Bikinis While Pregnant: Yay or Nay?
Babble’s feature on celebrity maternity swimsuits showed a wide range of looks, from itsy bitsy to fully covered up. This got me thinking about the age-old question of what to wear on the beach when you’re pregnant.
Whether or not a bikini is a good move for the significantly baby-endowed woman has been a matter of some debate. The celebrities in the Famecrawler piece seem to fall on either side of the issue, and even the author appears to have her own opinion—she describes Minnie Driver’s two piece look as “letting it all hang out”.
Are you pro-pregnancy bikini? Would you wear one yourself?
I’m personally a big proponent of comfort at the beach and for me, one pieces just aren’t comfortable. I hate that feeling of tight, hot lycra stretching across my middle. Can’t stand it. The only time I’ve worn a one piece in my adult life was when I had to borrow one. This doesn’t mean I’ve got a lady six pack, mind you. It just means I hate the one piece more than I hate the idea of people seeing that I don’t.
If I’m feeling modest (or flabby) I’ll usually put on a tank top. I’ve tried the tankini too, but I haven’t found one I love yet.
To me, pregnancy is the optimal time for bikini wearing. Your belly is supposed to be sticking out. So there’s no pressure to suck it in, or even to look perfect. Yes, there are those celebrity basketballs to compare yourself to. But I think people understand that most pregnant bellies aren’t quite that perfect looking (at least not after month 6).
One of the other benefits of the bikini during pregnancy: you could wear a non-maternity version. Depending on how your body’s expanding, you could fit into your usual swimsuit size, or buy a larger one in a non-maternity store. This might be cheaper than maternity swimwear, which can be ridiculously expensive and can’t be worn later on.
But even with my personal aversion to maillots, I completely get why someone might not want to put their belly out there for all to see. Pregnancy makes some people want to show their bodies off, while others get more modest than usual. And bikinis have their pros and cons whether you’re pregnant or not.
What’s your pregnancy swimsuit strategy?
low riding river shorts and a bikini top- I can’t see past the belly to do any maintenance below! there’s no sagging during pregnancy- it’s the perfect time to wear a bikini.
I liked the one piece late in pregnancy it helped hold up the belly and gave the ligaments a rest.
If it looks fine, why not?
Wearing a bikini during pregnancy is the only time I DON’T feel self-conscious in one! Also, how is a pregnant belly any more offensive than some men who go topless . . . who really shouldn’t?
Wearing bikinis while pregnant is sexy. You don’t have to worry about the muffin top.
Some women can pull off the pregnant in a bikini look… I am not one of them, mostly due to stretch marks that are just not pretty to show off. I barely look okay in one when I’m not pregnant! LOL I definitely agree though that a one piece is very uncomfortable. I wore one with my first pregnancy (July baby) and hated it, especially when having to go to the bathroom… I’ve always hated feeling like I have to strip down to nothing just to go pee! But alas, the two piece just wasn’t working for me, even though it fit. *sigh* Now after baby #2 (April baby) I’ve gotta get my butt in gear so I can break out that two piece for this summer!
I think if you were thin to begin with and have a pretty preggo belly, then go for it! I was a little chubby before I got pregnant, so I will be sporting a tankini this summer. But I will sometimes pull my top up so my belly can get some color!