You are a pregnant mum-to-be and are preparing for the most exciting phase of your life! Buying yourself a pregnancy pillow is a wonderful idea. Pregnancy pillows come in an array of shapes and sizes. You need to choose yours according to its size and your needs.

We will explore the various pregnancy pillows on the market and share some advice on when to buy your body pillow and which one will suit you best.

What is a pregnancy pillow?

Pregnancy pillows are essentially sleeping accessories created to support expecting mothers’ changing bodies. While it is often difficult to find a comfortable position while sleeping, a maternity pillow can ensure a better night's sleep. Pregnancy pillows have multiple other uses too, which we will explore below.

These pillows come in varying shapes and sizes for soon-to-be mothers to enjoy. A great pregnancy pillow is a blessing! Let's look at the many uses for these pillows and how they can improve your sleep quality while you enjoy your growing baby bump.

When should you start using pregnancy pillows?

Around 20 weeks is when you will get the most comfort from using pregnancy pillows. However, you can start using yours sooner if you need extra comfort.

Many women immediately associate pregnancy body pillows with assisting in achieving a good sleeping position, but they can also help pregnant women when watching TV, achieving neutral joint positioning, and breast feeding postpartum.

What to look for in a pregnancy pillow

With such a wide variety of pregnancy pillows on the market, it can be difficult to know what to look for. From V-shaped pillows to wedge pillows, each offers something unique that can be beneficial during pregnancy. 

Shape

Some pregnancy pillows curve under your head, whilst others run parallel to your body. Depending on where you need support, different shaped pillows will better suit your needs. 

Material

If you get warm during the night, you’ll be better suited to a breathable cotton cover instead of a polyester one. This should create a better sleeping environment to help you get a great night’s sleep.

Size

Pregnancy pillows come in a selection of sizes. If you’re choosing a wedge, this is often no bigger than your standard pillow. Whereas a V-shaped pillow hugs you front and back, so are much greater in size - you’ll need to consider how much room you’re willing to give up in bed before you purchase one of these. 

Standard size pregnancy body pillows are 51 cm by 137 cm. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different fill materials. Some body pillows can go up to 1.83 m. These pillows provide neck support, lower body support, or total body support for your natural shape as you sleep.

Pregnancy pillow dimensions

Body pillows differ in size, depending on your needs. Choosing the best pillow is critical to ensuring optimal sleep for an expecting mother. Your body pillow provides support for knee pain, joint pain, belly support or back pain.

Body pillow

A basic body support pillow is a long pillow that comes in different sizes, aiming to make pregnant mothers feel cosier as they sleep. The majority of body pillows are 122 cm– 137 cm in length.

Pros

They assist in achieving proper body alignment, minimise the load your spine carries, and help to alleviate pain. 

Cons

A body pillow can be quite bulky and take up space in your bed. Make sure to choose a shaped body pillow that fits your bed best.

V-shaped pillows

The V-shaped pillow is perfect for pregnant women who find it difficult to get comfy and also great for nursing. The Slumberdown V-shaped medium support pillow is 84 cm in length and 35 cm in width.

Pros

A V-shape pregnancy pillow offers support for the belly and back and is the best option for providing all-around body support.

Cons

It can take up a large area of your bed.

Wedge-shaped pillows

A wedge-shaped pregnancy pillow is a wedge-shaped pillow, as the name suggests. These pillows are usually 51 cm to 61 cm in length and width. They vary in height, which affects their incline.

Pros

You can place it underneath your belly while sleeping on your side. You can also put it underneath your sleeping pillow. The lower part of the wedge should start under the neck and head area. You can also put it behind your back when feeding your baby in bed or on a chair.

Cons

Certain mothers prefer full-body pillows. This offers more versatility and comfort for a good night's sleep. The size of a wedge-shaped pillow is a lot smaller than a full-body pillow.

Nursing pillow

A breastfeeding or nursing pillow is ideal after the baby arrives.  A mother will be sitting up when they bottle or breastfeed. Thus, this pillow will wind around your torso, making it easier for you and your baby to comfortably nurse. A nursing pillow will vary in size, so choose a nursing pillow size that suits your and your baby’s needs. 

Pros

Nursing pillows rest on your lap and wrap around the outside of your body. This creates a stable, comfortable surface to manoeuvre your baby at your breast.

This pillow lessens neck, back and arm strain for the mother. This makes the nursing process smoother and nicer for both mother and baby.

Cons

Babies should not be on the nursing pillow when asleep. They may fall to the floor, or their heads can fall to the side, blocking their air passages.

As long as you know this beforehand, nursing pillows are handy for breastfeeding mothers.

The best pregnancy pillows

Best pregnancy pillow overall

We believe the V-shape pillow is ideal for all-around comfort and consider it one of the best pregnancy pillows overall. This luxurious pillow supports the entire body, which helps you fall asleep faster.

What is the best shape for a pregnancy pillow?

You need to consider how far along in your pregnancy you are. You also need to consider your bed type. If you sleep in a smaller bed, you might need a smaller pillow like a wedge-shaped pillow. Whereas, if you sleep in a larger bed, you can choose a V-shape pregnancy pillow.

Best pregnancy pillow for the first trimester

In your first trimester, any sleeping stance will work. People usually only invest in a pregnancy pillow after 20 weeks, entering the second trimester. So in your first trimester, not every expecting mother will feel the need to sleep with a pregnancy pillow. But, as your belly gets bigger, you will need more support as you continue along toward your due date. 

Best pregnancy pillow for the second and third trimesters

V-shaped pregnancy body-hugging pillows work well when you’re further into your pregnancy. It hugs the body well and provides you with some much-needed support.

Pregnancy pillows FAQs

What is the ideal sleeping position for an expecting mother?

Doctors recommend sleeping on your side. Side sleeping supports your expanding body weight from weighing down on your liver. It also aids circulation by sending nutrient-rich blood to the placenta to nourish your baby. Avoid sleeping on your back, specifically in late pregnancy. 

What are the benefits of pregnancy pillows?

Pregnancy pillows assist in the alignment of your neck, back, as well as hips while you sleep. They reduce the pressure exerted on the hips by keeping the mother's legs parallel to each other whilst also allowing for better circulation.

A body pillow may not only help you sleep comfortably, but assists body functioning too.

What should my pregnancy pillow be made from?

Your pregnancy pillow material will vary. They are made from polyester hollowfibre to shredded memory foam, polyfoam or microbeads. These materials determine how firm your pillow will be and how much support it will offer.

Hollowfibre is softer, and a memory foam pillow will be more firm and supportive. Shredded memory foam has filling shredded into tiny pieces. This makes the pregnancy pillow more manoeuvrable. It will hug your body, adding support.

Memory foam is moveable, making it a good choice as a filler in your body pillow.

How do you look after a pregnancy pillow?

You can machine wash your pregnancy pillow if it fits in your washing machine and as long as the care instructions state so. Otherwise, you will need to hand wash it. 

Your pillow should also come with a machine washable cover. The outer cover will need a wash to clean off sweat and dirt and to keep things hygienic.

Find the perfect pregnancy pillow with Sleepseeker

Choosing the right dimensions for your pregnancy pillow depends on numerous factors. Before 20 weeks of pregnancy, you may not need a body pillow. Moving into trimesters two and three, we recommend you purchase one to improve sleep quality, like the V-shaped pillow. 

Pregnancy pillows are a great investment for expecting mothers to support achy bodies, assist sleep, help with breastfeeding and allow you to watch TV comfortably -  it’s no wonder pregnant women use them to improve their health and wellbeing.

For more guides on pregnancy pillows, check out the pages below:

At Sleepseeker, we have a wide variety of pillows that are perfect for expecting mothers. Discover our range to find the perfect pillow that will last you throughout your pregnancy and beyond. 

We also have a great selection of duvets, mattress toppers, and electric blankets to help improve your sleep.