Most pregnant women, due to their bulging stomachs, feel embarrassed wearing a bathing suit. And the few who are confident enough to go ahead and wear them usually do not have a clue about maternity swimwear.

The single-piece swimsuit, with low leg cuts and front pouch bellies, is a maternity classic. However, some designers have recently added fashionable twists to the severe swimsuit such as a flirty skirt bottom, which helps a pregnant lady feel less conscious about her overall weight gain by providing maximum hip coverage. A skirtini (skirted bikini) is comfortable maternity swimwear as well, and simultaneously flatters the figure.

To de-emphasize widening hips, expectant ladies should opt for a solid, dark color for the bottom half of their suit. They should also go for a suit that has a design along the bust area to draw the attention towards the upper body instead of the hips and thighs.

Pregnancy sometimes increases bust size as well, in which case a pregnant lady can de-emphasize and flatter a heavy bust with a swimsuit that has a high neck and features extra support, i.e. a supportive cup bra. Those who are looking for major support should select a strap style, racer back or halter top. A suit with a dark-colored top and a light-colored bottom will further de-emphasize the bust.

For those ladies who prefer bikinis, a wrap-front tankini that comes in a long stomach-covering length would be a good bet, as it camouflages the stomach bulge during early pregnancy and is quite flattering too.