How to Find the Right Maternity Swimsuit for You

"The quest for the perfect maternity swimsuit takes into account one major difference from regular swimsuit shopping—celebrating a woman's blossoming shape and belly rather than minimizing," explains Amy Atkin, owner of TummyStyle.com, which sells a variety of suits for moms-to-be.

"I think it's a good thing," says Rebecca Matthias, the president and creative director for the largest maternity clothing company in the world, Mothers Work, Inc., which offers five brands, including Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity, Motherhood Maternity, and exclusive brands for Sears and Kohl's. "Women should be proud of their shape when they're pregnant."

To show off your changing body, accent the positive—your growing breasts and enviable curves. Look for a maternity swimsuit that will be comfortable in your first trimester and your third.

"Comfort and ease of fit are very important factors for the pregnant woman who does not want to feel constricted by her swimsuit," advises Atkin.

Dr. Helen Salsbury, MD, an OB-GYN at the Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Florida, agrees, recommending that moms-to-be don't stretch out their regular suits. "If [pregnant women] are going to try to use the old bathing suits, it may make it more difficult to breathe," she says.