Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Pregnant women on the beach- "correct" attire?

41 replies

BurbGirl2013 · 13/08/2013 16:23

We are going to South of France end Aug for a final weeks holiday before I'm due in December.

I am usually a total sun queen and love prancing around in my bikinis and getting an all over tan?but at 24 + 3 weeks and fast growing bump I wonder what you ladies honestly think about preggers women on the beach letting it all ?hang out? in bikinis, rather than trying to conceal bump in cossie or tankini? Did you think different before being preggers in a ertain way when you saw pregnant women on the beach than you do now? I also wonder if anyone knows the French feeling towards openly and proudly showing bumps in public as opposed to modestly concealing them?

Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Bunnylion · 13/08/2013 16:29

Always have and now I'm pregnant i still think its beautiful. Don't cover up for other people, I don't know anyone who would think you should.

I've been on holiday with a pregnant French friend before and she wore a bikini, if that's of any relevance.

I have had a couple of beach holidays while pregnant. I tried a tankini but your belly hangs out the bottom, a one piece can get pulled down at the front by your bump, so all in all bikinis are a lot more comfortable. Go for it!

Littlepaleale · 13/08/2013 16:32

Another one here for letting it all hang out. Holidayed in Portugal earlier this year I wasn't alone in going for a traditional bikini.

I found I burned more easily though so slathered on the suncream!

Lovemyprincess4eva · 13/08/2013 16:32

I wore a maternity tankini and it was really comfortable but I saw lots of people in normal bikinis with bumps on show and don't see anything wrong with it.
To be honest I covered up more because of scars from an op I had last year rather than to hide bump x

belleandsebastian · 13/08/2013 16:38

let it all hang out just be careful to keep using Suncream really regularly though as your skin can burn much more easily in pregnancy

Lovemyprincess4eva · 13/08/2013 16:49

Agree with the sun cream! Never burnt in my life until this year and I burnt quite badly in a couple of hours and that was with sun cream x

OryxCrake · 13/08/2013 16:52

Wear what feels comfortable for you.

With DC1 (many years ago now), I went topless on the beach at 6m pregnant and didn't feel out of place. With DC2, I wore a full swimsuit as that's what I felt happier in.

Kelly1814 · 13/08/2013 17:23

I live in a hot country and am in a bikini most weekends so had the same concerns as you. I actually posted on here asking if I should get a tankini!

Am now 32 weeks, bump not massive but clearly pregnant. Have actually felt fine in bikini and no adverse reactions.

As someone said on my thread, people stare at you all the time when you're pregnant, bikini, tankini or costume, so wear whatever you like :)

FraggleRock77 · 13/08/2013 17:35

What ever you want x

HotCrossPun · 13/08/2013 17:40

I always wear a tankini on the beach. I'm pregnant just now and will be wearing a bikini for the first time when we go on holiday this year. I've never had an excuse to be fat before, so I'll be embracing it

FreckleyGirlAbroad · 13/08/2013 17:43

Am like kelly+ and live in a hot country and bikinis are definitely the way forward. Yes, people will state but I took it all as a compliment and felt proud to show it off. After burning badly earlier in the year, I keep in the shade most of the time, but have still managed to get quite a brown bump, despite layers of cream.

HumptyDumptyBumpty · 13/08/2013 22:47

God, why should you hide it?! I mean, it's not like it's a shameful thing, right? You're pregnant, not diseased .
If anyone comments that they think you ought to cover up, I'd point at a random part of their anatomy and say loudly 'Well, would you mind wearing Wellingtons/a veil/legwarmers please, your feet/face/legs are offending me.'

Babybump26 · 13/08/2013 22:50

I went to Spain 2 weeks ago at 23 weeks and wore a bikini, I don't think anyone took any notice! I say go for it

honey86 · 13/08/2013 23:58

ill be 30 weeks when i go spain, im hugee but im wearing a bikini. a triangle bikini top with hotpants and perhaps a sarong. if people dont think preg women should be dressed like that, and complain, ill tell em where to go n stick their opinions

BookwormBetty · 14/08/2013 00:03

I'd only wear a tankini

Wouldn't expose baby to direct sunlight, but then again I would even go to a concert pregnant.

MrsMongoose · 14/08/2013 00:14

You're going to struggle to hide a bump in any swimwear! Go for what ever you want. I go for string bikinis.

MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 14/08/2013 00:20

I have only worn a bikini confidently when pregnant because i didn't worry about looking fat I suppose

MrsMongoose · 14/08/2013 03:12

Bookworm... Pretty sure the fact the baby is inside you means it won't be exposed to direct sunlight!

Bonkers.

StrawberrytallCAKE · 14/08/2013 03:18

I wore a bikini and draped a silk sarong across my tummy when lying down just to give the baby a bit of extra shade and it felt more comfortable to me.

Definitely wear what you like, never be ashamed of the bump!

MrBlondesFries · 14/08/2013 06:02

I personally wear a bikini and then a matching Lycra vest over the top to cover the bump, but whatever you're comfortable with.

MrsPatMustard · 14/08/2013 07:44

May well get roasted by some for saying this, but I'll be covering up. Have no confidence at all in my maternity body - morning sickness and dizziness have meant I've hardly done any exercise since May and my backside looks awful. Plus (here comes the controversial bit) despite being 16+2 with DC1 myself, I've always been a bit weirded-out by pregnancy bumps on the beach. Sorry guys - totally appreciate what everyone is saying about pregnancy being a totally natural process, this but i just prefer a bit of modesty. Have bought two gorgeous chiffon kaftans from Debenhams and intend to recline on the sunlounger with my sunnies like a pregnant Liz Taylor wannabe.

Kn1ttedWaffle · 14/08/2013 07:50

I agree with moaning! Being pregnant is the best time to wear a bikini because you don't have to worry about looking fat!
I wore a bikini when I was pregnant with DD in lots of different places up to 36 weeks pregnant and if anyone thought negatively about it they never said (more fool anyone who says anything negative to a pregnant hormonal me!) in fact I got lots of compliments.
Wear what you feel comfortable in and don't worry about anyone else.

Original poster

BurbGirl2013 · 14/08/2013 10:15

Thanks so much ladies. Loving all the bump love here!
I've always admired bumps and think preggers women look gorgeous, so certainly not my opinion, but wandered about the "public" and some thinking the flesh of a bump should be hidden or something...? Thanks to you guys I?m not going to try and shove my body into an uncomfy cossie but shall still be parading around in my usual bikini! (shame about the increasing cellulite I seem to have gotten while P though!).
As much as a sun freak I usually am was in Majorca at around 16 weeks (barely showing then) and think I got very mild heat stroke from being out in sun too long (NEVER happens to me usually) so will get some shade this time.
But as you all say its sooo nice not to have to suck my tummy in as per usual constantly and just feel proud of the bump!!
MrsPatMustard you are entitled to your own opinion and thanks for your honesty! I?m surprised there weren?t more tbh also saying similar, but reassuring to know hopefully I won?t get any (or many) horrible comment or evils when wearing my bikini on hols now.

OP posts:

silverangel · 14/08/2013 10:23

There were loads of pregnant women in France when I was there a couple of weeks ago and most of them were in bikinis looking better than me in my swimsuit! If you have the figure, do it. I did notice some would tie a sarong around their bump in the middle of the day (I assume to stop it getting too hot?).

NomDeClavier · 14/08/2013 10:27

Live in France - we do the bikini thing With DS I was in a bikini at 40 weeks and noone batted an eyelid.

mignonette · 14/08/2013 10:29

Just back from Corsica and the South of France. Plenty of bikini'd pregnant women plus topless pregnant women and topless BFing pregnant women. They all looked beautiful. Nothing like the hot sun on a pregnant belly (sunscreen too of course).

Go for it.

Flip

1 2