From U-shaped cushions to foam wedges, you can finally get a good night’s sleep with one of these pillows that support you and your growing bump.
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Growing a baby is magical and delightful, however, the discomfort pregnancy can bring during the night hours is the opposite. If you’ve reached a point where aches and pains are robbing you of precious sleep, let us introduce you to your new best friend: The pregnancy pillow.
These types of pillows are specifically engineered to ease discomfort and provide support to different areas of your body, whether that be your back, tummy, hips, legs, neck or all of the above.
Of course, not all pregnancy pillows are made equal and there are a plethora of styles on the market made with an array of materials to suit a variety of needs, personal preferences, sleeping positions and budgets. So, we’ve rounded up the very best for each category so you can say goodbye to sleepless nights, once and for all.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
This C-shaped body cushion will replace the need for all your other pillows as it supports your head, neck, spine, belly, back, hips and legs. It’s filled with an ultra-soft polyfill blend with increased support density and a soft jersey cover that’s buttery soft against the skin. And it’s not just for expecting mums, either — regardless if you’re pregnant, nursing, recovering from an injury or dealing with sleep issues, this will become your bedtime BFF.
One five-star reviewer said, “I purchased this pillow at roughly 20-weeks pregnant. I am now 34-weeks pregnant and the pillow has honestly been my best pregnancy buy. The pillow has supported my ever-growing stomach. My baby kicks massively at night when I lie on my side and the vibrations without this pillow were making me nauseous. The pillow also helps with my [excess] weight and additionally helps ease pressure on my joints … The person who designed this pillow clearly knows a lot about the pregnant body.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
This genius Clevamama cushion will be the only pillow you need for you and your baby from pregnancy right up until the toddler stage. You can fasten the soft but firm pillow around your waist via the adjustable strap to create a comfortable feeding position for you and a safe and secure position for your baby. Then, transform the pillow into a comfy baby seat for home, pram and on highchairs.
One five-star reviewer said their pillow has been used non-stop from pregnancy onwards: “We’ve used insert for the car seat and her rocker. [The] pillow I use for breastfeeding and even back support on my rocking chair.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
The fill of this premium quality pillow is made from 100 per cent polyester microfibre that’s been antibacterial treated. Measuring 150cm in length, the extra long design will ease the pressure points in your neck, shoulders, back and hips, relieving the pressure off your tired muscles so you can sleep more soundly. Plus, it makes for the most snuggly cuddle companion in bed.
One person summed it up, saying “Awesome!! … the pillow is of good quality in materials and stitching. Very comfortable.”
BEST PREGNANCY PILLOW FOR ENCOURAGING SIDE SLEEP
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Stomach sleeping when pregnant is off the table for obvious reasons and back sleeping is also discouraged since it can compress vital veins that transport blood to your baby. So, if you’re a regular tummy or back sleeper, the Boppy Side Sleeper will train you to snooze on your side. The stretch panel allows the pillow to grow with your bump and its compact size means it won’t take up the entire bed, which we’re sure your partner will greatly appreciate, too. Because it only supports your tummy, it gives you more flexibility to continue using your other favourite pillows for head and neck support.
“I am a back sleeper so learning to sleep on my side is hard,” one person wrote. “I love this pillow because it provides great support both front and back and it is not too bulky. If you do want to go on your back for a bit then the pillow still props you up so you feel like you are on your back but you are not flat, therefore less restricting of the blood flow.”
BEST MEMORY FOAM PREGNANCY PILLOW
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
This extra-long pillow from Giselle is filled with 60D gel memory foam and 2.5kg of shredded foam, which practically melts and moves with you as your belly grows. The cool and machine washable bamboo fabric cover is allergen-free and breathable, allowing air to easily flow through the pillow. We’d also recommend this as a solid option for those who prefer a firmer and thicker pillow.
“This is the first body pillow I have used that has not moved place throughout the night,” a reviewer admitted. “The firmness and height of the pillow has been perfect in keeping my hips and body aligned while sleeping. If I could give more than 5 stars for all aspects involved in this purchase, I would!”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
We love this as a U-shaped pillow, however, it can easily be transformed into a C or J-shaped pillow as it’s cleverly designed in a way that you can take various parts of it off to cater to your needs and body shape at every stage of your pregnancy and beyond. It also features a wide strap so you can tether the two sides so they stay put while you sleep. Furthermore, it’s been designed with openings, meaning you can add or remove as much of the filling as you need for it to feel just right.
While it’s on the more expensive side of pregnancy pillows, know that it also comes with a small 45⁰ angle pillow, which is perfect for propping your baby bump to lessen the strain on your back muscles while sleeping. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask us.
The line-up of never-ending five-star reviews speaks for themselves, so much so that it has even stolen the hearts of those who aren’t even pregnant but just suffer from bodily pains.
One person commented on how this purchase has been life-changing: “This pillow is AMAZING! It’s firm without being hard, the stuffing bounces back extremely well, and the curved length is brilliant for aligning your spine while you sleep. I love that it has removable and washable covers, which are also unbelievably soft. Within a few nights of using the pillow, my back pain was considerably reduced, to the point where I no longer needed additional pain killers.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Use the elongated arch for your head or flip the pillow on its end to give added support through your legs and hips. It’s long enough to offer both upper and lower body support and versatile enough to wrap around in a seated position for breastfeeding. The washable cover is crafted from a 100 per cent cotton soft grey jersey, which feels cool against the skin and will squash into any position you desire.
One reviewer had the best sleep of her life after investing in this pillow. “I just bought this after making it eight months through my pregnancy with no maternity pillow,” she wrote. “I had the best sleep of my life! 100 per cent recommend!”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Did you know cushioning and supporting both your legs and knees is crucial for maintaining proper alignment to help reduce pain? This handy pillow features an ergonomic hourglass shape that perfectly props between your legs and contours your body without restricting movement. It’s also designed with ventilated air holes in the memory foam to promote continuous air circulation throughout the night.
“I did sleep more comfortably with this pillow between my knees and it stayed in place quite well,” one of the 17.3k five-star reviewers wrote. “The surprising benefit was that it helped me turn over more easily and with much less pain.”
BEST PREGNANCY PILLOW FOR TRAVEL
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Proving good things come in small packages, the Hiccapop pillow is the best on-the-go option. It features a two-sided design to suit mums during all three trimesters — a deluxe, soft memory foam on one side and a firmer support foam on the other. Place it under your belly, behind your back or between your knees to relieve nerve pain and numbness so you can get quality sleep, night after night, at home and when travelling.
“After weeks of searching for a good pregnancy pillow, I stumbled upon this one and I’m so glad I did,” one user commented. “I’ve been using this for about a month now and I love how easy it is to travel with and the multiple ways you can use it. It’s really soft and I sleep a lot more comfortably with this pillow wedge.”
WHICH PILLOW IS BEST DURING PREGNANCY?
Picking the best pregnancy pillow is a highly personal choice. To help make the decision process easier, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the best one for you.
Material: Are you a hot sleeper? You’ll want to opt for a cotton-covered pregnancy pillow instead of fabric that’s less breathable like polyester. As for the type of filling, would you prefer an inflated, memory foam or fluffy full-body pillow? Lastly, you’ll definitely want to consider things like cleaning — you sweat more when pregnant so look for one that has a removable cover so you can wash it regularly.
Size: Pregnancy pillows come in a range of sizes from small wedge pillows to full-length and total body ones. How much support do you need and where do you need it the most? Additionally, if you sleep with a partner, you’ll want to run the size of your pillow by them as it will take up space in the bed they share with you.
Your sleep style: Are you a front, back or side sleeper? This will determine what shaped pregnancy pillow will help you sleep your best.
IS A C-SHAPE OR U-SHAPE PREGNANCY PILLOW BETTER?
This really depends on your personal preference and needs. A U-shaped pillow will provide support for both your back and front but you’ll find it takes up quite a lot of space in the bed. On the other hand, a C-shaped pillow will take up less space but doesn’t offer the same amount of full-body support.
WHEN SHOULD I START USING A PREGNANCY PILLOW?
There’s no set time when you need to, or have to, start using a pregnancy pillow. Really, you should start using a pregnancy pillow when you think you need one. Generally speaking, most women transition from their regular pillow to a pregnancy one when they find it difficult to change positions during sleep, which is normally around week 20 when the belly starts to expand.
For more bedding you’ll love, make sure to check out our roundup of the best mattress toppers that will improve your sleep quality plus, the best quilt cover sets to give your bedroom an instant refresh.
Then, don’t miss the news.com.au Coupons page for all the best deals and discounts on your favourite brands.
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Juna Xu is based in Sydney and has a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) from the University of Technology Sydney. She began working as the editorial and beauty assistant for Body+Soul magazine, then moved on to fulfil the role as digital content producer and now writes much of the shopping content for the website. She loves writing about all things health, fitness, beauty and wellness. When Juna isn't at Pilates or fitting in a run, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up a healthy feast (with a 99 per cent chance it will involve cauliflower and sweet potato)
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