The Ultimate Pregnancy Pillow Guide 2024
During the days when I am pregnant, I always have a lot of difficulties getting into good sleeping positions as my tummy gets bigger. My doctor advised me to try different sleeping positions and introduced me to using a pregnancy pillow. However, it is overwhelming as there are so many choices in the market. I have done my homework and created this comprehensive pregnancy pillow guide for your convenience.
Table of Contents
Recommended Pregnancy Pillow
Here is the list of our recommended pregnancy pillows
- Leachco Snoogle Original Total Body Pillow – Best Full Body Maternity Pillow
- Leachco Back ‘N Belly Pregnancy Contoured Body pillow – Best Maternity Pillow for Back Pain
- ComfiLife Knee Pillow – Best Maternity Pillow for Hip Pain
- Today’s Mom Coolmax Pillow – Best Cooling Maternity Pillow
- Boppy Maternity Pillow – Best Maternity Pillow for Plus Size
What is a pregnancy pillow?
A pregnancy pillow acts as a pillow or cushion for pregnant women. There are many different types of pregnancy pillows in different shapes and sizes. They all provide support and help pregnant women to get into a good sleeping position for better quality sleep.
Do maternity pillows really help?
When you are into your latter stages of pregnancy, it is just not suitable to sleep on your tummy. Most doctors will also not advise you to sleep on your back. You may like to check some tips we have about Sleeping with Pillow Between Legs While Pregnant
The main idea of a maternity pillow is to provide you with support when you lie on the side during resting. Normally the maternity pillow is the size of your body with one end going under your arm or head while the other goes between your legs. The middle part is used to support your stomach. (Source)
When should you start using a maternity pillow?
Technically there is no particular time to start using a maternity pillow and it is entirely up to you. Based on my own personal experience and feedback from forums, most of them start using a maternity pillow after their first trimester or around week 16 of pregnancy.
It all depends on the individual. If you are still having quality sleep without any support, you can do without the maternity pillow. However, I would just recommend you standby one just in case you need it in the near future.
Why is it bad to sleep on your back while pregnant?
There are many reasons why you should not sleep on your back while pregnant. When your tummy grows bigger, this sleeping position may cause stress to organs like the liver, affect blood circulation which causes dizziness. (Source)
It can also reduce the number of nutrients and blood to the fetus and other issues. The worst thing to happen is increasing the chance of stillbirth. You may like to check with your doctor on the best sleeping position.
Which shape maternity pillow is best?
There are a few different types of pregnancy pillows with different shapes and sizes and I will run through what the difference is between them. I will touch more on full body pregnancy pillow (also known as U shaped pregnancy pillow), C shaped pregnancy pillow and pregnancy wedge pillow.
The answer to which shape pregnancy pillow is best really depends and varies among each individual. You will have a better understanding after I have fully explained the different functions and benefits of these pregnancy pillows.
What is a full body pregnancy pillow?
The full body pregnancy pillow which is also called the U-shaped pregnancy body pillow is designed to wrap all around you. It can prop you up if you are a back sleeper or provide support front and back when you are sleeping on your side after the 1st trimester. They provide the most support to the whole of your body.
Is it good to sleep with a full body maternity pillow?
A full body maternity pillow is designed to follow the natural and contour shape of your body. It provides support for pregnant women like the back, knees, neck and head. If you are having difficulty getting to sleep on the side, a full body maternity pillow may help to solve your problem.
How to use a full body pregnancy pillow for back pain?
Many mommies have faced the challenges of having back pain during pregnancy periods due to the weight of the tummy. I also have these types of difficulties when I was in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. The good news is that a good full body pregnancy pillow with some pregnancy pillow positioning techniques can help to alleviate most of the pain.
What is a C Shaped pregnancy pillow
The C shaped pregnancy pillow which is named after its shape provides almost the same function as a U shaped full body pillow. It helps to support your body, knee, hip and head but the size is not as big and bulky.
C or U shaped maternity pillow comparison
As both C and U shaped pregnancy pillows provide almost the same functionality, the key difference is that the U shaped pregnancy pillow is able to wrap around your body because of its size and provides all round support for your whole body. A C shaped pregnancy pillow is really a smaller version which will be more suitable if you do not have a lot of space in your bed.
What is a pregnancy wedge pillow?
The pregnancy wedge pillow is wedge-shaped support cushions that help you to reduce back strains when slid under your belly. It is smaller than a typical full body pillow and helps to support individual parts of your body like the head, neck, back or knees.
Do maternity wedge pillows really help?
Pregnancy wedge pillows are helpful for pregnant mommies who just need a little support to get to sleep. Unlike full body pregnancy pillows, pregnancy wedge pillows tend to provide support to just one part of your body.
It really depends on the individual mommy. Do you need full body support that wraps around your body or just a wedge pillow that slides under or behind you to provide the support you need. Wedge pillows are also smaller in size and less bulky compared to a full body pregnancy pillow.
How do you use a pregnancy wedge pillow?
A pregnancy wedge pillow can be used in the upright position to provide some support and comfort while sitting or lying down on the bed. It can help you to prop up to sleep in a slightly elevated position. You can also use it to provide elevated support for your legs.
Best Pregnancy Pillow Comparison Table
| Image | Name | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Leachco Snoogle Original Total Body Pillow | $$$ | Best Full Body Pregnancy Pillow |
 | Leachco Back 'N Belly Pregnancy Contoured Body pillow | $$$$ | Best Pregnancy Pillow for Back Pain |
 | ComfiLife Knee Pillow | $ | Best Pregnancy Pillow for Hip Pain |
 | Today's Mom Coolmax Pregnancy Pillow | $$$$$ | Best Cooling Pregnancy Pillow |
 | Boppy Pregnancy Pillow | $$ | Best Pregnancy Pillow for Plus Size |
Leachco Snoogle Original Total Body Pillow
Best Full Body Maternity Pillow
For the best full body pregnancy pillow, I would highly recommend the Leachco Snoogle Original Total Body Pillow. This very large Leachco Pregnancy Pillow is very comfortable and provides a lot of support if you are having back pains while sleeping. The patented design of this pillow is designed by a nurse and mom so you can be sure that it is made with mommies in mind.
Due to the length of the pillow, it is also suitable for taller mommies. Another plus point is that this pillow can be used after your pregnancy to provide back support for you or other family members. If you get in the right position with it between your legs and around the neck, it provides really great back support.
The only downside for this pillow is that if your bed is small, your spouse may complain that it is too big and bulky. Changing the cover is also quite a hassle and you need to be careful when putting the cover back on.
Features
- Patented design by a nurse and mom
- Replace multiple pillows to help support hips, back, neck and tummy
- Enjoy cuddle comfort and support without the extra body heat
Leachco Back ‘N Belly Pregnancy Contoured Body pillow
Best Maternity Pillow for Back Pain
If you are looking for the best maternity pillow for back pain, the pillow must be able to provide equal support for your belly and back at the same time. The Leachco Back ‘N Belly Pregnancy Contoured Body pillow is the first true belly and back pregnancy pillow in the market.
The comfortable and soft pillow conforms right to your body, providing perfect support on both sides for back and belly. Since the pillow wraps around your body, you will not have to move the pillow while changing sides. This will keep you from lying flat on the back. Because of its size, it is ideally suited for usage on King sized beds.
Features
- Can help provide equal support for back and belly at the same time.
- No repositioning pillows during the night, simply turn from side to side.
- Provide support for neutral positioning.
- Sham-style removable cover.
ComfiLife Knee Pillow
Best Maternity Pillow for Hip Pain
If you are looking for the best pregnancy pillow for hip pain, one of the most popular models in the market is the ComfiLife Knee Pillow. This ergonomically designed knee pillow fits comfortably between your knees and provides maximum support and comfort at night that helps relieve sciatica pain and pressure on the lower back.
Hip pain is normally caused by misalignment when you are sleeping on your side. The ComfiLife Knee Pillow has the perfect thickness and when placed between your legs helps to make sure your hips are completely aligned. This pillow is also suitable for petite size mummies looking for a product that is not too large.
It functions as well as a body pillow so you can sleep without a big body pillow between you and your husband. The downside of this pillow is that it is not as breathable and can get a bit hot.
Features
- Sciatica, Back & Hip pain relief at night
- Ergonomic Design
- Premium High Density memory foam
Today’s Mom Coolmax Pregnancy Pillow
Best Cooling Maternity Pillow
For the best cooling maternity pillow in the market, the Today’s Mom Coolmax Pregnancy Pillow is one of the rare few to have a cooling function. COOLMAX fabric pulls moisture away from your skin, absorbs and spreads moisture out across fabric to enhance evaporative drying.
The breathable pillow helps to keep your body cool and dry. Besides providing great support for your back and shoulder, it is also a multi-purpose pillow that you can use as a nursing pillow when the baby is born. This pillow will take up exactly half of your queen size bed so you may have to factor that in when deciding on this product.
Features
- The fabric ensures the cooling effect on the body
- Full body support
- Multi-purpose pillow
- Washable Cover
Boppy Pregnancy Pillow
Best Maternity Pillow for Plus Size
This boppy pregnancy pillow is one of the best pregnancy pillows for plus size mommies. The one-piece maternity pillow is designed to provide maximum support for your head, neck, back, hip and baby bump. It has a unique contour shape designed to be used for many weeks of comfort.
This will make a great gift for an expecting mommy in 2nd or 3rd trimester
Features
- Head to toe comfort and support
- Versatile and multi-use
- Easy care and machine washable
- Award-winning pillow in 2018
Which Pregnancy Pillow Is The Best?
For me, the Leachco Snoogle Original Total Body Pillow is the one that works for me. I recommend it to my friends and relatives.
If you have experience with any other maternity pillow that is not mentioned please share your thoughts, comment below and I can update the list to benefit everyone.
You may also be keen on the related articles 27 baby items list with pictures for first time parents or fruits to eat during pregnancy for fair baby.
Hi, I'm Tanya Madsen, a stay at home mother of 3 and a full time blogger. I participate in Amazon affiliate programs and earn a commission when you click over from our site. It won't cost you an extra dime (in fact you'll usually get a discount), so it's a win-win.
