Nothing like Maternity Swim Suit Shopping to Boost Your Self-Esteem!

Or not! Ugh...we're visiting my step-daughter in Philly in two weeks and we mostly just hang out with her and do a LOT of swimming in the hotel pool.  Well, I fit in all my swim suits, but you know, the gut is hanging, and I might not look pregnant to some; I might just look like I have a gut.  Plus, because I have this blood clotting disorder I give myself a daily injection of Lovenox, a blood thinner.  And this is what the battle wound from daily injections looks like:

This bruise is about 5-6 inches long and rests on my hip.

(Sorry pic is upside down, but you get the idea - it ain't pretty)

 

My OBGYN recommends doing it in the hip or stomach. I choose hip because poking dear baby just makes me nervous.  And as long as I hit the same spot it's only one part of my body looking like my husband beats me.  So, obviously, I want to cover this up and will not be wearing a bikini. 

 

Also, the whole showing your growing belly thing with a bikini kind of makes me uncomfortable.  Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with seeing other pregnant women exposing their bellies in bikinis but for me I just feel too stared at, you know.  People are fascinated with pregnant women, especially when they are very far along.  I get it.  It really is amazing - I'm growing a human being! I mean, totally the world's most awesome science experiment happening in my uterus!  It's interesting. But I feel like as I pregnant woman (and I'm sure most women who've been pregnant will agree with me) that you just get stared at more - by everyone - other women, men, children - people are just curious.  Therefore, I feel like the maternity bikini will only draw more attention to my belly and with a bruise like the one above, yikes! Tons of stares for sure!

 

I found a really cute Tankini- style suit from Pea in the Pod.  It's ruched so it can be worn even when I'm not pregnant. It covers my bruise and I think it's quite flattering...well, as flattering as a suit can be when you've had two kids, don't work out, and your thighs haven't seem the sun since last summer.  After trying it on and really liking it, the only thing that wasn't working was that the top, the part that covers the boobs, was loose and the fabric was folding over in a way that showed the nude inside material - weird?  I showed the sales gal since I wasn't sure if there was a defect.  Her response: "No defect sweetheart.  You've got big hips and a small chest, that's the way the suit fits you."  Brutally honest.  I actually admire that.  I got the suit anyway and will just put a little stitch in the top on either side so the fabric doesn't roll over.

 

You'd think pregnancy hormones would give me a bigger rack...sadly, no.  But I've got a suit for the summer!  And despite the sales gal, who in seconds pointed out my flaws, I think I look pretty good in it.  Will post a pic when I take it for swim!