In a perfect world we could take baby bumps off when we go to sleep to give our bodies some much needed rest.
A 2014 study of sleep patterns across pregnancy showed that a whopping 76% of pregnant women experience insufficient night time sleep. For many moms-to-be, the right pregnancy pillow can be a saving grace.
With a quickly growing belly, finding a comfortable sleeping position gets harder with each passing day. When you’ve tossed and turned, built a nest of regular pillows, and suffocated your partner with endless snuggles to no avail, it’s probably a good time to look for a better sleep solution in a pregnancy pillow.
Benefits of Using a Pregnancy Pillow
Side Sleeping
Doctors highly recommend sleeping on your side when pregnant, to facilitate good blood circulation at night. Many full-body pregnancy pillows keep you from unknowingly rolling onto your back, and easing any worry you have about doing so.
Comfort
Chances are that as you enter the later stages of pregnancy, your growing baby bump is going to begin interfering with sleep. A good pregnancy pillow will ease stress on your limbs, spine, joints, and will prop the belly from underneath to relieve pressure.
Avoiding Additional Aches and Pains
Sleep is where you’re supposed to recharge to feel as great as can be the next morning. Pregnancy pillows help support your body in just the right position and gets your blood moving properly and prevent additional sleeping pains.
Snuggling
Whether you share a bed with a partner or not, a pregnancy pillow can offer another snuggling solution. A good pillow will help with tossing and turning, saving a partner from some sleepless nights, too.
Energy
You need all the rest you can get for the long day ahead, and lots of energy when your new baby arrives. Doctors recommend pregnant women get 7-10 hours of sleep every night—it’s time to get to work!
Calming
Restful sleep won’t come if mom is anxious about rolling over into a position that could potentially hurt the baby. A U-shaped body pillow, for example, will minimize any movements by cradling mom, and reduce any worry of rolling over. Staying calm while sleeping will help lower mom’s heart rate.
From full-length pillows, to wedge, U-shaped, and everything in between, we searched high and low to find the best rated pregnancy pillows you can find. We analyzed product descriptions and Amazon reviewers, and created a list of our favorite pillows to ease at least some of that pregnancy discomfort.
Best Pregnancy Pillows: Score Sheet
| Best Pregnancy Pillows | Amazon Score | Blueprint Score | Overall Score |
| Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.53 |
| Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow | 4.5 | 3.6 | 4.28 |
| Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| Leachco Back ‘N Belly Original Contoured Pillow | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.38 |
| Meiz U-Shape Body Pregnancy Pillow | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.38 |
| PharMeDoc U-Shaped Full Body Pregnancy Pillow | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| PharMeDoc Full Body C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow
“I love this pillow. I know its a bit expensive but it has made sleeping during my pregnancy so much better.“ – Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The Comfort-U Total Body Support pillow cradles mom to prevent tossing and turning, while providing support for the neck, shoulders, back, and hip alignment
- Entire pillow can be thrown into a machine washer for easy cleaning
- It’s filled with hypoallergenic synthetic down, so this pillow is softer and more flexible but still holds its shape
- Can be repositioned to your liking, whether you’re trying to sleep, prop your feet up, lounge on the couch, or feed your baby
CONSIDERATIONS
- This is a larger body pillow and can take up a good amount of real estate in a shared bed
- Some reviewers have noted the seams coming apart slightly after lots of use
- Some moms may get too warm being completely surrounded by the pillow
Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow
“It is great for preventing you from sleeping directly on your back, as well as providing support for your growing tummy.” – KT, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- Great option for side sleeping, as mom is able to rest in between two connected pillows. One supports the lumbar, while the other rests under the belly
- The panel that connects the two pillows can be stretched to accommodate your growing baby bump
- Can be used between the knees for hip alignment, prop up feet, or to cradle your sides when sitting up
- The pillows and the removable jersey slipcover are machine washable
CONSIDERATIONS
- The virgin polyester fiber filling is on the firm side
- Connector panel still may be too short for mothers with bigger baby bumps
Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow
“I picked it up at the start of my second trimester because I was having trouble getting comfy, even before my belly got big. Now that I’m getting bigger, it’s helping support my growing belly while keeping me nice and comfy.” -Katherine, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- Developed by a registered nurse and her mother with patented design
- Unique J-shape fits the body to provide neck support, hip alignment, back, and tummy support
- Ideal for aiding side sleeping
- Snoogle works great for moms that like to snuggle and doesn’t come with the extra body heat (sorry partners!)
- Is flexible enough to contour to different shapes and uses, including reading in bed, watching TV, or nursing
CONSIDERATIONS
- Not machine washable. Dirty spots will need to be cleaned with a soapy cloth
- Pillow can get clumpy and will require some fluffing
- Turning to sleep on your other side may be difficult and may require you to flip the pillow
Leachco Back ‘N Belly Original Contoured Pillow
“As a back sleeper, it keeps me from rolling onto my back. I also get carpal tunnel and heart burn – this pillow allows me to prop myself up on my back to ease both.” -Katie, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- Unique hourglass wavy U-shape provides support to your back and tummy at the same time
- Back N’ Belly has the same shape should you want to flip over in the middle of the night, so there’s no need to flip your pillow when you do
- Great for snuggling, simultaneous back and belly support, hip alignment, and neck support
- Two open ends of the pillow can be stacked for extra elevation at your head or lower body
- Includes one machine washable removable pillow cover
CONSIDERATIONS
- The sides of the pillow are more firm, and the U-shape is softer
- Taller moms may find the cover seam cuts into their shoulders, although there are replacement covers with different seams available to purchase separately
- Full-body pillow embrace can get warm
hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge
“My wife had prenatal surgery and it left her with a long incision where a c-section would typically be, only she’s still pregnant. This wedge keeps her belly right where it should be so that her pain is null and her scar can heal quickly.” -Douglas, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- This compact wedge pregnancy pillow is ideal for belly, back, and hip support
- It’s two sided—memory foam side is softer, while the second side is firmer and made with foam fiber
- Pillow and plush cover are ventilated with small holes to prevent overheating
- Removable zip-up velboa pillow cover is machine washable
- Comes with its own bag, and can be squeezed down for easy travel
- Not just for sleeping—great for overall comfort
CONSIDERATIONS
- Not a full-body pillow, so it can only be used for one kind of support at a time
- Small, and can move out of place and require readjustment
Meiz U-Shape Body Pregnancy Pillow
“My back was normally sore with my first pregnancy. I bought this to help with my second pregnancy and it gives the support I need and allows me to get comfortable.” -Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The Meiz Comfortable Pregnancy Pillow mirrored offers full-body support—you get the same comfort even if you flip to the other side during sleep
- Its extra-long legs are comfortable for women of all heights, and are long enough to fold on themselves for back support while lounging or feeding baby
- Ability to cradle yourself within the pillow, it makes side sleeping comfortable and prevents rolling onto your back
- Includes removable, machine washable, cotton flannel pillow cover
- Full-body size supports the neck, head, back, belly, hips, and spine alignment simultaneously, but is flexible enough to reposition to your liking
- Odorless 100% polyester fiber filling
CONSIDERATIONS
- Full-body, cradling pillows can get too warm for some
- Pillow is large, and can take up a good amount of space in a shared bed
- The included pillow cover is blue and pink, but other pillow covers are available for separate purchase
ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow
“This has alleviated the lower back pain from pregnancy. I wished I had purchased it during the early second trimester and not wait till the third trimester. Very effective for being such a small piece!”-MN, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- The ComfiLife Orthopedic Knee Pillow is designed ergonomically to combat pregnancy-related sciatic pain and poor spine alignment
- Can be used between the knees and calves to aid hip and spine alignment, but also underneath the arm for propped up lounging, or even under one knee when side sleeping
- Made from cut memory foam and comes with breathable pillow cover that can be removed for machine-washing
- Memory foam prevents the pillow from going flat with time
- Small and compact shape makes it great to bring along when traveling
- Pillow cover is breathable, removable, and machine-washable
CONSIDERATIONS
- As its main purpose is back and hip support, this pillow is not the best option to prop up a heavy baby bump
- May take a little time to get used to since it’s firmer than other knee pillows
- Some reviewers found it a bit too thick for their frame
PharMeDoc U-Shaped Full Body Pregnancy Pillow
“It’s been amazing. I was shocked at what a difference it has made. I have pelvic girdle pain with this pregnancy and it’s greatly improved when I sleep using the pillow.” -Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- This unique full-body pillow can be either U-shaped or L-shaped with the removable leg
- Removable leg can be its own standalone body pillow
- The cloth panel that attaches the two pillows works great for resting your arm at the mattress level
- Provides neck, head, back, and belly support at the same time
- Comes with removable, machine-washable, cotton pillow cover
- Can be flipped so U-shape supports the feet—your usual pillow can be used to support your head
- Firm, yet still fluffy, and can be folded and reshaped to your liking
- Helps with side sleeping and prevents mom from rolling on her back
CONSIDERATIONS
- Filling is looser than some which allows for flexibility, but can get bunched up with repeated use. The pillow may require occasional fluffing
- One of the largest full-body pillows on our list, and can take up quite a bit of shared bed space
- It is not a mirrored U-shape, so you may also have to flip the pillow when you flip over to your other side
PharMeDoc Full Body C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
“Wife is a few months pregnant and had been wanting a pillow like this- she’s SO happy she got it. It’s so easy for her to get comfortable and go to sleep now, she is in love with this pillow.” -Joe, Amazon Reviewer
BLUEPRINT SUMMARY
- PharMeDoc has another winner with this C-shaped pillow to provide full-body support while side sleeping
- Polyester filling is movable and flexible, making the pillow easy to form and shape to your liking
- C-shape helps with simultaneous belly and back support, top curve allows for head and neck rest, and bottom curve rests between the thighs to aid spine alignment
- Cradles the body to prevent tossing and turning and back sleeping
- Removable and machine-washable hypoallergenic pillow cover is included
- Great for folding up for sitting back support, or wrapping around the body post-birth for breastfeeding
- Encourages left-side sleeping, alleviating pressure on the liver and increasing blood flow
CONSIDERATIONS
- Reviewers noted that the pillow cover can be tricky to get back on after washing
- As a full body pillow meant to cradle the body, it may be too claustrophobic for some
- Best for those who don’t toss and turn too much while sleeping
There’s no specific time to begin using a pregnancy pillow. You can get one early and get used to side sleeping in anticipation for your pregnancy, or wait until you need one to aid a specific ache.
Without too much investment, a pregnancy pillow can help alleviate some of the aches and pains that come along with pregnancy. Some more good news: pregnancy pillows aren’t only for getting comfortable when trying to sleep. They’re great for lounging with your baby, cradling, and feeding post-pregnancy. In fact, there were tons of non-pregnant reviewers for all the pillows on our list.
If you find that the pillows you have at home get the job done, then stick with it! Some women find they don’t need a pregnancy pillow until the later stages of pregnancy. Plus, building a masterful pillow nest could come in handy when your kids are old enough to build forts.
Do you have any tips for comfortable sleeping while pregnant? Share your story with us on Twitter or Instagram!