10 of the best pregnancy pillows
We round-up the very best, tried and tested pregnancy pillows to help give you the best night’s sleep possible
Whether you’re trying to get comfortable when lying on the sofa watching TV or looking for some extra support in bed, having a decent pregnancy pillow can be a total lifesaver, especially once you’re in the second trimester.
We’ve rounded up the top pregnancy pillows to buy, using feedback from our expert parent reviewers and MFM home testers. We’ve selected pillows which support your body in different ways and cover a wide range of budgets, so you can find the perfect one for your needs.
Do I need a pregnancy pillow?
One of the things you’ll hear a lot from other people when pregnant is “Make sure you get plenty of sleep now!”, but the quest for a decent night’s sleep once your bump starts to grow isn’t always that straightforward. Pregnancy pillows are specifically designed to help you find the most comfortable – and safe – sleeping position, for plenty of much-needed rest.
As your body changes, you’ll find the weight of your bump and the pressure this puts on your hips can be quite uncomfortable when lying on your side. A pregnancy pillow can be tucked under your bump and between your knees to alleviate this weight and discomfort, as well as help to avoid back pain and sciatica as your pregnancy progresses and your bump grows. Of course, you can use a normal pillow between your knees and behind your back, but for me, a pregnancy pillow was the best investment I made when I was expecting my first baby – and I still miss it!
What to look for when buying a pregnancy pillow
How big is it? Some pregnancy pillows – in particular U-shaped or wrap-around pillows – can take up a lot of room in bed, not leaving much space for your partner! They also can be hard to store away. If this is going to be an issue it’s worth looking at some of the more compact models on offer, that still offer a level of support without taking up so much space.
What kind of support does it offer? You might want some firm support for your bump and knees, or maybe you prefer a softer, squidgy pillow to mould around your body. There are plenty of options to suit.
How easy is it to clean? If you’re going to be using the pillow every night while pregnant, you’re going to want to be able to wash it! Most pregnancy pillows have removable covers you can chuck in the washing machine – some even come with spares so you don’t have to do a speedy wash and dry before bedtime – and some pillows can be machine washed too.
Can it be used for anything else? A lot of pregnancy pillows can be used as nursing pillows once your baby is born. These help get your baby in a good position for breastfeeding, take the weight off your scar if you’ve had a c-section birth and offer arm support when you’re bottle feeding.
How much should I expect to pay?
The price of pregnancy pillows varies widely, with products in our selection ranging from just £15 all the way up to almost £170. The difference in price comes down to a number of factors including whether they can be used after pregnancy for nursing, what material they are made out of, the support they offer, how well they keep their shape and whether they will last through more than one pregnancy.
Here’s our pick of the best pregnancy pillows…
1. Silentnight Body Support Pillow, £40
Best for softness
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 147cm x 48cm | Award: MadeForMums Awards 2020, Pregnancy/nursing pillow – Gold
This MFM Awards Gold winner is a firm favourite with mums-to-be thanks to its amazingly supportive padding, extra-long length (making it a great fit whatever height or size you are) and super-soft material.
Unlike many other pregnancy pillows, this is a straight forward rectangle shape and although it’s a great companion from early pregnancy, it’s the mid to late stages when this incredibly comfortable sleep aid will become your best friend. Providing support for your back, neck, hips or bump, it’s really versatile but keep in mind you’ll need a lot of space for it. MFM reviewer Christy said, “There’s no way around the fact this is a large, bulky pillow – it’s pretty much the size of another person.”
Coming in much cheaper than many of the other pillows in our selection, it is great value for money, something echoed by our MFM home tester Stacie. She said, “For the price I wasn’t expecting the pillow to be a 10/10, but it is! The super soft pillow and case makes it feel so expensive and comfy.”
Pros: Affordable, complete body support, versatile
Cons: Large, can’t buy additional pillow cases
Read our full MadeForMums review of the Silentnight Body Support Pillow.
Available from: Silentnight, Argos and Very
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2. Dreamgenii Pregnancy & Feeding Support Pillow, £47.99
Best for side-sleeping
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 102cm x 77cm
If you usually prefer to sleep on your back, this is a great pillow for helping keep you on your left side as you snooze, thanks to its clever design. Shaped like a ‘7’ there’s a long length of pillow to support your bump, knees and legs, a flat, unpadded section for you to lie on and a small back support to keep you in place. Size-wise, it’s not as big as some of the others in our round-up, and our MFM reviewer Rhiannon said it fitted in the bed no problem, along with her 6ft 3in husband.
As far as comfort goes, it got the thumbs up, with MFM reviewer Rhiannon adding, “It held me perfectly in place. I slept quickly and soundly and saw some improvement in my aches and pelvic pains in the morning.” Although she did find, along with a MFM user, that it didn’t give her quite enough leg support.
With a mid-end price point, this doesn’t break the bank, and can also be used as a nursing pillow once you start feeding. The cover is machine washable and, if plain white isn’t your thing, there are some patterned alternatives you can buy separately.
Pros: Keeps you on your side, compact size
Cons: Not the firmest leg support
Read our full MadeForMums review of the Dreamgenii Pregnancy and Feeding Support Pillow.
Available from: Amazon, JoJo Maman Bebe and Dreamgenii
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3. ClevaMama Therapeutic Body & Bump Maternity Pillow, £74.99
Best for firm support
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 135cm x 65cm x 15cm | Award: MadeForMums Awards 2020, Pregnancy/nursing pillow – Silver
This full body pillow has an ergonomic design that follows the natural curve of your body, supporting all those areas that need it most, like the neck, bump, pelvis and knees. The firm support makes it a great choice for mums-to-be suffering from SPD (Symphysis pubis dysfunction). It’s certainly the biggest pillow we tested, easily taking up half a double bed, so although it offered serious comfort our testers also commented on how it was rather bulky and tricky to store.
The pillow comes with a plain white, 100% breathable cotton cover that can be washed in the machine when needed and it also doubles as a nursing pillow.
As our MFM home tester Lizzy summed it up, “It’s an excellent all-round pillow that provides tons of support and comfort. The only thing I would change is to make it lighter but I would recommend it to any expectant mother!”
Pros: Full body support, fits all body sizes
Cons: Tricky to move at night, very large and quite heavy
Available from: Amazon, Smyths Toys and ClevaMama
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4. Belloost Pillow, £147
Best for sleeping on your front
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 77cm x 52cm x 19cm
Calling all devoted front sleepers – if you’re left wondering how on earth you’re going to sleep now your bump is starting to get bigger, we’ve found the perfect solution! The Belloost pillow has detachable parts to create a comfy and snug cocoon for your pregnant belly as you lie on your front, while gently stretching your spine to relieve muscle and joint pain. Now that’s what you call a multi-tasker!
Although it’s not recommended to sleep all night on your front – the left side is still the safest – the Belloost does offer the chance to mix things up and provide a safe alternative for around 20-30 minutes at a time. MFM tester Elisa commented, “That comfy, cosy feeling of being able to lie on my front was bliss. So natural and relaxing without putting pressure on my bump.”
With a price tag at the highest end of the market, it’s certainly an investment buy, but this memory foam pillow has a lot to offer, not least the chance to get comfy and request a pregnancy back massage from your partner.
Pros: Only front-sleeping pillow on the market, comfy memory foam filling, detachable side sleeping aid
Cons: Expensive, should only be used for 30 minutes at a time as a front-sleeper
Available from: Belloost
5. Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow, £139
Best for shaping around your body
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 150cm x 20cm | Award: MadeForMums Awards 2020, Pregnancy/nursing pillow – Bronze
With a beanbag feel, this super-soft cushion is perfect for moulding around you and staying in shape as you sit, lie and sleep – you can even adjust the firmness of the pillow to suit your preference by moving the pebble discs at each end up and down. The clever filling also helps keep you cool at night, which is a big plus during the warmer months.
Our MFM testers agreed that, although it’s pricey, the bbhugme pregnancy pillow really did offer plenty of support when sleeping. MFM home tester Danielle commented, “I don’t think I could even part with this after pregnancy! It’s the best pregnancy pillow I’ve used to date, and I’ve had my fair share over three pregnancies.”
Available in a choice of colours, the covers are made from the softest eco-friendly cotton and can be removed easily for machine washing. The pillow – designed by three female chiropractors – will see you beyond pregnancy too, as it doubles-up as a nursing pillow.
Pros: Adjustable firmness, keeps you cool
Cons: Expensive
Read our full MadeForMums review of the Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow.
Available from: Amazon, JoJo Maman Bebe and John Lewis
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6. Slumberdown V-Shaped Pillow, £14.99
Best budget buy
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 74cm x 48cm
This no frills offering from trusted pillow and duvet brand, Slumberdown, may not look much, but at under £15 it’s a decent pregnancy pillow at a bargain price.
As you might expect, the pillow is a simple V-shape, which can offer support under your bump or between your knees during pregnancy as you sleep, help to prop you up when sitting (especially useful after a c-section birth) and work as a breastfeeding pillow. The pillow case is removable and the whole pillow can go in the washing machine and tumble drier.
It’s certainly the cheapest in our selection, but is it worth it? MFM reviewer Sarah thinks it is: “You’re definitely aware that the filling is synthetic, however I love that you can stick the whole thing in the washing machine. It will certainly last the pregnancy and at least 6 months of breastfeeding. Compared to other pregnancy pillows it’s brilliant value for money.”
Pros: Affordable, compact, whole pillow is machine washable
Cons: Basic, not very stylish
Read our full MadeForMums review of the Slumberdown V-Shaped Pillow.
Available from: Amazon, Asda and Studio
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7. Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow, £45
Best for keeping you cool
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing | Size: 43cm x 116cm
It figures that if you’re growing a human inside you, you’re going to feel a little hot now and then. The last thing you want is a pregnancy pillow that’s going to make you feel so overheated you want to fling the windows open in the middle of winter, which is why we rate this smart pillow so much. Featuring Purflo’s fancy breathable materials, it really does help keep you cool at night – there’s a whole lot of science behind it, but quite frankly we just think it’s magic!
The ergonomic shape offers complete support when you sleep, and the ultra-soft jersey cotton feels great to snuggle up to. It also makes a brilliant feeding pillow and can even be used for tummy time when your baby is a little older. We really rate the stylish botanical print design, but if you prefer a more minimalist style, there’s a simple dove grey cover to choose from too.
Pros: Breathable material, multi-use, looks great
Cons: No back support when lying down
Available from: Amazon, Boots and PurFlo
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8. Pillowscapes Bean Pillow, £39.99
Best looking pillow
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing
You’d be forgiven for thinking this was just a cute, jelly-bean shaped cushion for the sofa, rather than a pregnancy pillow – and that’s precisely one of the reasons why our MFM judges like it so much.
Offering medium to firm support for pregnant side-sleepers, the Bean Pillow is big enough and flexible enough to be popped under your bump or between your knees when you’re lying down, helping you to find that perfect sleeping position. It’s also the perfect size and shape for nursing and wouldn’t look out of place on display in the nursery.
Pros: Great for travelling, good for nursing
Cons: Doesn’t offer full body support, only 2 colours to choose from
Available from: Pillowscapes
9. BellaMoon Full Moon 7-in-1 Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow, £169
Best for pregnancy and nursing
Type: Pregnancy Support/Nursing/Baby Recliner | Size: up to 140cm x 100cm
Made up of 5 different pieces that can be zipped together in lot of different ways, this multi-use offering from BellaMoon can see you right through pregnancy, breastfeeding and your baby’s first months as a tummy time pillow and baby recliner.
As a pregnancy pillow the Full Moon offers plenty of firm support and our MFM reviewer Cat enjoyed using it as her pregnancy progressed. She said, “the support is really targeted and as it’s much narrower than a normal pillow it takes up less space width-ways in the bed.”
The attractive grey and white polka dot cover also got the thumbs up from Cat, who added, “I was impressed with how smart the BellaMoon looked – it’s the sort of thing you would be happy to leave on the sofa even if guests were round.” Although it’s worth noting she did find it fiddly to zip all the different parents together, so it may take some practice to get used to.
Pros: Multi-use, targeted support
Cons: Fiddly to mix and match, expensive
Read our full MadeForMums review of the BellaMoon Full Moon Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow.
Available from: BellaMoon
10. Kally U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow, £54.99
Best for wrap-around support
Type: Pregnancy pillow | Size: 150cm x 33cm |
If you’re looking for total, full-body, support, the U-shaped design of the Kally Pregnancy Pillow is the ticket. Essentially a giant hug in pillow-form, this top-rated pick has a breathable, 100% cotton outer layer to prevent overheating and keep you cool as you sleep, while providing support for your bump, legs, knees, hips, neck and back all at the same time. It’s suitable for use from the first trimester, so you can definitely get your money’s worth.
At 33cm in width, once you’re tucked in between it this pillow can take up a chunk of your bed, but the pay-off of a great night’s sleep has to be worth it! With plenty of 5-star reviews on its website praising its comfort and pain-alleviating qualities, this Kally pillow definitely impresses and more than justifies its mid-point price tag.
Pros: No need for a separate pillow in bed, keeps you cool
Cons: Takes up a lot of room, not really suitable for nursing
Available from: Amazon and Kally Sleep
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About the author
Sarah has worked as a writer for over 15 years, writing about parenting for Family Traveller, Baby magazine and 5 Minute Fun, as well as working as a reviewer for MadeForMums and The Independent’s IndyBest.
She lives in a little village in Leicestershire with her husband, 4-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter, as well as a lunatic dog and grumpy cat – it’s a full house!
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