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Last Updated on November 18, 2023 by theosteomum
“When should I buy a pregnancy pillow” is one of the most common questions I hear from pregnant women in my clinic.
Many women are unsure if they really help, or if there’s a time that’s considered “too early” to start using one.
Getting a good night’s sleep during pregnancy is vital, so I’ve put together this post to tell you all you need to know about pregnancy pillows.
- What is a pregnancy pillow?
- Why use a pregnancy pillow?
- Do Doctors recommend a pregnancy pillow?
- Why is sleep so important during pregnancy?
- When should you buy or start using a pregnancy pillow? Is 12 weeks too early?
- Is a pregnancy pillow worth it?
- 5 different types of pregnancy pillow (and how to use them)
- How to choose the right pregnancy pillow for you
- Is C shaped or U shape pregnancy pillow better?
What is a pregnancy pillow?
Pregnancy pillows are specially designed to offer support where it is needed most for the contours of the pregnant body.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be found at a range of price points from a few dollars to the hundreds of dollars.
These pillows can be used to help a pregnant person sleep safely in a more comfortable position.
Why use a pregnancy pillow?
A pregnancy pillow will be your new best friend.
I’ve seriously even heard stories about pregnant women’s partners getting jealous of how much women love them.
Hilarious but true.
During pregnancy, and especially after 20 weeks, you’re best to sleep on your sides.
This encourages proper blood flow for both you and your growing baby.
The only problem is, that 9 months is a loooong time to be limited to sleeping on your sides.
Add to this that you’ll be getting heavier, as well as the fact that your lower back, hips and pelvis are under a huge amount of strain.
This can be a recipe for aches and pains and can lead to you tossing and turning all night in a bid to get comfortable.
Between pelvic girdle pain, round ligament pain, and leg cramps during pregnancy, it can be almost impossible to get a decent night’s sleep when you’re pregnant. Click on any of the links to head to my posts to learn about how to manage these common pregnancy conditions.
Pregnancy pillows can help support your lower back, as well as your ever-growing bump.
This can help take the strain off of overworked muscles and joints, and allow you to get some proper rest.
Let’s help you choose one and make uncomfortable nights one less thing you need to worry about during your pregnancy.
I’ve put together a list of the Top 5 Pregnancy Pillows.
Each has their own unique features, and will be better for certain women over others. I’ve made it super simple for you to choose the best one for your needs.
Read on to find your new favourite bedtime buddy!
Do Doctors recommend a pregnancy pillow?
Each health care professional will have their own opinion on whether they believe a pregnancy pillow is absolutely necessary.
However, Doctors will usually recommend women sleep on their sides from around 20 weeks of pregnancy, which can lead to aches and pains from being in the one position for so long.
As a general rule, as pregnancy pillows help you to be more comfortable when sleeping on your sides, and discourage you from sleeping on your back, most practitioners would at least see the benefits of using one.
I often discuss the benefits of using them with pregnant patients that I see face to face in my clinic.
Why is sleep so important during pregnancy?
Studies have shown that sleep is a time for our bodies to remove the waste products from our brains.
This explains why having a poor night’s sleep can lead to brain fog- it means we haven’t had a chance to do the housekeeping in our own supercomputers.
During pregnancy, sleep is more important than ever.
One study has shown that women who got less than 6 hours sleep per night in late pregnancy were more likely to have longer labours. They were also 4.5 times more likely to require a Caesarian delivery.
So if you’d like to have a shorter labour and less chance of a C-section, it’s really in your best interests to do all you can to get a good night’s sleep.
Related: 12 Pregnancy Sleep Hacks
When should you buy or start using a pregnancy pillow? Is 12 weeks too early?
A common question asked by my pregnant patients is “is it too early to use a pregnancy pillow?”
Regardless of their stage of pregnancy, my answer is always an absolute “no”!
Your body starts to make changes from the very first day of your pregnancy. Depending on how sensitive you are to these changes, you may notice that you just can’t sleep well from the start.
Some women almost feel a little flippant in wanting to buy a pregnancy pillow very early on.
But, as discussed above, it’s important to do all you can to get a good night’s sleep during pregnancy, so a pregnancy pillow may help you do this as soon as you feel you need one.
Depending on the size and shape of both your body, and of the pillow that you buy, you may find some more appropriate than others at different stages of your pregnancy.
I’ve gone into detail in my descriptions of the pillows below, to help you determine which one will be the best fit for you right now, and as your bump grows.
Is a pregnancy pillow worth it?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I mean, clearly, you can make do without one. Women have done so for centuries.
But, especially in the last months of your pregnancy, you’ll probably find that you need to sleep with at least two extra pillows every night to even try to get comfortable. These need to be rearranged every time you roll over, or get up to use the bathroom (which is often).
Especially if this is your first pregnancy and you plan on having more children, an investment in a pregnancy pillow now is something you’ll thank yourself for later.
5 different types of pregnancy pillow (and how to use them)
(best pregnancy pillow for back pain)
The Top 5 Best Pregnancy Pillows:
#1: Victostar Pregnancy Pillow
About this pregnancy pillow
- U-shaped design gives whole body support, taking pressure off your lower back, hips, knees and bump
- Can be used in a variety of ways both pre- and post- birth
- Over 1000 customers have left an average review of 4.6 out of 5
Who it’s best for:
- Tall women who need a larger pregnancy pillow
- Women who want the flexibility of a pregnancy pillow they can use in a variety of positions to get whole body support
- The Victostar is great for women suffering from back or hip pain while sleeping
Pros:
- Machine washable cover
- Can be used for sleeping while pregnant, as well as for breast or bottle feeding once your baby is born
- Can easily be used to allow you to sleep on either side during pregnancy
Cons:
- The size of the Victostar may be bulky for those sharing a bed with a partner
- Pregnant women living in larger climates may find the wraparound support too warm
#2: Chilling Home Pregnancy Pillow
About this pregnancy pillow:
- This pillow has a similar design to the Victostar, but in a slightly more compact design.
- There is also a detachable cutout piece on one side to allow more versatility in arm positioning
Who it’s best for:
- Women of average height
- Women who are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or other arm or shoulder pain that want some flexibility in arm positioning while sleeping
Pros:
- Fully removable machine washable cover
Cons:
- The Chilling Home Pregnancy Pillow needs about 24 hours to fully plump up once it is removed from the vacuum sealed package- so you won’t be able to fall in love straight away!
#3: 2-in-1 Pregnancy Pillow
About this pregnancy pillow:
- This long pregnancy pillow is more compact than the Victostar or Chilling Home options, but still provides great support for your lower back, hips and belly.
- Designed by a Chiropractor and mum of 3
Who it’s best for:
- Women who don’t want the bulk of a larger U-shaped pregnancy pillow
- Ladies with neck issues or those who simply prefer to use their own pillow, rather than an all-in-one options
- Women who may feel too hot sleeping in a U-shaped or wraparound style
Pros:
- Choose either a soft or a firm memory foam side to tailor your ideal level of support
- Leaves more room in the bed for a partner
- The relatively small size (compared to the U-shaped options) means its more easily portable, so can be used for travel or easily moved from the bedroom to the lounge room if needed.
- Removable cotton jersey cover is machine washable
- The single-sided design may help you minimise pelvic pain when turning. Remember to squeeze your knees together as you roll over and keep the pillow wedged between your knees.
Cons:
- The 2-in-1 Pregnancy Pillow may feel too small if you’re a taller or larger woman
#4: Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers
About this pregnancy pillow:
- Technically, this isn’t a pregnancy pillow. However, it may be just the thing that pregnant ladies need to sleep comfortably and roll from one side to the other more easily.
- This is a pillow that gets strapped to one thigh, and provides support between your knees. Strapping it to one leg means that it does not move around, and you should not have to hold onto it when rolling from one side to the other in bed. Having this cushioning between your knees can help take strain off your hips and lower back.
Who it’s best for:
- Women with mild pregnancy sleep discomfort who don’t want anything too bulky
Pros:
- Compact design is easily portable, meaning it can be used for travel or other times where you need support on the go!
- Minimal size takes up very little room in the bed, leaving lots of room for your partner.
- Very unlikely to contribute to feeling hot while sleeping
Cons:
- The Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers is not a true pregnancy pillow, and may be best suited to women with mild pregnancy discomforts while sleeping, or those who need a very compact option for travelling.
#5: Pregnancy Pillow Wedge
About this pregnancy pillow:
- This is a small wedge shaped pillow designed to fit comfortably under your bump, behind your back or between your knees.
- Designed to be versatile and portable
Who it’s best for:
- Women with mild discomfort while sleeping during pregnancy, or
- Women looking for a lightweight and portable option
Pros:
- Tiny perforated holes allow for increased air flow, to help keep you cool while sleeping. This is a Godsend when your baby is acting like a little furnace!
- Due to its small size, it can be easily moved around the house as needed, or taken with you on holidays etc.
- Removable machine washable cover.
Cons:
- The Pregnancy Pillow Wedge is a small pregnancy pillow, which means that it may not give you all the support you need in various places.
How to buy the right pregnancy pillow for you:
I’m going to try to make this really simple for you.
Every pregnant woman is different, and everyone’s sleeping arrangements are also individualised.
To make this even easier for you, you could select which one of the following statements apply to you, and choose the pillow from there.
| About you | Pregnancy Pillow Recommendation |
| You’re a tall or “above-average” sized pregnant woman | Victostar |
| You’re looking for a versatile pregnancy pillow that ticks all the boxes (and you’re not above average height) | Chilling Home Pregnancy Pillow |
| You’re suffering from shoulder or arm pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome | Chilling Home Pregnancy Pillow |
| You live in a hot climate, get really hot at night, or need support without too much bulk | 2-in-1 pregnancy pillow |
| You want some versatility, with very minimal bulk | Pregnancy Pillow Wedge |
| It’s only your hips or knees that hurt and you want something small and compact | Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers |
Is C shaped or U shape pregnancy pillow better?
Like many questions related to health, the answer is- it depends.
Your choice of pregnancy pillow should be based on your specific comfort needs, as well as a careful consideration of the specific benefits of both C and U shaped types.
This is best summed up by the table below:
| Pillow Type | Pros | Cons |
| C shaped | Can support either your back or belly, just not at the same time. Can help keen your hips and knees in good alignment. Offers neck support. Slightly less bulky and potentially more cool than a U-shaped pregnancy pillow. | Neck support may not suit your needs. Cannot support both your back and belly at the same time. Does not offer as much support overall as a U shaped pillow. |
| U Shaped | Supports both your back and belly at the same time. Helps keep your hips and knees in good alignment. Offers neck support. | Neck support may not suit your needs. May be bulkier than a C shaped pillow. May feel hotter to use. |
How did you go?
Did you find the best option for you?
I truly hope you’ve been able to learn about the various features and benefits of different styles, and when to buy a pregnancy pillow.
If you’ve got any more questions, or would like me to help recommend a particular one for you, feel free to leave me a comment below.
Share the love!
Have you got a pregnant friend currently suffering from aches and pains while trying to sleep?
Remember to share this with them, so they can choose the best option for them!
