ds. I've never been very body confident but, this is a whole new experience. I'm not fat but so wildly out of proportion nothing fits!!

Breastfeeding has destroyed my boobs so badly when I went for a fitting at John Lewis they said quite honestly that they didn't stock any suitable bras and I'd have to come back when my they had shrunk down to normal (or at least roughly the same size). They were even popping out of the maternity bras 🤦I was mortified.

Surely I can't be the only one with this experience??

As much as I love DD, I think it's time to stop breastfeeding soon...my boobs will be touching my hip bone at this rate (you've got to see the funny side else you cry!) 😫 😅

I will be going swimming no matter what even if I'm wearing a t-shirt over a sports bra (though thanks to all the excellent suggestions I can be confident it won't come to that)

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and kind words. I think this is a useful thread and hopefully it will also help others with the same worries because let's face it there is so much pressure (rightly imo) to take babies swimming !

If you want smaller boobs keep feeding. I fed mine until 3 each time and my once voluptuous boobs are now tiny empty sacks. They look ok in a bra so it's ok but those DC literally sucked the life out of them.

Honestly I was exactly the same with both sizes! I snapped back well the first time but not so much this time and after a year of feeding they are not shrinking back down yet! It’s the fact of just being so different and of different proportions to before. I hope you find something you feel comfortable in. As I say Next crossover swimsuits have been good for me and given space and enough support for swimming xx

Also I went to bravissimo to be fitted for nursing bras, was amazing and helped me no end!

We've got a Splashabout wetsuit that doubles as a nappy. It's a bit of a fight to get it on and off, but the baby stays lovely and warm in it. He comes out the pool warmer than me! Don't pay full price, they're always available on vinted. They seem to come up pretty small. Mine likes lying on his tummy on a float, but I borrow that from the pool. He's only 4 months so we mostly just float around. By 9 months they're happily splashing and paddling a bit