Pregnant Moms Swear By These Maternity Swimsuits To Stay Comfy On Vacay

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When it comes to a list of the most exciting and fascinating things about pregnancy, watching your body change as it supports your growing baby is one of them. The not-so-fun part—finding clothes that accommodate your changing body with comfort. When you add looking for a maternity swimsuit to the mix, it can turn into a nightmare.

But shopping while pregnant shouldn't be. TBH, the process is similar to shopping for anything: It's all about what makes you feel good. "You deserve to feel good when you're pregnant," says Sarah Pollak, owner of Mom's The Word, a maternity clothing store based out of San Francisco. "Strut your stuff."

Don't dwell on what size you think you should be fitting into. Instead, pay attention to comfort. "Now isn’t the time for constrictive or body-shaping fabrics. Instead, choose stretchy fabrics that will grow with your changing body," says Deeanne Akerson, CEO and co-founder of maternity-wear site Kindred Bravely.

Comfort is, of course, different for every pregnant mom-to-be, so it may take a little trial and error for you to find the right bathing suit. But don't sweat it—you'll soon be swimming in some cool pool water or living it up on a beach chair. See below for the 18 best comfy, supportive maternity swimsuits, per rave reviews from pregnant women.

Black Maternity Swimsuit

From Summer Mae, this swimsuit comes with decorative buttons down the chest, removable padding in the bra section, and ruched sides. In case black isn't your style, the number one Amazon bestseller comes in 11 other colors, too.

Rave Review: "The quality and fit exceeded my expectations and I love how it looks on me. It's very comfortable and offers great coverage of the breasts, belly, and booty area."

Front Cross Pregnancy Swimsuit

Listen, you don't need bells and whistles to look good or feel comfortable by the beach or pool. This classic bathing suit for the minimalist will do just that. It offers full coverage with a pretty u-shaped back, and because it's specifically designed for growing bellies, it's great for second or third trimester mamas.

Rave Review: "The cut is flattering. It bunches around the belly to add some wrinkly affect and hide the pop-out belly button!"

Maternity High-Waist Two-Piece

If you're looking for a high-waisted bottom that's actually stretchy, this swimsuit will do. The bottoms, which feature a ruched front panel, will grow with you and your belly. If you have a bigger bust though, it may be wise to go a size up, since customers say the top can feel a little tight around the chest area.

Rave Review: "I put this bathing suit on and instantly fell in love! It’s comfortable and so flattering! I’m like a 38 B and typically a M/L pre-maternity and this fits in the chest area for me luckily. The bottoms are comfortable too, which is surprising for a high-waisted maternity swimsuit!"

One-Piece Maternity Swimsuit

Attention, ruffle lovers! Pack this comfy-cute swimsuit for your baby moon. It's got nearly 700 five-star reviews from other preggos, in case you needed another cosign.

Rave Review: "After trying on swimsuit after swimsuit all claiming to be 'maternity' and finding them to be too tight and not very stretchy, this one finally fit the bill! The material is very stretchy, which in my opinion is a MUST for a maternity swimsuit. There is plenty of room in the belly area without it being saggy."

Maternity V-Neck One Piece Swimsuit

For the pregnant mom who wants to show a little skin without going too bare, here's your match. It features a plunging neckline to show off your cleavage and a strappy criss-cross cutout situation in the back that makes it super stylish.

Rave Review: "Beautiful, flattering, and well-fitting swimsuit. I ordered 10 maternity suits hoping that one would fit, and this one was definitely among the best. Most of the maternity suits I looked at were almost too modest and covered the entire back and didn’t show a single bit of cleavage. Some also emphasized my six-month baby bump in an unflattering way. This one was perfect though!"

Maternity Bikini

If you're looking for a two-piece that offers your belly full coverage, add this one to your cart. Though it's made of stretchy material, it's a better option for expecting mamas in their first or second trimesters, since some reviews have said the bottoms can dig into the skin if they're too tight.

Rave Review: "I ordered a large and it fits perfect. This is a very 'busty' swimsuit which I prefer (at a time when I’m not feeling my sexiest). It’s sooo cute. I’m 20 weeks pregnant for reference."

Off-Shoulder Maternity Swimsuit

Want something with coverage all over? Here's your pick. It'll keep your three B's—belly, bum, and boobs—all covered up. The off-shoulder design is super cute and makes nursing easy even postpartum, though there's no underwire (which is either a pro or con, depending on your preference.).

Rave Review: "I love this suit. I can feel confident pregnant and not pop out anywhere. It covers the bum, fits my expanded hips, and has room to grow [with my] belly with the size up (xl) I purchased. I am short, but I would say this would fit more petite/curvy women well."

Bow One-Piece Maternity Swimsuit

Finding a bathing suit that's as fashionable as it is comfy can feel like a major pain, but this is one a trendy expecting mom can get on board with. It features a cutout in the back, chic bow detail, and a strapless design. But don't worry—it also comes with attachable straps if your boobs need a little help staying in place.

Rave Review: "I am not the most confident in a swimsuit while pregnant, but all of Cache Coeur’s suits made me feel like a million bucks. This one was my favorite—classic, timeless, and low enough in the back that it doesn’t give you that long pregnancy butt look."

Poppy One-Piece Maternity Swimsuit

This floral beauty is likely to stick with you throughout your three trimesters and beyond. Countless customers say the UPF 50+ fabric is light, soft, and stretchy. It's designed with adjustable straps you can tie at the back and cute ruching on the sides.

Rave Review: "I have a full bust (38E) and need coverage and support. This was the only suit of three I tried from Nordstrom that covered me, while still making me feel pretty. It’ll grow with me past my current six months. Highly recommend!"

Two-Piece Maternity Rashguard Swimsuit

A long-sleeve bathing suit is perfect if you know you're going to spend a lot of time in the sun, lounging around, or participating in water activities like kayaking or paddle-boarding. This rashguard offers built-in UPF 50+ sun protection and can be paired with the matching bikini bottom or your fave pair of swim shorts.

Rave Review: "Great quality swimsuit I purchased for a baby moon in Hawaii. Kept me warm during windy days and protected [me] from the sun. I layered a coordinating bikini top underneath, since the top doesn’t have any reinforcement."

Tankini Swimsuit

You can't go wrong with a tankini, especially one that has over 5,000 five-star reviews. This one is best for mamas in their first trimester, as it isn't technically a maternity swimsuit but can accommodate the first signs of a growing belly. It's designed with a band around the waist to keep it from floating up during your swim, too.

Rave Review: "This swimsuit fits perfectly. I'm six months pregnant, so I can use it as a maternity swim suit, but it will also look cute when not pregnant."

Maternity Halter-Top Swim Dress

Don't you just love a bathing suit that can double up as your outfit? This halter-top swimsuit looks like a dress, but it's really swimwear designed with stretchy fabric. The removable pads in the chest area and tie-front knot add some great support, but do keep in mind that if you're making frequent bathroom trips, this bathing suit is a bit harder to take on and off.

Rave Review: "I’m 23 weeks, and I still feel like there is room in the tummy fabric that is underneath for me to grow. The material was comfortable, too—nothing felt too tight and it was easy to slip on."

The Maternity Cinched Current

If you enjoy the supportive feeling of tight clothing, then you'll love this maternity swimsuit from Summersalt. It's built to offer gentle compression to help keep everything in place and built-in soft cups to cover up your nips. If you don't like the navy blue, you can also get this bathing suit in black.

Rave Review: "I had looked at so many different maternity swimsuits and ended up returning most of them due to the quality/fit. This swimsuit is perfect and has a good stretch to it with room to grow!"

Maternity Athletic Tankini Swimsuit

Staying active during pregnancy is always a good idea, and so is finding a swimsuit that allows you to comfortably move through the water, whether you’re swimming or walking laps. This one comes with full-coverage shorts and a supportive, adjustable top. It also comes in 12 different colorways that’ll look fabulous as you lounge by the pool.

Rave Review: "I was struggling to find something that made me feel confident in my new pregnant body, and this swimsuit was perfect. Everything stayed in place, but it's still really cute and comfortable."

One-Piece Cutout Swimwear

The scalloped edges and the cutout at the top of this swimsuit provide just the right amount of chic, while the rest of the suit is stretchy, supportive, and comfortable. Plus, it ties in the back so you'll always have a perfect fit on top as your body does its thing. If you’re tired of basic black, it also comes in soft pink, orange, and deep purple.

Rave Review: "I ordered these bottoms while pregnant and they worked out great. I was a size small pre-pregnancy and ordered a medium. The adjustable tie really helped out!! Overall a great buy."

Keyhole Back Maternity Tankini

There's so much to love about this maternity tankini. First, gingham is always fun to wear to the beach. The top is supportive and adjustable, and the fabric in the front has a lot of extra stretch. Last but not least, the swimsuit offers SPF 50 protection from the sun—very important for growing bellies.

Rave Review: "The only maternity bathing suit that has grown with me and still has room to grow until the end of the summer—it fits perfect and is super comfortable."

One-Piece Retro Halter Swimsuit

Don’t let your playful sense of style take a back seat for the next nine months. This super comfortable one-piece has convenient boy shorts on the bottom and a supportive halter top. Best of all, the fabric over the belly is loose so you’ll have plenty of room to grow.

Rave Review: "I love this swimsuit. I wore it all throughout pregnancy weekly in the pool and it’s holding up well. It still stretches over my nine-month belly and I will probably continue to wear it after I have the baby because it looks so good."

Maternity Swim Shorts With Skirt

There are no rules about the many ways your body will change during pregnancy, and as is often the case with bathing suits, what fits on the top may not fit on the bottom. That’s why having a quality bottom like this one is so key. Find a few tops that work for you, pair it with this maternity swim skirt, and you’ll always be comfortable in the water.

Rave Review: “It fits and with room for the baby to grow! I love the belly coverage too, but one can easily fold it down. I’m recommending it to all my pregnant friends.”

What should you look for in the best maternity swimsuits?

The "best" maternity swimsuits is really up to whoever is wearing it. But when shopping for a swimsuit while pregnant or postpartum, there are a few things you can keep in mind—including fit, bra size, and practicality.

Fit

"Fit" is a vague, but extremely important aspect to consider when shopping for a swimsuit while pregnant. For one person, it may be all about finding a swimsuit made with super stretchy material, while for someone else it may mean buying a bathing suit that offers light compression for a supportive feel.

"If you have something that doesn't have any kind of stretch to it or stability, it makes it really difficult for it to fit throughout your entire pregnancy," says Gabrielle Carrington, a product developer at Kindred Bravely. So, shop accordingly.

If you're down to buy another swimsuit at a later point in your pregnancy, focus on something that fits you right now. If not, shop for something very stretchy that will see you through the finish line.

Bra Size

As is the case with any bathing suit whether you're pregnant or not, you'll also want to consider your desired level of bust support and coverage. Bra size is an extremely important factor when shopping for a maternity swimsuit.

Carrington and Akerson both recommend staying away from underwire of any kind in swimsuits while pregnant to accommodate future breast growth. Additionally, you should also consider if the swimsuit has straps. If it does, always go for straps that are easily adjustable, and if you know your breasts will grow significantly, avoid halter styles.

Practicality

Life may feel a little more uncomfortable when you're pregnant, so you want to go with a swimsuit option that isn't too hard to take on or off.

For after your pregnancy, you should also consider avoiding styles that have buttons or small decorations that your baby might take interest in, as these can present a hazard, says Jenivive Bernbeck, a technical designer at Kindred Bravely.

That being said, when you're shopping, you may also want to keep future nursing sessions in mind. For that, look for tops that easily pull down or have a clip on-and-off strap. Whatever you need, be sure you go for a maternity style you feel confident in (and don't forget your sunscreen.).

Can you wear a regular swimsuit when you’re pregnant?

Yes! If you prefer to just wear a normal bikini, that's totally okay—and pretty common, says Pollak. She recommends sizing up in a normal bikini if that's what makes you most comfortable. However, she doesn't recommend using this method with one-pieces or tankinis. "If you go for a tank suit, it's virtually impossible to find one that is going to accommodate a pregnant silhouette," she explains.

When should I start wearing maternity swimsuits?

You should purchase a maternity swimsuit whenever you're comfortable doing so, but Pollak says that around 12 weeks is the prime time to shop—especially if you're looking for a two-piece option.

"After about 12 to 14 weeks, your breast [size] is going to stay pretty consistent [until 40 weeks]," she explains. "If you can cover the 'girls,' that's good, but make sure [the bathing suit has] some give because your rib cage will expand."

You can also wait to buy a maternity swimsuit until you're showing (and the closest time to when you'll be using it) to ensure it actually fits.

If you're hoping to just get the whole ordeal over with, Bernbeck recommends looking for a swimsuit with shirring, an elastic design that easily stretches with you, so you don't have to worry about any excess fabric around your belly.

Should I stick to one-piece suits?

Not necessarily. Pollak suggests taking into account what you're shopping for in a bathing suit for—a.k.a. are you swimming laps or laying by the pool? Again, it all comes down to what makes you the most comfortable.

"Some people like having [the fit] nice and snug around their belly, whereas other people are like, 'Oh my gosh, I could not stand that,'" says Carrington. "I think the people who want to feel like [there's] a hug around their belly, a one-piece is the way to go. "Those who want to let their belly go free should try going for a low-rise bikini.

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