In some ways, swimming is an awkward activity. The water literally gets everywhere, even under your suit. Wearing the appropriate sort of padding while you swim can help conceal protruding nipples and stop embarrassing breast milk or incontinence leaks. Wearing the wrong pads or pad containment garments, however, may contribute to the transmission of bacteria through the pool if they allow body fluids to leak out.
Incontinence Pads
Incontinence pads are designed, in both men's and women's styles, to absorb the byproducts of both urinary and fecal incontinence. In order to wear incontinence pads while swimming, they must be contained in waterproof swimwear like swim briefs. Otherwise, they'll absorb the pool water, leaving you waterlogged and leaking the pad's contents out into the pool.
Swim Briefs
Incontinence swim briefs are designed to hold the byproducts of incontinence in and keep the pool water out. Most swim briefs are made of close-fitting plastic with a thin rubber gasket around the leg and waist openings, designed to hold absorbent padding in place to help keep you clean and dry as you swim. While not technically pads in and of themselves, well-fitted swim briefs are absolutely critical if you're going to wear any sort of below-the-belt padding in the pool.
Nursing Pads
Absorbent nursing pads will become waterlogged as you swim. Once you leave the pool, they remain a conspicuous wet spot in your swimsuit, not to mention the discomfort of having a waterlogged pad stuck against your skin. Use non-absorbent silicone nursing pads to avoid this problem. The non-absorbent pads won't take on water, but as long as they firmly adhere to your breast around the nipple they will protect you against embarrassing leaks, and also help keep your nipples from protruding conspicuously through the fabric of the suit.
Push-Up Pads
Whether you're looking to give your bust a little added support in swimwear or need to augment one breast so that it matches the other in size, swimwear push-up pads can help you reconfigure your figure at will. For the best results, shop for non-absorbent pads that either affix with a waterproof adhesive or can be stitched directly into your swimsuit for the most secure fit.
Menstrual Pads
Do not wear menstrual pads while swimming. Like incontinence pads without a waterproof swim brief, menstrual pads absorb water, leaving you waterlogged and potentially leaking their contents out into the pool. The only way you can conceivably wear a menstrual pad while swimming is if you use an incontinence-style waterproof swim brief. Otherwise, you should wear tampons if you swim during your menstrual period.
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