I used to do lap swimming 3 + days a week up until I hurt my back and was told to stop all exercise (which was August 06, since then I’ve started to exercise again but just haven’t added my lap swimming back in like it was). This fall I started deep water aerobics twice a week. I am also going to try to add in lap swimming once a week – as it is supposed to help get baby in a better position and will hopefully make me more comfortable too. Up until now I have been able to fit into my old swim suit, and just stretch the belly part a little. The suit is now uncomfortably taught around my belly so I need a new suit. You think that would be fairly easy to find a new suit to wear for swimming (not just lying or paddling in the pool)? At least I did. There are lots of woman who swim competitively or lap swim, and I am sure some of them even get pregnant, what did they do? There is at least a small need to create a pregnancy racing swim suit. Do you think I could find one with a racer back or higher front? Hmmm.. nope!
Swimco’s only maternity leave suit they had in was a full piece, with regular straps and low front. Anyone who moves a lot in the water with lap swimming knows the shoulders fall off more easily if it isn’t a racer back or at least slightly tappered straps at the back towards the middle, and suits lower in the front (chest area) create too much water drag. The only other option was to buy a regular bikini racer suit and just let my belly hang out. Not too sure I am comfortable enough for it. So I proceeded to Thyme Maternity where all of their suits are ‘lie on the beach’ swim suits. I bought one last week that was a two piece tank suit. I took it home and thought about it more and exchanged it today, because the front is just too low and I fear if I do try and do lap swimming in it the water drag on the chest area will just be too annoying. I exchanged it for something somewhat similar but it has a slightly higher front. The straps are meant to tie around my neck, I am going to try and sew them to the back of the suit in a “x” on the back to see if they can stay on a little better. Not ideal at all, but I guess I will also be going a lot slower, as I haven’t kept up with my lap swimming and I have extra weight on my front, so hopefully it won’t be an issue. But grrr I find it so annoying, what are the ladies who do lap swims regularly supposed to do when they get pregnant?
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February 25, 2008 at 9:57 am
julessilver
Wanted to add this comment that was made on another post but pertains to this one:
Comment on February 22, 2008 from Adriane
I just found your site by googling “maternity swim suit lap swim” and came across a post of yours from January. Anyway, looks like you are nearing the end of your pregnancy, but in case you never found a suit and still want one, I think there are a few at swimtowin.com. Good luck!
http://www.swimtowin.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=127
December 17, 2008 at 1:25 am
Jeanne
I found this thread by googling for maternity swimwear for exercise and lap swimming, not just sitting on the beach like all the available maternity swimwear is designed for. I saw the EQ suit Adriane posted about but I saw reviews elsewhere that said it was cut badly and ill fitting. I’m just so annoyed I can’t find a decent swimsuit. My doula told me I needed to get in the water but gee, guess I can’t because I refuse to wear some floppy flimsy tankini thing with straps that will fall down. Speedo UK has a suit but it’s not a racer-back so it offers no support for the huge breasts that come with pregnancy. Who exactly is designing these things, men?
March 2, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Danielle
I found this string by googling “pregnant swimmer suit” after spending far too long on regular maternity swimwear sites. I was in the same bad spot with my first pregancy over 2 years ago but was able to use an old tankini I had to meet the need. It fell apart by the end of my pregnancy and now I’m stuck the second time around with nothing. I’ve tried on speedo two piece suits but the top is not nearly as supportive as I now need and I can’t buy a top and bottom in different sizes. I did find a one piece on line through PregO that looks promising but’s it’s $66 (doesn’t include shipping) so not sure I want to “try” it and have to return it. Good luck to all!
March 18, 2009 at 3:28 am
Kirstin
Hi! I too was looking for advice on a maternity lap suit. I found a cute, not-too-low cut tankini and was considering it until I read your post. You’re right, it’ll create drag (and possibly fall right off if the back isn’t supportive enough).
So my runner-up suit is this one-piece by Prego (which is probably the one Danielle referenced):
http://tummystyle.com/products/Prego-Maternity-Navy-Empire-Tank~1675.html#
The back hook is going to be a pain, but it has padded bra cups and otherwise looks serviceable. What do you think?
September 4, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Jayne
my advice is to get another tankini here : http://www.motherwearclothing.co.uk
November 27, 2009 at 2:05 pm
tassy
I feel a gap in the market coming here! I have been swimming and doing triathlons for over 20 years and now at 40 pregnant for first time…not going to stop swimming. I also used to teach swimming to those with additional phyiscal needs and disabilities and you guys are so right…no good maternity training suits and many swimsuits dont ‘suit’ your average but different body! I am searching and only found one with cross back and fairly high neck ….google emma jane maternity swimsuit but dont know what the material is like yet. Meantime I am off to design and prototype one!
happy lengths!
February 15, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Alice
found this thread like many of the others because i am trying so very hard to keep up with my lap swimming at 19 weeks pregnant! My comfortable racing suit is becoming uncomfortably tight and restricting movement in my shoulders but can i find anything other than tankinis or MASSIVE tents which will probably just fall down! Serious gap in the market!
May 10, 2010 at 3:45 am
Julessilver · Swimming in Victoria, and pregnant swimming
[…] I finally found a pregnancy lap swim suit and love it. We ended up ordering it online. We ordered the size they suggested for the size my regular suit was and it ended up being too large, so I ordered another one a size smaller. I still have the unused medium size thinking I may get big enough to fit into it near the end, but not sure if I will need it now. It’s a Lycra suit, so won’t last much longer than this pregnancy as the chlorine tends to eat them quickly. Not pregnant I wear a polyester suit now, which lasts and lasts and lasts… as the sales people say you will get tired of the style way before it wears out! I have to have thin straps on my polyester suits otherwise I get chapped marks on my neck and it looks like I have hickeys all the time. Putting on Vaseline on my neck prior to a swim workout also used to help. Lycra does not bother me. […]
February 20, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Jessica
How could anybody be expected to swim laps with those tiny shoulder straps?!? Sad! But some of the previous links posted above no longer work. The Emma-Jane looks like a great suit! I just ordered one, thanks so much!!!
February 28, 2012 at 7:27 pm
julessilver
Jessica
Here is the updated link:
http://www.swimtowin.com/materintyswimwear.aspx
I actually have one in a size medium that was too big and never fit. Still has the hygeine sticker on it… I would sell for less than half price if anyone wanted it? It is burgundy in colour, and willing to mail it.
August 6, 2012 at 4:25 am
Katie
Hi, do you still have the size M suit for sale? If so, send me an email with asking price – I’m getting by for now at 25 weeks with a tankini, buy would love to find a ‘real’ suit as I plan to switch over to more swimming these upcoming months. But can’t justify spending too much, as this will be my last time needing it! :). Thanks!
August 8, 2012 at 1:40 am
julessilver
I do! Where do you live? We are near the SF bay area How bout $25 + shipping to where ever you are at.
November 21, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Jill
I’m glad it’s not just me. Up till now i’ve been using a two piece top (not a bikini) which gives me great boob support (i am at least a DD now) and a one piece over that. However the two piece top no longer fits and doesn’t seem to come in a larger size.
I can’t stand the idea of wearing the maternity swimwear (togs) that fall off your shoulders or the tankini which i imagine will ride up. I’m 24 weeks pregnant and swim at least 3 x a week. A don’t think a bikini will stay on for the kind of swimming i have in mind. I’m in NZ and starting to think my swimming days are over due to lack of anything to wear in the pool.
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