Sunday, May 11, 2008

Maternity Swimsuits stank, UNTIL NOW



If you want to 'play' in the water, hang out at beach, etc., then you get a bathing suit. But if you want to really swim -- i.e. you want to swim laps -- then you get a swim suit. The most common, and arguably best brand (judging by the high percentage of people in the lap lanes wearing it) is Speedo. If I want to swim, it is guaranteed that I am wearing a Speedo (Super Proback, baby!)

At least, it was guaranteed until I got pregnant last year. Then Speedo let me down. They had no maternity suits. Not even one. I wrote them, they confirmed it, and they had no suggestions. I ended up ordering a maternity swimsuit from one of the myriad of maternity websites. It was crappy; I hated it; I lived with it.

I wrote the Olympic women's swim team, asking them where they got maternity suits. I figured they knew of some secret brand that was fabulous ...

I am certainly not an Olympic swimmer, but I have been a lap swimmer most of my life. I am now pregnant and trying to continue swimming. But I am having a terrible time finding a swimsuit. I can no longer crush myself into my racing Speedo, and Speedo has confirmed that they do not make maternity swimsuits. I have tried several suits from several different maternity stores, but they are junk. Absolute Garbage. They are made for bathing/wading/splashing .. not lap swimming.

It occurred to me that an Olympic level swimmer would not want to stop swimming, either, so I have found myself wondering where female Olympians have gotten good, lap-quality swimsuits.


Sadly, this was the wisdom I got back from them ...
Having just given birth I understand. I went with a larger Speedo suit! Way larger than I care to admit, but there is a suit out there that has a crossover back that I really liked it was loose and I was able to swim in comfort.

Hope that helps

Lindsay Mintenko
USA Swimming
National Team Managing Director

I wrote Speedo back and begged them to consider adding Maternity suits to their offering. I never heard back.

BUT NOW, five months later, Lo and Behold!
I just went to browse the Speedo website and what to my wondering eyes should appear but a big promo for NEW Speedo Maternity Swimwear! Hurrah!!

Of course, I'm not pregnant anymore to try them out. Hmmm. Guess it's time to try for Number 2!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you thank you thank you! I can no longer squeeze into my largest Speedo and have not been in the pool for almost 3 weeks. I can't wait to get the new maternity SWIM suit.

Unknown said...

I know I'm a year late, but I just checked out the Speedo site myself and while they have 3 maternity suits available they are all halter top fashion suits. Which are great for lounging and looking cute at the beach, but when I swim laps I don't want all my stuff flying about if you know what I mean. :(

I'm like you, I'm not an Olympic swimmer, but in the summer when my pool is open I like to swim laps and I love my Speedos for that.

Unknown said...

Agree with Katie. Nothing good for laps on there. Boo.

Lola said...

I just checked the website but it doesn't look like they have them anymore. How frustrating! I can't imagine buying on of the frilly maternity suits for swimming laps. This stinks!

Tanya Sloan Storm said...

Same thing here, no maternity Speedo in sight. Dang it! Would they treat their OWN mother this way?

Tanya Sloan Storm said...

Found a good one, not from Speedo but from Prego.. http://www.surfsupmaternity.com/prego-maternity-solid-empire-tank-one-piece-swimsuit.html

the Danosaur said...

Another site that offers them is swimtowin.com - they have several colors with a high neck and racerback straps. I bought one and have been impressed. At 38 weeks it is getting a little snug but I am still wearing it three times a week.