What to Wear This Summer If You’re Pregnant – Best Maternity Swimwear, Cover-Ups
Finding the right swimsuit, cover-up, and shoes for summer beach and pool situations can be tricky enough. And when you’re pregnant? A bump can complicate things even more. Do you do bikini or one-piece? How do you find something that fits? Where do you find maternity swimwear, and will they even be cute?
The answers depend on a lot of things: how far along you are and what your personal comfort zone is. We went to a few experts, asking them to break it down and share some tips for looking and feeling as cool and stylish and comfortable as humanly possible when you’re pregnant poolside or at the beach and it’s hot.
The Swimsuit
There are two camps when it comes to the swimsuit: Those who cover the bump and those who don’t. I asked former Glamour editors Jane Keltner de Valle and Jessica Sailer van Lith what they wore to the beach when pregnant. Keltner de Valle says, “I never bought any maternity swimwear, and I don’t think it’s necessary. I liked wearing a bikini, so there was nothing restricting on my belly. Also, a bikini is adaptable to a growing belly. String bikinis in particular are adjustable, so they work well when you’re pregnant. It’s such a beautiful and magical moment. My advice would be to embrace it and show it off!” Sailer van Lith seconded that: “Use string bikinis—adjustable in every direction. So easy.”
Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves, founder of the swim brand Marysia, said, “If you feel comfortable, I’m all for belly out. You’re so hot when you’re pregnant—another layer of fabric could make it worse.” Based in L.A.’s Venice Beach, Marysia wore regular bikinis from her line for both of her pregnancies, but she’s also designed swimsuits for chic maternity wear company Hatch, founded by Ariane Goldman, who advised: “Invest in a bathing suit that can be folded under or over depending on how you’re feeling—something that allows you options.”
Not feeling a two-piece? A maillot—maternity style, or just a size or two up from your norm—is the obvious go-to. And there are some great options nowadays.
The Cover-Up
Goldman made a great point about cover-ups: “The beauty is that muumuus are all the rage right now, whether you’re pregnant or not. You don’t feel like a house, because caftans are the standard.” Yes. Aside from the obvious advice that anything with an elastic waistband is your friend, she also shared some tips you might not think about (especially if this is your first pregnancy): Go for something that’s as light and easy to get on and off as possible. It can be hard enough to maneuver clothes with a bump. But make sure it’s not too, too see-through so that you don’t have to change out of it for lunch at a restaurant.
Dobrzanska Reeves agreed. “Bigger is better,” she said. “You want freedom.”
Don’t sleep on the jumpsuit, either. “I always found it easy to wear jumpsuit on the beach or by the pool when I was pregnant,” said Shilpa Prabhakar Nadella, Glamour‘s fashion market director. She’ll buy one that “has room to grow around the belly, and is loose-fitting so the breeze passes through and keeps me cool.”
“I also love how it provides extra coverage from the sun, because my skin was always more sensitive when I was pregnant,” she added.
The Shoes
Step away from the fussy sandals. You don’t want to be messing around with laces, ties, or even the teeniest little buckles. The ideal pregnancy shoe to go with your swimwear is a something you can slip or slide into without having to bend over or even sit down. Think slip-on espadrilles or even a sporty shower slide.
