8 Body Pillows That Make Sleeping so Much Easier When You're Pregnant
As your belly begins to resemble a watermelon, finding the best pregnancy pillow isn’t just about having a more comfortable night’s sleep. "During pregnancy, women should not be sleeping flat on their backs after six months," says Adeeti Gupta, MD a board-certified OB-GYN and founder of Walk IN GYN Care in New York. "This can decrease the blood flow to the uterus and have adverse effects on the pregnancy.”
Because major blood vessels are located on the right side of your stomach, most doctors recommend sleeping on your left side. "By allowing the uterus to 'slip' to the left, it lets the weight of the uterus move off the aorta and vena cava, large blood vessels which carry blood to and from the uterus," says Nerissa Guballa, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and voluntary faculty member at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. The best pregnancy pillow can help you sleep comfortably without compromising blood flow.
Here are some of the highest-rated pregnancy pillows on Amazon, so you can pick the type of support you need for a better night’s sleep.
1) Best U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow: Queen Rose 55 Pregnancy Pillow
Queen Rose
amazon.com
$54.99
For more support, reviewers noted the Queen Rose pillow for its firmness. "By far the fluffiest yet firm pillow ever," one reviewer says. In addition to being super-versatile, the Queen Rose U pillow is also 100 percent hypoallergenic. And if you’re not sure about taking the plunge on a body pillow, Queen Rose offers a 90-day refund or exchange.
2) Best Wedge Pregnancy Pillow: hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge
hiccapop
amazon.com
$22.92
This wedge pregnancy pillow has an under-the-radar feature that reviewers rave about - it’s dual-sided, with one side offering a softer cushion and the reverse a firmer feel that offers more support. Because it’s so compact, it’s easy to pop the pillow behind your back for lumbar support or between your knees when sleeping on your side for better hip support.
3) Best C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow: Leachco Snoogle Chic Jersey Total Body Pillow
Leachco
amazon.com
$74.97
Developed by a registered nurse and mom, the patented squiggly C-shape of the Snoogle is designed to cradle your back and provide between-the-legs hip support as you sleep. "At 26 weeks pregnant, my back and knees have been killing me," one reviewer said. "This pillow has been a sleep-saver for me." Reviewers do mention that the C-shaped design can be tricky if you tend to toss and turn during the night. Unlike U-shaped and contoured pillows that provide double-sided sleep support, you’ll have to move C-shaped pillows from side to side every time you turn.
4) Best Customizable Pregnancy Pillow: Meiz U-Shaped Body Pregnancy Maternity Pillow with Zipper Removable Cover
Meiz
amazon.com
$50.39
Meiz’s contoured pillow is completely customizable. It comes in three sizes - 55-inch, 60-inch and 65-inch - to fit a variety of different heights. To adjust the pillow even more, you can tweak the fluffiness or the length of the pillow by zipping off the cotton cover to remove some stuffing. "I have been using this body pillow for around four weeks now. It has honestly done wonders for my back during pregnancy," one reviewer said. Reviewers also note that the polyester filling isn’t particularly breathable, which might be problematic if you run hot at night.
5) Best Pregnancy Pillow for Hot Sleepers: OCCObaby Pregnancy Pillow Wedge
OCCObaby
amazon.com
$22.80
Like the hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge, this pillow also has two sides. For hot sleepers, it has a nifty feature: "micro holes" in the pillow’s inner foam promote ventilation to help keep you from overheating. If you do get sweaty, reviewers also call out the ultra-soft cover that zips off to make washing easy.
6) Best Firm Pregnancy Pillow: ZENY Full Body U-Shaped Contoured Maternity Pregnancy Pillow
ZENY
amazon.com
$32.89
Reviewers noted the firmness of Zeny’s pillow - "It’s not soft by any means," one wrote - which many liked for the strong back support the pillow provides. "When I crawl into bed at night I'm instantly comfortable to the point I even forget I'm pregnant," another reviewer said.
7) Best Fluffy Pregnancy Pillow: PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover
PharMeDoc
amazon.com
$39.95
If you prefer your pillows fluffy, reviewers noted the "cloud-like" softness of the PharMeDoc pillow. One recurring drawback in the reviews? The heat. Reviewers noted the soft jersey cover and synthetic filling makes this pillow ultra cozy but also pretty toasty.
8) Best Pregnancy Pillow to Use After Birth: Best AngQi 55-Inch Total Body Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover
Angel
amazon.com
$59.90
Because of the large and floppy design, the best U-shaped pregnancy pillows are multifunctional. With a slightly contoured shape, this top-rated pillow is designed to make side sleeping comfortable (even in the third trimester), but it can also be used to create a 360 wrap around your body to help support your back while sitting up in bed. Post-pregnancy it can create stable support for nursing moms, too.
These maternity pillows come in all shapes and sizes so you can sleep soundly and safely.