Bikini - yes or no after dc?

[mrsflux]

My ds in 9 mo and we are starting to plan our summer holiday. It will probably be near a beach somewhere warm.
How do you know if you look ok in a bikini after dc?
My tummy is reasonably flat ish and the squishy bits are firming slowly. Is a bikini after dc a no no for all? Are stretch marks just wrong with a bikini?

I'm starting to stress as we will prob go with childless friends and she always looks hot. I don't feel old enough for a one piece yet!

I do. Think I look worse in a one piece, too blobby.

I did (and do)

in fact I bougth two v nice CK ones specifically to cater for my enormo-norks when dd was 7wks

am now wearing them with pride at 8m pg and snurking at the awful Mothercare one-pieces everyone else in the aquantal sessions has

As long as bikini fits well - I think they look better generally than a one piece.

Although do remember Bonsoir linking last year to a gorgeous eres one piece but it was £££.

I bought a one piece for the first time post DS to take on holiday as I was sure I didn't want to wear a bikini - until I was actually on holiday and realised I didn't care less and cursed my big one piece! Do it!

'There's always a sight worse than yourself!
Wise piece of advice from my dad (to my mum when she wasn't feeling beach confident donkeys ago - You know what - she took it and never regretted it)

I haven't got the best figure in the world in fact it's worse now than after the kids were born but I would feel completely stupid on a beach in a one piece.

What about boy shorts and a halter top (or similar)

I would never, ever, ever wear a bikini and I'm a size 8/10 - but I've got a very wobbly tummy and am very self conscious and too critical of myself. I'd spend the whole time comparing myself to the gorgeous young things who look really good in one, so it's a one piece that holds everything in for me.

If you think you look OK though, then go for it!

upahill boy shorts are no good for little legs and large ish hips and halter tops tend to be too short on me as I have a relatively long torso.

I think I'll be doing the bikini as long as I can find a silupportive one. Not sure I'm brave enough to try out my pre ds ones!

I quite like wearing a one piece, as I feel like I don't have to worry about anything. I'm skinny and have no stretch marks despite 3 dc, but when I bend over the skin sort of pleats a bit.

I wouldn't worry though - no one's looking are they? As long as you're having a nice time what else matters?

In Italy, not only do really fat people wear bikinis, really old people do too. Wrinkly brown grannies in gold lame is perfectly normal. It's great

I didn't wear one for ages. In fact not often even before DCs as in 80s invariably wore black one-pieces. But last two years we were in south of France and I just felt ridiculously covered up and 'English' in a one piece or tankini. So in the end gave in - everyone seems to wear them. What I wouldn't do is go for the 'aging BCBG French (or Italian)' bikini with high scloop- it-in waist and gold buckly bits on - somehow screams OLD. As others have said, unless it's really hanging out just relax..

MrsFlux,

Have a look on 'figleaves'They've loads of different styles of swimwear for different shape figures. Some of the one piece suits are nice. You could get both, a one piece to begin wiht and a bikini as the holiday progreses if you start to feel a bit more confident.
Honestly if your saying your tummy is flatish and you are firming up by summer you will be fine.
There's two things to remember about most people in a bikini in a beach. They are either
1 feeling self concious and hoping no one will notice them or
2 full of themselves they don't notice anyone else.

Just relax and have fun with you're DS on the beach. I guess it's going to be his first time on the beach so go and have a laugh. The sun on your body will make you feel better!

Its too hot in the med to wear a one piece. We were in france 3 months after having DS last year and i wore one, though it had to be a bravissimo one for my massive bf boobs.

Honestly, no one will give a hoot whatever you wear- it is up to you!

However bad you think you look others will look ten times worse!

Personally, i think one pieces look sexier for most people unless you have a figure to die for, or a tankini.

I think the bikini no-no is a floppy over hanging belly or masses of crepy skin.

Oh no. I would look like Hannah Waterman before! I haven't worn a bikini since I was about 7 .

But it sounds like you would look just fine in a bikini op, so don't let a tiny tummy wobble or stretch mark stop you.