When you’re heavily pregnant, bedtime isn’t something you always look forward to – the nights can seem to go on forever. If the general insomnia doesn’t keep you up, then restless legs, constant toilet trips, hot flushes and aching muscles probably will. Add to this the anxious internal dialogue relating to how your life is about to change – which, of course, always seems to begin slap bang in the middle of the night – coupled with the gentle snore of your partner, and you start to wonder how our mothers forgave our fathers for having the sheer temerity to sleep.
So, if you’re looking to maximise the amount of shuteye you’re getting, then you shouldn’t think twice about buying a pregnancy pillow – your shoulders, back, neck and gluteal muscles will thank you. And so will your partner, because now you have something inanimate to thump in the middle of the night rather than them.
Here you’ll find a quick, straightforward explanation of the different types of pregnancy pillow on the market, followed by our pick of the best pregnancy pillows to buy from £10 to £60.
What different types of pregnancy pillow are there?
There are four basic shapes of pillow, each of which have their own specific pros and cons:
1. The WedgeThe smallest type, this sits under your tummy when you’re lying on your side, taking the strain off your back and gluteals. It’s especially important to support your bump if it sticks proudly out the front, as mine did. | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Cheap, portable, and can be used as an anti-reflux cushion for your newborn. Its small size minimises grumbles from your partner about personal space. | Designed just for bump support, and of course, every time you turn over you’ll have to reposition it. |
2. The V or C shapeThese are combined with a wedge, this take the pressure off your neck, upper back and shoulders. | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Stop you rolling out of bed backwards when tossing and turning, double up as a breastfeeding pillow after birth. Also nice to cuddle when you’re feeling a bit emotional. | They’re designed just for upper body support, so you will also need a wedge. Plus, they take up more room than a normal pillow, which is tricky if you’re in a double bed. |
3. The L-shape/kidney beanThis combines the features of all the above pillows in a large L-shaped version. The idea is to rest your head on the top and place the long bit between your legs, so your head, neck, bump, back and bottom are all supported. | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Supports the whole body. | Decreases physical contact with your partner, and repositioning it is more of a pain than a simple wedge. |
4. The U shapeAn extension of the L-shape, this goes all the way down your front side and up the back side, offering support to head, neck, shoulders, bump, gluteals, back and spine. Forget intimacy now, because no-one – not even your first child – will be able to reach you within this plush island. | |
| Pros | Cons |
| All-over body support that you don’t have to reposition when you turn over. | Takes up the space of an extra person in bed and, apart from maybe holding a hand, cuts contact with your partner off completely |
How do I know which type to get?
Don’t buy one until you’ve experimented with cushions to find out you need the support the most. Place them in different positions while you sleep – between your knees, under your bump, around your head and neck. It will probably take a couple of nights to find out what’s most successful (often muscle pains build up over a couple of days).
What else should i look for in a pregnancy pillow?
Check for whether the cover comes off and check what the filling is – polyester fibre, styrofoam balls, memory foam, microbeads or a natural type, such as wheat. You might want to look for a hypoallergenic type if pregnancy has heightened your sensitivity to certain chemicals and textiles.
The best pregnancy pillows to buy from £10
1. Snuggle Up! Original: The best pregnancy pillow
Price when reviewed:£35
Resplendent in seven shades of super-soft downy material, Snuggle Up! Originals come in L, U and V shapes, so you can take your pick once you’ve worked out which is best for you. They’re filled with anti-allergenic, anti-asthmatic foam balls that keep heat conduction to a minimum – I tested this at eight months in a 1980s caravan in a heatwave – and provide firm support in the right areas. But the thing that really stands it out from other brands is that it is incredibly cuddly. You might think that irrelevant, weird even. But you’d be surprised how much you appreciate having a source of emotional support in the wee small hours. If you want something even more ergonomic, spend an extra fiver on the Premium version, which is filled with ‘fairy’ (micro) beads that mould to the shape of your body. Warning: if you have a small child already, you may have to negotiate with them for custody rights, as they’ll consider it a teddy bear and therefore their property.
Buy the Snuggle Up! Original from Pregnancy Pillows
Key features – Cover: Removable, Filling: Anti-allergenic and anti-asthmatic; Washing instructions: Cover is machine washable
2. Chicco Boppy Total Body Pillow: The best for active babies
Price when reviewed:£60
The Chicco Boppy is in fact three pillows – one for the head, one for the knees and legs and one under the bump – that attach together with Velcro. The cushions are a good balance of firm-but-squishy, and don’t lose shape over time, so could easily do for one, two, or three pregnancies if you’re up for that (look, you never know). One minor disadvantage is that the shape’s not suitable for breastfeeding support after birth, whereas many pregnancy pillows are designed to have that dual purpose. But if that doesn’t bother you, the real selling point with the Boppy is that it gives you the flexibility to adjust the different components to fit your body perfectly as it grows outwards and sideways. So when your baby can’t decide which position she’s most comfortable in, or plays the engaged-or-bluffing game, you’re not necessarily lying awake on the verge of tears because you can’t get comfortable.
Key features – Cover: Removable, 100% cotton; Washing instructions: Whole pillow is machine washable
3. Mothercare Wedge Pillow: The best cheap pregnancy pillow
Price when reviewed:£10
Perfect for around month five onwards, this wallet-friendly support will help preserve intimacy with your partner that little bit longer, as it simply sits under your bump and doesn’t create a Trump-style border control. In the final few weeks, it might not be big enough to do the job, but you can start wrap a towel round it to increase its size – or revert to a sofa cushion at this stage. After the baby’s born, the wedge can be useful while the baby is still small as an anti-reflux cushion for changing nappies on or having a post-bottle lie-down. The baby, that is. Not you.
Buy the Mothercare Wedge Pillow from Mothercare
Key features – Cover: Removable, 100% cotton; Filling: Foam; Washing instructions: Cover is machine washable
4. Dreamgenii Pregnancy and Nursing Pillow: The best for classic comfort
Price when reviewed:£37
Shaped like a giant comma, this is a variation of the L-shape that supports back, bump and legs but doesn’t replace your pillow, and it’s slimmer so it doesn’t cordon off the bed. The flat bit goes under your back so you’ve got support front and behind, the long bit goes under your bump and then down through your knees. It’s set up for you to lie on your left side – recommended by midwives to maximise bloodflow between mother and baby – and prevents you rolling onto your back in the night. It’s stuffed with polyester hollow fibre, which means it’s springy but plump, and it can be used as a breastfeeding cushion after the child has been born. Its polyester cotton cover comes in plain white or fresh-looking floral print, and can be chucked in the washing machine.
Key features – Cover: Removable, cotton-polyester mix; Filling: Polyester hollow fibre filling; Washing instructions: Cover is machine washable
5. Kit for Kids Maternity Support Pack: The best for breastfeeding after birth
Price when reviewed:£40
Every penny counts on maternity leave, and this pregnancy pillow is just the right shape to double up as a breastfeeding cushion after the event – a lifesaver if you’re recovering from a caesarian. In fact this is two pillows, a C-shape and a wedge, the former sitting on your waist while the baby lies on her side at your breast. The set comes in a range of funky patterns and colours, and the pillow goes in the washing machine when the milk dribble starts to accumulate. The wedge doesn’t – you have to wipe it clean – but it won’t get as messy, because its main role will then be as a back support during those long days spent on the sofa while your baby cluster-feeds. Hello, Netflix.
Key features – Cover: 100% cotton; Filling: 100% polyester; Washing instructions: Covers are machine washable