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As a pregnant person’s body changes, getting quality rest can be difficult — but sleeping with a pregnancy pillow or body pillow can go a long way toward easing discomfort brought on by loosening joints, added weight, and cramped organs. A pregnancy pillow will also help you make any necessary adjustments to your sleeping position: Doctors firmly recommend sleeping on your side after about 20 weeks of pregnancy, as sleeping on your back can put pressure on your vena cava and restrict blood flow.
Most pregnancy pillows are quite large and deliver full-body support by way of U, C, or J shapes that help relieve pressure on your hips, legs, belly, and back. However, some pregnant people find that slimmer rectangular or bolster-shaped body pillows and wedge pillows get the job done without taking up so much space in their bed.
To help you find the best pregnancy pillow, I talked to sleep consultants, a doula, and formerly pregnant people about the pregnancy pillows they recommend. I also tested several pillows myself, both while pregnant and after my son was born, concentrating on how well they supported my hips, back, and spine, whether they made me overheat, and even how nice (or not so nice) they looked once my bed was made.
What we’re looking for:
Shape
Unlike bed pillows that are typically rectangular, pregnancy pillows come in various shapes and sizes to help target aches and pains associated with pregnancy. Here’s how they break down:
U-shaped: These extra-large pillows provide head-to-toe support, which can come in especially handy in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Some U-shaped pillows feature a contoured curve that mimics the shape of a pregnancy bump, while others are more like a folded spaghetti noodle. Whichever you choose, U-shaped pillows are great for side sleepers who flip from left to right frequently, as they eliminate the need to move pillows back and forth each time you turn over, according to Laura Erlich, fertility and obstetric specialist and founder of Mother Nurture Wellness.
C-shaped: C-shaped pillows provide a similar level of extended support as U-shaped pillows, but they only have one full-length side. C-shaped pillows have to be shifted from one side of your body to the other if you want to alternate between back support and belly support. However, its hooked ends provide head and knee support and this type of pillow takes up less space in bed than a U-shaped pillow.
J-shaped: The curve of a J-shaped pillow can provide added support between the legs, helping to keep the hips properly spaced to support the lower back, explains Erlich. You can also flip them around to use the curve of the J underneath your head.
Wedge: Shaped like a cartoon chunk of cheese, a wedge pillow is designed for localized support and will fit nicely under your belly, in the space between your lower back and the mattress, or between your thighs or knees for support. They are usually smaller than other kinds of pregnancy pillows, which is great for travel or a shared sleeping space.
Bolster: A bolster pillow is long and cylindrical, like a thicker and squishier pool noodle. It functions similarly to a rectangular body pillow. Bolsters are great for anyone looking for a stylish pillow that doesn’t scream pregnancy pillow and that will still be useful postpartum. Once the baby is born, some bolsters can be used for tummy time support or as a nursing pillow.
Fill type and firmness
As with conventional bed pillows and mattresses, the type of fill in your pregnancy pillow makes a big difference in the kind of support it provides and how it will feel to sleep on. Sleep consultants we’ve spoken to, including Sleepably founder Seth Davis and Carleara Weiss, Ph.D., say the best pillows for pregnant people are on the firmer side — soft enough to be comfortable but sturdy enough to support body weight overnight without flattening out. This level of firmness is typically achieved with polyfill, memory foam, microfiber, latex, or a blend of several different fill types.
If sustainable or natural fibers are important to you, there are a few non-synthetic fill types available to choose from, including latex (which is most commonly sourced from plants) and bio-foam beads.
While memory foam isn’t natural or terribly sustainable, CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam is tested and confirmed to be free of toxic stuff like heavy metals, formaldehyde, or phthalates.
Size
Pregnancy pillows vary in length and width depending on the shape. While an oversize pillow will definitely offer you the most full-body support, it will also take up a lot of real estate in your bed. Additionally, large C- and U-shaped pillows tend to be quite bulky, so lugging them from your bed to your couch and back again when you’re in your third trimester can be exhausting. Smaller pillows like wedges and standard body pillows will leave plenty of room in your bed, but do not offer head-to-toe support.
Cover material and care instructions
The best pregnancy pillows have breathable, comfortable covers that can easily be thrown in the washing machine. Some have cooling characteristics that can help regulate your temperature as you sleep. Or if you prefer something more plush and cozy, there are covers that offer that too. And since you’ll be sleeping against the pillow while growing a developing fetus, you might want to consider one that is Oeko-Tex Standard 100–certified to be free of harmful chemicals. The nicest-looking covers tend to come in a variety of colors and patterns that help the pillow blend into your existing décor.
Best pregnancy pillow overall
Shape: Convertible | Fill type: CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam and fiber cluster blend | Firmness: Medium plush | Size: 55 by 31 inches | Cover material: Organic cotton | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
Newton’s all-in-one convertible design acknowledges that the pillow you need at the start of your pregnancy may differ from the one you prefer by the 40th week: You can change the pillow from a U shape to a J shape by unzipping and removing the long-armed end, which itself works as a more traditional body pillow. That versatility is one reason I’ve named it the best pregnancy pillow overall. I slept with this pillow while pregnant with my son, starting when I was around six months pregnant. But I got the most use out of it in my third trimester when I had more intense lower-back pain and swollen ankles. I not only used the full U-shape for sleeping, but I also used it as a support for sitting up in bed while reading or watching TV. I loved being able to lean my back against the curve of it while propping both of my legs and feet up on each arm. Now that my son is a year old, I still use the detachable non-contoured arm as a body pillow or as a sort of bumper in my son’s playpen that he likes to lean on or climb all over.
Filled with a CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam and fiber clusters blend, the pillow has a lofty, plush feel that gently cushions your thighs and legs without propping your top leg up too high. The width of the pillow’s arms is substantial — about ten inches each — so it’s very supportive. One drawback I found is that the pillow’s dimpled plush “cover” doesn’t really feel like a cover, despite being removable and machine-washable, and the brand doesn’t sell a more traditional outer cover. Though it’s made of Oeko-Tex-certified organic cotton, which is breathable and feels relatively cool to the touch, I would have appreciated having a flat weave cotton or linen pillowcase to make it look more stylish and feel less fuzzy against my skin.
Best (less expensive) pregnancy pillow overall
Shape: C | Fill type: Polyester fiber fill | Firmness: Medium | Size: 25 by 48 inches | Cover material: Rayon | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
This more affordable pregnancy pillow by Boppy has a slightly shorter profile and a C shape instead of a U shape, so it doesn’t provide the same 360-degree support as our top-pick Newton pillow, above. Another difference is that the Boppy’s cover is made of rayon, where the Newton cover is fancier organic cotton. However, the Boppy takes up much less bed space than the Newton and has a narrow, contoured middle section that allows you to secure the top portion under your upper body and the lower part between your legs without adding a lot of bulk on either side of your body.
Sleep consultant Kelly Murray also likes how the contour of the Boppy encourages you to curl your body around the pillow: “The shape you’re going for is a modified fetal position, just like when we were in the womb. You want a gentle extension of your spine through your tailbone and also through your neck,” to avoid putting pressure on the lumbar spine, she explains. When you’re awake, you can fold and twist the pillow to use it as a nursing pillow or for back support while sitting. It is filled with polyester fiber that has been tested by a third-party lab to ensure it is free of formaldehyde, phthalates, flame retardants, heavy metals, and lead.
Best U-shaped pregnancy pillow
Shape: U | Fill type: Cooling gel or latex | Firmness: Firm | Size: 28.5 by 55 inches | Cover material: cotton on one side and velour from bamboo on the other | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
The Yana pillow has a contoured U shape that is designed to hug the natural curves of your body. It is very similar in shape to the Newton pregnancy pillow but instead of one contoured arm and one straight arm, the Yana is contoured on both sides. The semi-flexible pillow can be tied, folded, twisted, and used while sleeping, sitting, or just lounging. California-based doula Carson Meyer told us that the Yana is her preferred pregnancy pillow because it folds up perfectly in bed and feels so supportive. The brand offers two fill types — cooling gel or natural latex — both of which are Oeko-Tex-certified. Natural latex is eco-friendly, durable, and extra firm, whereas cooling gel is softer and prevents overheating. The pillow comes with a machine-washable cover that has a different texture on each side for two sensory experiences. When you’re not using it, the brand suggests tying it in a decorative knot for compact storage or decoration.
Best J-shaped pregnancy pillow
Shape: J | Fill type: Polyester fiber fill | Firmness: Medium | Size: 28 by 40 inches | Cover material: cotton jersey | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
This J-shaped pillow from maternity brand Momcozy has a contoured shape along its inside edge, so you can more easily pull it close to your body. It can be used in two positions: with the hook between your legs to align your knees and hips, or under your head as you hug the pillow for support. It is the shortest pillow on this list, which depending on your height could be a plus or a minus. It’ll definitely save space in bed and is easy to carry around the house or to pack for use at the hospital. The cover comes in a handful of serene colors and is made of breathable and soft cotton jersey.
Best C-shaped pregnancy pillow
Shape: C | Fill type: Polyester | Firmness: Firm | Size: 58 by 28 by 7.8 inches | Cover material: Cooling cotton jersey or velvet | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
This C-shaped pillow has a comforting shape that can be wrapped around your bump or used to add support along your spine. Compared to the Boppy C-shaped pillow, this one offers more all-around coverage as the two ends nearly meet in the middle. It is firmer than the Boppy, too, making it ideal for anyone suffering from hip and other joint pain. You can also twist this pillow around your waist for lumbar support while you are sitting upright or, as I did with the Newton pillow, use it to elevate potentially swollen ankles and feet. You can choose between a few different cover materials, including cotton jersey or velvet, and the pillow is available in 16 colors.
Best microbead pregnancy pillow
Shape: Cylindrical | Fill type: Expanded polystyrene beads | Firmness: Adjustable | Size: 7.5 by 59 inches | Cover material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
As your body changes, it will likely require different levels of support. That’s where this body pillow with an adjustable firmness can be useful. Fellow Strategist writer and mom Lauren Ro gave me this pillow early on in my pregnancy along with a few other maternity hand-me-downs. She used it during her second pregnancy and loved its flexible shape and adjustable firmness, as well as its smooth, stretchy cover. The inner pillow is filled with expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, which are made from planet-friendly vegetable-based biopolymers (read: more earth-friendly beanbag fill). The pillow’s unique design features two silicone “pebbles” that you can slide toward the center of the pillow to compress the filling, or further apart to spread the beads out creating a less firm feel. I alternated between this pillow and the Newton U-shaped one depending on how much my lower back was bothering me.
Eventually, when I went to the hospital to give birth, I brought this pillow since it takes up much less space than the Newton and is easier to twist and fold into different shapes. The slinky cotton-and-spandex cover also felt more cooling than the fuzzy cover of the Newton, which I definitely preferred and which helped me stay comfortable throughout the induction process. After my son was born, I used this pillow as a backrest and a nursing pillow. Later, it was helpful as an adjustable prop-up pillow for supervised tummy time. I still sleep with it from time to time, and frequently use it as a backrest when watching TV in bed. I have even used it as a makeshift laptop table, and my elderly toy poodle loves to snuggle up on it during the day.
If you prefer a plush, cushiony, traditional pillow-like feel, this one probably won’t be for you as the fill is basically identical to that of a bean bag — which can take some getting used to. However, the beads have a fluidity that makes adjusting the pillow from firmer to softer much easier. The pillow comes in a range of stylish colors and prints, and the cover is machine-washable.
Best (less expensive) microbead pregnancy pillow
Shape: Rectangular | Fill type: Polystyrene Foam Beads | Firmness: Adjustable | Size: 9 by 54 inches | Cover material: 46% Nylon, 46% Polyester, 7% Spandex | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
The design of the Frida Mom pregnancy pillow is similar to that of the Bbhugme pregnancy pillow, but instead of the pair of pebbles that clamp either end to adjust firmness, it has a twist-and-bend format that makes the shape more customizable, and it is filled with polystyrene microbeads. The pillow looks a bit like an earthworm, with a short, tapered end on one side and a fuller, longer end on the other. The ends are separated by an adjustable strip that allows you to twist and fold the pillow into a C, a U, an I, or a J shape. The major differences between this pillow and the Bbhugme are price and eco-friendly materials (which impact the price). Former Strategist writer Latifah Miles was already about eight months pregnant when she started sleeping with the Frida Mom pillow. At first she thought it wasn’t large enough to support her belly. But after giving it another try, twisted into a J shape, she found it more comfortable. This configuration shuffled the microbeads into the longer end for a firmer, more supportive feel, leaving the tapered end to hook between her legs. The cover’s smooth cooling material was also a major plus, especially with end-of-pregnancy sweating cropping up in the middle of the night.
According to Murray, our core body temperature has to lower by a couple of degrees Fahrenheit in order to synthesize melatonin, so it’s really important that the body pillow you choose doesn’t make you too hot. While this pillow feels a bit like memory foam in its squishy responsiveness, the bead fill makes it more breathable. It’s also worth noting that this pillow is smaller than many of the other pillows on this list, which means some of the formations will target your bump more than your entire body. And while it can be configured into different shapes like the Newton pillow, it is more of a squish-and-fold versus the zip-off style of the Newton.
Best down-alternative pregnancy pillow
Shape: Rectangular | Fill type: Hypoallergenic microfiber fill | Firmness: Plush | Size: 20 by 54 inches | Cover material: 100% cotton sateen | Care instructions: Machine washable cover
During her first and second pregnancies, Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang tried both stacks of regular bed pillows and a traditional C-shaped pillow that she ultimately found annoying to wrestle into place. On top of that, the C-shaped pillow’s polyblend cover made her pregnancy sweats worse. So for her third pregnancy, Yang opted for Parachute’s down-alternative body pillow. “This pillow is exactly what I had hoped for: soft, lofty, airy, and cooling when I feel overly warm, warm and comforting when I feel a little cold, and easy to maneuver into place,” Yang says. The pillow contains cushy, hypoallergenic microfiber fill that gives it a fluffy downlike feel. Yang also appreciates that Parachute sells vintage-looking linen covers in six colors (for an additional $109), which she says make the pillow more presentable to leave out during the day.
Best memory-foam pregnancy pillow
Shape: Cylinder | Fill type: Cross-cut memory foam and microfiber | Firmness: Adjustable | Size: 9 by 60 inches | Cover material: 60% Polyester, 40% Rayon | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
Miles slept on this maternity pillow in the early months of her pregnancy, and the wide cylindrical shape gave her plenty of room to prop up her top leg while sleeping on her side, keeping her hips from feeling cramped. It’s filled with the same cross-cut-memory-foam-and-microfiber blend as our top-pick bed pillows, giving the pillow a medium-firm density that Miles says really allowed her to lean into it and feel supported. But if it feels too firm you can remove some of the fill to create a softer feel. (The pillow doesn’t ship with additional fill, but you can purchase extra bags of Coop’s firm-density fill, cooling-gel-infused fill, or standard medium-firm fill.) And since it is one of the longer options on this list, it was easy to wrap her legs around the pillow and hug it against her body. Plus you can bend into essentially any shape. The pillow comes with a machine-washable cover and the memory foam is CertiPUR-US- and Greenguard Gold–certified.
Best bolster body pillow for pregnancy
Shape: Cylindrical | Fill type: Melofoam latex | Firmness: Firm | Size: 8 by 75 inches | Cover material: Organic cotton | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
The Bearaby Cuddler has an extra-long profile that makes it particularly versatile. Constructed of super-springy Melofoam, which is a type of natural latex constructed from the sap of rubber trees, the pillow offers responsive and consistent support. It can be wrapped, stacked, tied, and folded for use in any body position, whether you’re watching television on the couch, lounging or reading in bed, or sleeping. Slimmer than traditional pregnancy pillows, you can use the Cuddler as a standard body pillow once you are postpartum, without it taking up too much space in your bed. Miles used the Bearaby Cuddler as a general body pillow before her second pregnancy, calling it unlike any other body pillow she has tried. The slim, noodle-like profile and uniquely buoyant feel of the Melofoam provides great support for legs and hips. As the longest pillow on our list, it is also a good option for taller people who want head-to-toe support. And as with an extra-long bolster pillow, you can make it a part of your décor instead of packing it away at the end of your pregnancy. The pillow comes with an organic-cotton cover that can be machine washed, or you can purchase a stylish knitted cover (available in five colors) for an extra $129.
Best wedge pregnancy pillow
Shape: Dual wedge | Fill type: Polyurethane foam | Firmness: Medium firm | Size: Adjustable | Cover material: 62% Polyester, 33% Rayon, 5% Spandex | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
For die-hard back sleepers, snoozing on your side can be a rough but necessary transition. I found it hard to control myself once I was asleep, so it was helpful to have some sort of firm pillow behind my back to keep me from regressing into my old habits. The unique shape of the Belly Bandit SOS Side Sleeper pillow gently locks you into a side sleeping position while also supporting your lower spine and belly. The three-piece pillow has a velcro strap that lays under your body, a tall triangular wedge pillow that is placed behind your back to prevent you from rolling, and a flatter wedge pillow that is placed under your belly for sturdy support. The two pillows can be moved along the velcro strap to accommodate your belly as you get further into your pregnancy. This pillow serves a similar function as a full body U-shaped one but with firmer, more localized support and a customizable design that will easily expand with your bump. The solid polyurethane foam pillows are protected by stretchy covers that can be removed and washed.
Best pregnancy pillow for tall people
Shape: U | Fill type: Polyester fiber | Firmness: Adjustable | Size: 31 by 65 inches | Cover material: 100% cotton | Care instructions: Machine-washable cover
If you’re taller than average, you’ll want to look for a pregnancy pillow that is long enough to support more of your torso and legs instead of just your upper body. This 65-inch pregnancy pillow measures nearly a foot longer than many of the other traditional U- and C-shaped pregnancy pillows on this list. It has a polyester fiber filling, making it firm and comfortable. If the pillow is too firm for your particular needs, you can easily remove some of the filling to make it more flexible and soft. The large U shape can be used as a leg, hip, belly, head, and neck support, and the cover is machine washable.
Some more Strategist-approved gear for pregnant people
Our experts
• Seth Davis, sleep consultant and founder of Sleepably
• Laura Erlich, fertility and obstetric specialist and founder of Mother Nurture Wellness
• Carson Meyer, doula
• Latifah Miles, former Strategist writer and mom of two
• Kelly Murray, sleep consultant
• Holly Roser, personal trainer
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer and mom of two
• Carleara Weiss, Ph.d., sleep consultant and member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
Update on June 17, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
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