You might have expected some specific things with pregnancy (swollen feet, morning sickness), but you may not have guessed how much pregnancy would impact your sleep.
The weight of your growing baby makes it challenging to get a good night’s sleep, especially as you experience pressure points around your body and struggle to get comfortable.
Pregnancy pillows are a great way to improve your sleep — but there are a bunch of options and you have to be sure to pick the right one for you. You have to choose a type and a brand.
Pregnancy Pillow Types
- Wedge
- Pros: generally inexpensive and small
- Cons: only supports one part of your body
- Body
- Pros: provide support for head, belly and knees
- Cons: no back support
- C Shape
- Pros: supports most of body
- Cons: difficult to change which side you’re sleeping on
- U Shape
- Pros: supports entire body
- Cons: can be large
Here’s are the basic things to consider:
- In general, you should opt for a pillow with more support (vs. being super soft) because you want to support your body and pressure points.
- If you experience pain in multiple parts of your body, go with a body pillow or C or U Shaped pillow. If you just need support in one spot and don’t move around much when you sleep, get a wedge pillow
- C vs U Shaped pillows – in general, our experience is that U Shaped pillows are generally better and more versatile because you can easily turn over from side to side
- The cover matters – some pregnancy pillows have non removable covers (or covers that are made of poor quality polyester). The issue with these covers is that they heat up at night and can aggravate night sweats. A cooler option (like bamboo) is preferred.
Here is our list of the best pregnancy pillows in each category below:
The CoCozy Adjustable Pregnancy Pillow is hands down the best pregnancy pillow on the market – the crème de la crème. We love that we can adjust the firmness (with the included additional memory foam). In addition, there is a detachable extension that can (1) alter the shape of the pillow to suit different sleep positions and (2) be used as its own pillow (so it’s really two pillows in one)!
Our favorite part of this pillow though has to be the luxurious bamboo cover that’s infused with silver – it’s soft, cool, and antimicrobial, so it’s great for your skin. The silver infused cover also requires less washing, so it’s less of a hassle to take care of.
This pregnancy pillow is another decent option — it is a popular C shaped option on Amazon. It’s a decent option, but the only real selling point in our opinion is the relatively low price (although for that price you also get some limitations).
The polyfill does not provide that much support, especially when you account for the fact that a lot of customers even complain that it isn’t stuffed enough.
We also found that after sleeping on it for long enough, the pillow tends to get a bit hot. Finally, the polyester cover is a bit rough/scratchy and can irritate sensitive skin.
If you’re looking for a budget option, this could be a good pick, but honestly if you want something that will provide the best support, feel great against your skin, and is overall is very comfortable, this pillow probably isn’t the best option.
Side sleepers rejoice! If you’re looking for a minimally intrusive pillow that supports your bump and back at the same time, then this pillow is perfect for you. The two memory foam wedges will help you stay on your side while sleeping, providing the soft yet firm support for both of your baby bump and back.
I did like how I can adjust the width between the wedges, but you can’t adjust the firmness of the wedges. For some, it keeps you from rolling onto your back (but not all). For sleepers who like to roll from side to side, this pillow probably isn’t the best option because it prevents you from doing that.
However, the pillow doesn’t provide full body support. In fact, some customers report that the pillow doesn’t provide enough back (or belly) support.
I think this pillow is a decent option for those looking a very specific type of sleeper — someone who only sleeps on one side and doesn’t require full support around their back, full tummy, and legs. However, I do think other options get you all of these benefits and more (and can be used after pregnancy).
Things to watch out for:
- Some mothers report getting cut by the velcro
- Others complained that the pillow was a bit too small to support your back
Weight: 700g
Dimensions: 33 x 27.9 x 8.9 centimetres
The Bearaby full body pillow is a decent option if you want a body pillow, but it is a bit difficult to use because it doesn’t retain the shape you want very well. Couple that with being very expensive, and we think you can do a lot better.
Honorable Mentions
This pillow is a luxurious option (but you definitely pay for it). It definitely provides full body support and we did really like the cover on it. It is soft and does not irritate sensitive skin. I loved sleeping and lounging with with this pillow throughout the day. The pillow does wrap around your body and (depending on the fill you get), provides adequate support and comfort throughout the nice. The cover is double sided and machine washable which is nice.
I didn’t really like that the pillow isn’t adjustable – you can’t really remove fill easily so if the fill doesn’t suit you or your body type, you are kind of stuck. Add to that the insane price tag ($200!) and it’s hard to stomach buying this pillow, especially when there are other options that offer all of the benefits (and more) without the same hefty price tag.
This budget option provides the bare bones of what most pregnancy pillows do, however, there are definitely some gaps in the overall experience with this pregnancy pillow.
For the pros, this pillow is relatively inexpensive and is easy to get on Amazon. It’s a decent option that can provide some support for you when you sleep.
However, unfortunately, that’s about where the pros end. The microfiber fill isn’t that supportive (compared to other materials like memory foam). In addition, it is difficult to adjust (not that you would want to remove fill – if anything, I felt like I wanted to add more fill). In addition, the cover is kind of rough against sensitive skin and I felt irritated.
As a result, I can’t rank this pregnancy pillow very high. There are other options that provide a significantly better overall experience.
