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22 best pregnancy pillows for back pain, bump support and better sleep
The perfect full body, C-shape and wedge pregnancy pillows for comfort and support as your bump grows
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Little one on the way? While parents-to-be will know to expect a few sleepless nights on the horizon, what the experts don’t warn you about is insomnia before the baby arrives.
From back pain to discomfort, temperature control and an overactive mind, a number of factors can impact your sleep during pregnancy. And when you’re trying to bank some prenatal kip and you just can’t switch off, it can feel grossly unfair – not to mention stressful.
If you’re tossing and turning every night, try not to worry. ‘It's normal to struggle to sleep during pregnancy,’ says Rachel FitzD, Parenting Expert at The Baby Show. ‘It’s natural and helps you get used to sleeping differently once the baby arrives.’This doesn't make it any less frustrating though!
Fortunately, pregnancy pillows can help. From the comfiest full body bolsters for side sleepers to the snuggliest U-shaped cushions that help you maintain a safe sleeping position, keep scrolling for our pick of the best pregnancy pillows on the market.
Best pregnancy pillows to shop now
In a rush? Here are the best pregnancy pillows at a glance. Keep scrolling for the full list...
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BEST WRAP AROUND PREGNANCY PILLOW
Tommee Tippee Made for Me Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Pillow
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Do you need a pregnancy pillow?
If you're wrestling with insomnia, starting to feel uncomfortable, or struggling to sleep on your left side (as recommended by the NHS), now is a good time to invest in a pregnancy pillow. Also known as orthopaedic or body pillows, they are designed specifically to combat your sleep woes and support you as your body changes – especially during the second and third trimester.
‘Some pregnancy pillows are long, so you can move it to support your back and your bump at the same time,’ says Rachel. ‘Used correctly, then it can help with pelvic girdle pain.’ But the benefits of a comfy pillow extend beyond prenatal support. Many of them double up as a nursing pillow for bottle or breastfeeding once the baby arrives, and can eventually help your little one learn how to sit up unaided too.
What type of pregnancy pillow should you buy?
There are a number of products on the market designed with keeping mums-to-be comfortable in mind. To help you choose your ideal pregnancy pillow, it helps to match it to your natural sleeping position:
Side sleepers
Prefer to nod off curled up on your side? The best pregnancy pillow for side sleeping mamas is a full body pillow, which will support all your aching limbs alongside your growing bump.
'With a full body pillow, it’s important to choose one long enough to support your shoulders, bump, pelvis, and knees,' says Pip Davies, Midwifery Sister and speaker at The Baby Show. 'This can be a nice way of sleeping in a good postural alignment, helping to reduce those morning aches and pains when you wake up.'
Back sleepers
As mentioned above, the NHS recommend that you sleep on your side during pregnancy. ‘Most women get to a point when they feel uncomfortable because when you lie on your back in later pregnancy, your uterus falls backwards and compresses one of the large blood vessels running down your body,’ explains Rachel. ‘It can make you feel sick and it can reduce blood flow to the placenta. Not enough to be dangerous but enough to want to avoid.’
If you're a natural back-sleeper it can be tricky to adjust to side sleeping but try not to worry. To stay off your back, invest in a U-shaped or E-shaped pregnancy pillow that will keep you supported and gently remind you to snooze on your side. Alternatively, pop a bolster under your mattress at night to prevent you from rolling over in your sleep.
Front sleepers
If you prefer to sleep on your belly we have bad news for you mamas, soon you’re going to struggle to find space! While pregnancy pillows with belly-shaped holes do exist, it’s still recommended that you sleep on your side for the health of your baby, so opt for a wedge or U-shaped pillow to encourage side snoozing.
Which type of pillow material is best?
Pregnancy pillow materials can vary from polyester fibrefill to memory foam, microbeads or polyfoam, so it's also worth thinking about the firmness and level of support you require before you shop.
'Fibrefill will likely be softer while a foam pillow will be firmer and more supportive,' says Pip. 'Memory foam can offer great contouring support but is less breathable. Plus, some pillows have adjustable ends allowing you to adjust the firmness.'
How to use your pregnancy pillow
Comfort is key when it comes to making the most of your pregnancy pillow, but it's also worth considering alignment. Make sure your legs are a hip width apart and parallel all the way down, explains FitzD. ‘You want to put a pillow the full length from the top of your thighs all the way past your knees and down to your ankles,’ she explains.
‘Your legs should be one on top of the other, but don’t loop one leg over on to the bed as this can impact hip alignment and make you more uncomfortable.' But if in doubt, 'the best way to sleep is whichever way is most comfortable,' she adds.
22 best pregnancy pillows to shop now
To help you get some sleep, ease aches and pains or simply feel more comfortable at home, we've rounded up 23 of the best pregnancy pillows currently in stock and ready to ship.
Kally Sleep Body Pillow
Ideal during every stage of pregnancy, mums-to-be will love cuddling up to this cosy jersey-covered body pillow from UK brand Kally Sleep. Designed to provide support for your bump, back and legs as your body changes, the hypoallergenic jersey material cover is machine washable too. We're also big fans of the brand's baby nests, plus they make great knee pillows if you suffer from a bad back.
Dimensions: 160 x 30 x 35 cm
Material: 50% cotton, 50% polyester
Pillow type: Full body
Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow
Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow
The pregnancy pillow loved by Mum influencers including Millie Mackintosh, Vogue Williams and Ellie Goulding, if you're looking for comfort and relaxation, Bbhugme hits the jackpot. Designed by three Norwegian chiropractor-mums, the award-winning pillow provides support in five key areas including the pelvis, abdomen, lower back, knees and ankles. And, thanks to its soft bean-bag style filling, it can be easily adjusted as your body changes. If that doesn't convince you, our mum tester still sleeps with her pillow two years postpartum! Admittedly this leaves slightly less room for Dad to curl up, but mama comes first.
Dimensions: 26 x 34 x 52 cm
Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey
Pillow type: Full body
Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow
Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow
Are you ready to get cosy? This soft organic cotton cushion is designed to do the whole package, and will support your back, hips, knees, neck and head while you get some much needed rest. The cover is also super-soft to prevent irritation and rashes, plus it comes with a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Dimensions: 40 x 31 x 18 cm
Material: 100% jersey cotton
Pillow type: C-shaped
Tommee Tippee Made for Me Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Pillow
Tommee Tippee Made for Me Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Pillow
This extra-large cotton pillow by leading baby brand Tommee Tippee is ideal for snuggling up. It's designed to wrap around you and support your back and bump while sleeping or simply chilling out, plus you can wedge it between your legs to support your hip alignment.
We're big fans of the brand's starter feeding set for once the baby arrives, too.
Dimensions: 17 x 55 x 38 cm
Material: Cotton
Pillow type: C-shape
SnuzCurve Pregnancy Support Pillow
SnuzCurve Pregnancy Support Pillow
Any mamas-to-be struggling to enjoy peaceful rest need this comfy pregnancy pillow from UK nursery brand Snüz. Designed to fit your natural sleeping position, the curved bottom half is filled with a soft foam, but there are wedges on both sides to keep your hips and ankles aligned while side-sleeping. We love that the top half is packed with a bean-bag style filling to support your bump – with plenty of wiggle room as baby grows. Our mum tester, approaching her third trimester, is a big fan of the huggable full-body shape and was impressed that the pillow was light enough to move around the bed without effort, but firm enough to keep good posture. As a bonus, it’s flexible enough to store when not in use. We really like the grey one, but there’s a stylish white colour option, too.
Dimensions: 135 x 30 x 25 cm
Material: 92% Cotton, 8% Elastane
Pillow type: Full body
Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow
Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow
This curved pregnancy pillow from UK brand Purflo has been designed with extra comfort for the head, hips, knees and ankles in mind, leading to a more restful night’s sleep. Our mum tester praised it for being big enough to support her growing bump, but not so cumbersome that it took up too much space. Plus, it works really well for extra cushioning in bed/on the sofa while drinking tea and eating biscuits, and doubles up as a feeding pillow and baby lounger when the time comes.
Dimensions: 43 x 116 cm
Material: 100% cotton with 100% polyester inner
Pillow type: Full body
Babymoov Mum & B Maternity Cushion
Babymoov Mum & B Maternity Cushion
If you're pushed for space or you simply prefer a more minimalist cushion, this simple microbead pillow by French brand Babymoov will appeal. The soft bean-bag style filling makes it really easy to adjust if you need to wiggle about, and it can be slotted between your thighs or under your neck for comfort. Plus, it makes a great nursing pillow too.
For maximum comfort, check out our best maternity nightwear for mums-to-be too.
Dimensions: 60 x 30 x 12 cm
Material: 95% cotton, 5% elastane, filling: PS 100% microballs
Pillow type: Wedge
Najell Pregnancy Pillow
Proof that all the best things in life come from Sweden, we recently discovered Najell and we're obsessed with the entire range. The brand focuses on sustainable, durable and beautiful products that the whole family can use, and its pregnancy pillow ticks all of our boxes. Thanks to its bean-bag style filling, it will mould around you whether you're napping or relaxing. Plus, you can adjust the firmness for just the right amount of comfort and support, and even transform it into a smaller breastfeeding pillow once your baby arrives. Best of all, you can pick and choose from a range of stylish print covers. We went for peony blue.
Dimensions: 58 x 175 cm
Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex
Pillow type: Full body
DreamGenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow
DreamGenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow
Recommended by midwives, this unique shaped pregnancy pillow is great for both back and bump support as your body grows, plus it doubles up as a feeding bolster for nursing when baby arrives. Replacement covers come in a range of subtle Scandi-inspired floral designs, so you won't lose sleep when it's in the wash.
Dimensions: 79 x 14 cm
Material: Cotton
Pillow type: C-shape
Silentnight Body Support Full Body Size Pillow
Silentnight Body Support Full Body Size Pillow
If you have a C-section, it's wise to spend at least a week in bed recovering, followed by a week on the sofa, which is where this body support pillow from Silentnight comes to the rescue. Made from squishy quilted microfibre, thanks to its handy adjustable shape that can be either full body or C-shaped, it's perfect for sitting up in bed while you recover, nurse the new baby and catch up on Coronation Street. And, if you plan to spend a lot more time chilling in bed over the coming months, we don't blame you.
Dimensions: 148 x 49.5 cm
Material: Microfibre pillowcase
Pillow type: Full body
Queen Rose E Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
Queen Rose E Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
Leading US maternity brand Queen Rose know what they're doing when it comes to prenatal comfort and support. This one provides ample belly cushioning and the natural E-shape means you can sleep easily on your side, plus we love the sumptuous velvet cover.
Dimensions: 154 x 20 x 76 cm
Material: Cotton and polyester
Pillow type: E-shape
Little Chick London 4-in-1 Maternity Support Wedge Pillow
Little Chick London 4-in-1 Maternity Support Wedge Pillow
If you're a hot sleeper or prefer minimal cushioning but need some extra support for your growing bump, this simple but effective wedge pillow from Little Chick London will be just the ticket. It's designed to support your belly and hips while side sleeping, but doubles up as desk-based back support during the day. And, before you know it, your new tot will be using it to learn how to sit up.
Dimensions: 35 x 30 x 11 cm
Material: 100% Bamboo cover, polyester filling
Pillow type: Wedge
CuddleCo Support Pillow and Wedge Set
CuddleCo Support Pillow and Wedge Set
Banking as much sleep as possible is essential when you're expecting. So, if you sleep hot and regularly find yourself waking up in a sweat, this pregnancy pillow is the one for you. The V-shape is designed to fit snugly around your body to support side sleeping, plus it also comes with a handy wedge to align your hips. Best of all, we rate the soft cotton cover that our mama tester praised for keeping her cool and fresh while she slept soundly.
Dimensions: 59 x 70 x 15 cm
Material: Cotton cover and polyester filling
Pillow type: V-shaped
John Lewis & Partners Specialist Carefree Comfort Teflon V-Shaped Support Pillow
John Lewis & Partners Specialist Carefree Comfort Teflon V-Shaped Support Pillow
Back sleepers on a budget, take note! This simple but effective V-shaped pillow from John Lewis is designed to cradle your head and neck and gently ease you onto your side at night. What's more, if you like to eat cookies in bed (you're pregnant so this is totes allowed) it also contains Teflon, which is a well-known stain repellent.
Dimensions: 80 x 50 x 20 cm
Material: Cotton cover and polyester filling
Pillow type: V-shaped
Bellamoon Pregnancy & Nursing (3-in-1) Pillow
Bellamoon Pregnancy & Nursing (3-in-1) Pillow
This clever multipurpose pillow from US brand Bellamoon has been designed to support you during pregnancy, breastfeeding, tummy time and baby lounging. Thanks to its unique C-shape, it will elevate your limbs while gently separating your hips as you sleep, helping you achieve a neutral (and healthy!) side position. Our mum tester was particularly pleased with how easy it was to remove the middle section and turn it into a baby support pillow, plus it comes in a range of gorgeous prints including feather nest, fairy tree, moonstone and dotted.
Dimensions: 75 x 40 x 155 cm
Material: 100% cotton covers, polyester fibre pillow
Pillow type: C-shape
DockATot Cosset Body Pillow in Blue Woodland
DockATot Cosset Body Pillow in Blue Woodland
Pregnancy pillows are easily the comfiest bedfellows on earth and hard to give up once the baby arrives. But, we're going to level with you: while they might feel like you're chilling on fluffy clouds, they are often somewhat lacking in the aesthetics department. So, if you're a smart shopper and prefer to buy nice instead of twice, this beautiful woodland print body pillow from DockATot will appeal. It works like a traditional pregnancy pillow and supports all the key areas, but once your baby arrives it doubles up as a stylish bolster for your sophisticated townhouse. We are in love! The Scallop Jacquard print is on point too.
Dimensions: 36 x 150 cm
Material: Suprelle duo fibres
Pillow type: Full body
Koala Babycare Nursing V Pillow for Sleeping and Breastfeeding
Koala Babycare Nursing V Pillow for Sleeping and Breastfeeding
This simple V-shaped pregnancy pillow is filled with silicon fibre flakes to mould around your growing bump and keep you cosy while you sleep. We love the machine washable funky polka dot zippered cover that comes in a variety of colours, plus it can be toggled together to create a baby nest once your little one arrives. Best of all at under £30, it's a total bargain.
Dimensions: 215 x 21 x 10 cm
Material: 100% cotton cover, 100% polyester filling
Pillow type: V-shape
Marks & Spencer V Shape Pillow
Marks & Spencer V Shape Pillow
For mamas-to-be struggling with back pain, this simple but effective extra plump V-shape pillow can prop you up while you're relaxing at home and then provide much needed lumbar support as you sleep.
Dimensions: 84 x 33 x 84 cm
Material: 100% cotton cover, 100% polyester filling
Pillow type: V-shape
Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow and Maternity Support
Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow and Maternity Support
This super-soft U-shaped pregnancy pillow from orthopaedic product specialists Pharmedoc has been put through the real-life ringer and scored highly. Our panel of mum testers were particularly pleased with the detachable arm to prop themselves up and the padding space for extra room.
Dimensions: 66 x 25 x 23 cm
Material: Jersey
Pillow type: U-shape
Kally Sleep U Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
Kally Sleep U Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
Another great pregnancy pillow from Kally Sleep, this versatile U shaped bed buddy is designed to provide support for your bump, back and legs as your body grows, but it's particularly good for mamas who suffer from hip pain. And once your little one arrives, it doubles up as great back support for those precious moments when you get to read (OK, scroll your phone) in bed.
Dimensions: 150 x 33 cm
Material: 50% cotton, 50% polyester
Pillow type: U shaped
