It’s a merciless twist that, simply while you’re making an attempt to financial institution some relaxation earlier than the arrival of a child, your physique and mind conspire to make falling – and staying – asleep tougher. Hormonal adjustments, pelvic or again ache, stress and additional rest room journeys are among the many delights that may make sleep elusive for pregnant girls. As your child bump grows, normal discomfort is a given.
Being pregnant pillows intention to assist relieve a few of this discomfort by supporting key elements of the physique, resembling your rising child bump, again and hips. Many are designed to encourage an optimum being pregnant sleeping place: the NHS recommends sleeping in your aspect after 28 weeks. That’s as a consequence of analysis suggesting a hyperlink between falling asleep in your again and an elevated threat of stillbirth – though word that the general threat continues to be very low, and there’s no want to fret in the event you get up in your again. Simply roll over and return to sleep.
At a look
Why you need to belief me
My common experience is in know-how, and I’ve examined all types of tech devices and AI instruments in my decade or in order a tech journalist. However what actually made me the proper tester for prenatal pillows is that I used to be coming into the third trimester of my very own being pregnant as testing started – a stage I might describe as “how is the whole lot instantly so uncomfortable?” Throw in a splash of persistent being pregnant insomnia, and I developed a deep private curiosity in unearthing the very best maternity pillows for a good night time’s sleep.
How I examined
There are a lot of being pregnant pillows in the marketplace, most of which fall into a number of most important classes: C-shaped, U-shaped, wedge or I-shaped (which I extra typically discovered myself calling “sausage”). I chosen pillows that have been in style with consumers, sparked dialogue on being pregnant boards, provided distinctive options or just dominated web adverts. I examined 11 in whole.
To check, I shamelessly cheated on my present pillows by sleeping with every contender for a minimum of two nights. I stored notes on firmness, assist, consolation and the way a lot mattress area every pillow took up. I additionally famous their aesthetics, starting from stylish to orthopaedic, and their versatility. Some convert into nursing pillows after delivery, which extends their usefulness and provides worth.
The perfect choose of a being pregnant pillow, after all, is an efficient night time’s sleep. I tracked mine utilizing a smartwatch, specializing in whole sleep time and time spent in deep sleep (although I took different elements under consideration too).
The perfect being pregnant pillows in 2025
Finest being pregnant pillow general:
Bbhugme being pregnant pillow
£159 at Bbhugme
£159 at John Lewis
The Bbhugme is a versatile, microbead-filled cylinder that may be moved into an I or J form the total size of the physique, or a smaller C (helpful for sitting) or U (for between the legs). It comes with a cotton jersey cowl, secured on the finish with plastic “pebbles,” giving the general impression of an outsized sausage – emphasised by the dusty pink color of my check pillow. “You appear like you’re driving a hotdog,” my husband mentioned as I straddled it sloth-on-a-branch fashion.
Why we adore it
The revelation of the Bbhugme is the microbead filling, which provides flexibility in each its form and firmness. It was simple to mould the pillow round me in order that it supported my bump, went between my legs and stored me nestled in a cushty aspect sleeping place.
Regardless of its measurement, it’s light-weight and pliable, making it simple to maneuver once I shifted sides within the night time. It even provided some consolation throughout a 1am bout of Braxton Hicks (“false labour”) contractions.
Its adjustability makes it a fantastic all-rounder. I can see it being helpful in any respect levels of being pregnant, as assist wants shift, and after delivery as a nursing bolster. The covers are available in a variety of muted tones, so the pillow can mix in with most bed room decor.
It’s a disgrace that … at £159, the Bbhugme’s consolation additionally comes at a hefty worth – this isn’t a funds possibility.
Appropriate for: being pregnant and nursing
Form: I-shaped
Measurement: 140-145 x 20cm
Filling materials: microbeads
Cowl materials: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey
Finest funds being pregnant pillow:
Dreamgenii being pregnant, assist and feeding pillow
£48.99 at Ebebek
£57.99 at Mamas & Papas
The Dreamgenii pillow is a sort-of C-shape (G-shape, maybe?) that curves underneath your bump and thru your legs, as with most pillows, but additionally offers an hooked up again assist, much like a wedge. This implies it presents assist on either side of your physique with out taking on the area of a full U-shaped pillow.
Why we adore it
The Dreamgenii’s cotton jersey cowl felt notably smooth in opposition to the pores and skin and, though massive, the pillow didn’t really feel too unwieldy within the mattress. Its very explicit form is particularly designed for aspect sleeping, and it provided ample assist for this, with the again wedge serving to to forestall unintended rolling and maintaining me in place.
Regardless of its odd form, the pillow does promise some versatility: after delivery, Dreamgenii suggests utilizing it for nursing too, by wrapping the leg assist behind your again and utilizing the again assist to assist cradle your child. It’s additionally moderately priced.
It’s a disgrace that … you’ll be able to’t modify the hole between the back and front pillows, which might be a pleasant method to assist altering bump measurement. As a result of the pillow is particularly formed for sleeping on one aspect, it’s additionally cumbersome to shift place within the night time.
Appropriate for: being pregnant
Form: C-shaped (ish)
Measurement: 102 x 77cm
Filling materials: polyester hole fibre
Cowl materials: 100% jersey cotton
Finest being pregnant pillow for leg assist:
Snüz SnuzCurve being pregnant assist pillow
£84.95 at Snüz
£84.95 at Amazon
The innovation of this maternity pillow is its twin fillings: the higher half is a sausage-style pillow full of polystyrene beads (à la the Bbhugme), whereas the decrease part has a firmer foam filling. For what Snüz claims is the proper being pregnant sleeping place, snuggle the higher half in your arms and underneath your bump, then place the froth half between your legs.
Why we adore it
The pillow’s form felt very supportive, and the combo of bead and foam fillings offered the very best of each worlds. The beaded portion was cozy to cuddle and moulded properly round my bump.
In the meantime, the decrease portion did a very good job of maintaining my legs separated and supporting me in a side-sleeping place. A bumper for the knees (Snüz calls a “KneeBlade”) helped maintain it in place by means of the night time. Holding your legs separated can assist relieve stress from the pelvis, hips and again – so in the event you’re experiencing pelvic girdle ache or comparable discomfort, this might be a powerful selection.
It’s a disgrace that … the SnuzCurve is designed to maintain you in a single place, so it will not be the very best in the event you’re a wriggler. It’s solely out there with both a gray or white cowl – the latter appears destined to indicate each mark.
Appropriate for: being pregnant
Form: C-shaped
Measurement: 135 x 30 x 25cm
Filling materials: polystyrene beads; polyurethane foam
Cowl materials: 92% cotton, 8% elastane
Finest for temperature management:
Simba further assist physique pillow
The distinctive promoting level of this C-shaped pillow from mattress model Simba is its cooling impact. The cotton cowl comprises the model’s Stratos “cool-touch” know-how, which goals to attract warmth away from the physique. The form is a mild curve designed to assist bump, hips and knees when sleeping in your aspect.
Why we adore it
The Simba pillow completely delivered on its temperature-regulating promise – it stayed cool to the contact, even after a full night time’s sleep throughout a shock spring heatwave. On condition that pregnant girls might be vulnerable to sizzling flushes, night time sweats and general greater physique temperatures, something that may assist fight overheating is a boon for night-time consolation.
Whereas pretty cumbersome and missing any adjustable options, the pillow was comfy, and the pretty agency, down-like filling provided good assist, particularly for the hips.
It’s a disgrace that … the duvet material, whereas cooling, isn’t the softest to snuggle up in opposition to, and the pillow lacks flexibility in form and firmness.
Appropriate for: being pregnant and nursing
Form: C-shaped
Measurement: 120 x 35cm
Filling materials: combed recycled PET bottle fibres
Cowl materials: cotton with Stratos
after publication promotion
The perfect of the remaining
BellaMoon 3-in-1 pillow
Finest for: nursing
Presumably essentially the most trendy pillow in our check, the BellaMoon is available in various organic cotton cover designs that includes stylish muted prints. It’s a C-shaped pillow: you place the lengthy part alongside both your entrance or again, then place one curved finish underneath your head and the opposite between your legs. Its secret energy is 2 hidden zips that permit the curved ends to detach after which zip collectively, forming a smaller, half-doughnut form to assist breastfeeding or use as assist to your child.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … whereas the BellaMoon pillow is described as medium firmness, I discovered it too agency, notably underneath my head. This additionally made it unwieldy to reposition through the night time and created a cumbersome barrier within the mattress.
Appropriate for: being pregnant and nursing; form: C-shaped; measurement: 140 x 50 x 20cm; filling materials: 100% polyester; cowl materials: 100% natural cotton
Babybub Bub’s maternity pillow
Finest for: small areas
The Babybub is a wedge-shaped pillow that’s actually extra like two wedges: one to assist your again and one to assist your bump. It additionally comes with a small cylindrical pillow that may be added to the entrance or again as wanted.
Its winged design makes the Babybub a lot smaller than a conventional being pregnant pillow – you would possibly even name it compact. It took a little bit of fidgeting with the adjustable Velcro strap to get the wedges the proper distance aside, however this implies you’ll be able to reposition them as your bump grows.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … the bamboo and polyester mix cowl is barely scratchy to the contact, and the off-white color will get grubby simply and appears a little bit “orthopaedic help”. I used to be additionally fairly nonplussed by the extra mini-pillow, which I discovered inevitably ended up someplace tangled within the cover.
Appropriate for: being pregnant; form: wedge; measurement: 36 x 46 x 10cm; filling materials: polyester and microfibre balls; cowl materials: bamboo and polyester mix
Soft Puff being pregnant pillow
Finest for: color choices
Presently dominating my Instagram feed, the Soft Puff is one other microbead-filled sausage within the fashion of the Bbhugme. As such, it successfully adapts to assist your physique the place you want it. The cotton-jersey pillowcase is available in daring colors and assertion stripes and easily ties off at both finish – letting you modify it for firmness by tightening or loosening the knots.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … the tying mechanism was a little bit of a faff. My pillow additionally gave off a slight chemical odour when first unboxed – off-putting to somebody with a heightened sense of odor throughout being pregnant.
Appropriate for: being pregnant and nursing; form: I-shaped; measurement: 120-150 x 25cm; filling materials: EPS (expanded polystyrene) microbeads; cowl materials: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey
Babymoov Dream Belt being pregnant sleep assist
Finest for: journey
A novel wearable idea, the Babymoov Dream Belt fastens round your waist with an adjustable Velcro strap so it strikes with you. The stretchy jersey entrance panel goes over your bump, whereas reminiscence foam pads sit on the hips to supply bump assist when sleeping in your aspect. I discovered the belt comfy to put on, and it stayed in place properly, providing assist by means of loads of tossing and turning.
Essentially the most compact pillow examined, this is able to be an excellent possibility for journey – and it comes at an affordable worth.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … the Dream Belt presents assist solely round your bump, so its usefulness is restricted. You may pair with one other pillow (or common cushions) so as to add leg and again helps.
Appropriate for: being pregnant; form: belt;measurement: out there in two physique sizes, XS/S and M/XL; filling materials: polyurethane reminiscence foam; cowl materials: 95% cotton, 5% elastane
What it’s essential know
Being pregnant pillow shapes
As you’ll be able to inform from the variability above, being pregnant pillows come in several shapes. Which you select is down to non-public choice and the form of assist you’re searching for. Widespread shapes embrace C, U, V and wedge pillows. C-shaped pillows assist your entrance (or again), head and legs; U-shaped pillows envelop the physique and so supply assist on all sides; V-shaped pillows can be utilized in numerous methods, together with one leg of the V supporting your bump and the opposite going by means of your legs (like a C-shaped pillow with out the top assist).
When selecting a form, additionally contemplate how a lot mattress area it requires: U-shaped pillows are sometimes the most important. Wedge-shaped pillows are normally smaller, wedging underneath bump or again, however this additionally limits how a lot of your physique they assist. Some pillows, such because the I-shaped pillows with microbead fillings, supply way more flexibility so that you can bend them into totally different shapes.
Find out how to sleep with a being pregnant pillow
This can depend upon the form of the pillow you select, your assist wants and your sleeping place. The NHS recommends sleeping in your aspect after 28 weeks of being pregnant, and plenty of pillows are designed with this in thoughts.
Longer pillows that go alongside the entrance of your physique (I, C or U shapes) are normally meant to be cuddled: place one arm and one leg underneath the pillow, and one on prime. On the finish of the day, the purpose of the pillow is consolation, so something that brings reduction and helps you sleep is a plus. After all, in the event you’re having any points with ache or being pregnant signs, or are uncertain if a pillow is a good suggestion for you, you need to search medical recommendation.
Options to search for
When selecting a being pregnant pillow, you’ll need to contemplate the kind of filling (eg microbeads, hole fibre, reminiscence foam) and the material of the duvet. Most pillows have detachable, washable covers. You might need to select a pillow that may double as a nursing help to get further worth out of the product after your child arrives; some pillows supply particular mechanisms to reshape them for this goal.
Victoria Turk is a know-how journalist whose work has introduced her into contact with the bodybuilding devices and gizmos for the previous decade. She is anticipating her first child this summer season