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Finally get a good night’s sleep, with a pregnancy pillow that comforts your growing bump and aching back
Made for use in the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy, pregnancy pillows are ergonomic supports specifically designed to combat common sleep concerns and reduce aches and pains. Having a soft but sturdy support can really help to take the pressure off your hips, back and bump, as well as keep your neck, spine and hips aligned properly during sleep.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which are the best pregnancy pillows. It’s a good idea to first think about what sort of result you want from a pillow. Do you struggle to stay on your side (as recommended by the NHS) during the night and find yourself rolling onto your back? Would you like something that will take you from pregnancy to postnatal? Consider, too, the kind of material you would like: a breathable jersey or cotton support, or something more cosy? Of course, there’s also the cost to keep in mind.
Leah Hazard, midwife, author of bestseller Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story (from £2.99, Amazon.co.uk) and host of podcast What the Midwife Said, says: “Pregnancy pillows can be great tools for preventing and easing the discomfort that can be part and parcel of any pregnancy, from backache to pelvic-girdle pain and leg cramps.”
She adds: “These pillows can even be used to help you maintain more comfortable, gravity-efficient positions in labour, and can be excellent props for breast or bottle-feeding, once your little one has arrived.”
To discover the best pregnancy pillows, we thoroughly tested a range of offerings at varying price points. We checked for comfort, support, value for money, innovation and versatility during our third trimester. These pillows were tested throughout the day for their support and functionality as well as during sleep. We’ve included one to suit every sleep preference and budget.
There are a number of things to consider:
Of course, every pillow may have slightly different instructions on how to get the most comfortable position out of it but, generally, many will follow a U-shape approach. Position the pillow in an upside-down U, lay in the middle, popping your head and neck on the top and following the shape under your belly and in between your legs. This ensures neck, belly, hips and pelvis are all well-supported and should hopefully make for a much comfier sleep.
There is no specific time when the use of a pregnancy pillow is recommended – it’s mostly down to your personal comfort levels throughout your pregnancy. Most people tend to pick one up during their second trimester, as this is when the belly starts to pop and it carries more weight behind it, therefore causing more strain on the rest of your body.
For a soft but supportive sleep with a pillow that will take you from day to night and to breastfeeding and beyond, our best buy is the Purflo breathe.
The Bbhugme – while expensive – is a high contender for its luxury feel as well as its adjustable firmness. For a compact but effective knee, hip or stomach wedge for an attractive price, Little Chick London’s 4-in-1 pregnancy support pillow might just be your winner. Happy sleeping!
For underwear that will keep you comfortable and supported through your pregnancy and beyond, read our review of the best maternity and nursing bras