If you follow me on instagram, you know I have been through a lot of pregnancy pillows. There is nothing more important than getting quality sleep when you are pregnant, and if you are a mom of multiple kids you know how precious those Zs are. Yet when you are finally settling into bed looking for that perfect comfortable spot – you may be surprised how hard it is to find, especially in the second and third trimesters.
So, while I do feel a little bit like the princess and the pea… finding the right pillow for you makes such a huge difference. So let me help you save a little time finding the right one.
First, do you really need a pregnancy pillow?
Hate to say this to all the back and stomach sleepers out there, but side sleeping is the best sleep position during pregnancy. Stomach sleeping is off the table for obvious reasons but back sleeping can be potentially dangerous as the weight of your belly, organs and baby can compress the vena cava, which is the main vein that carries blood back to your heart from your lower body.
Therefore, side sleeping is truly the only safe option as you progress through pregnancy. However, that beautiful growing belly is also placing added stress on our back and hips which will require additional support. Enter: the pregnancy pillow, our sleep hero.
Depending on what type of support you need most, your cuddle comfort level, and your body composition like height, there are some differences to look for when evaluating what will help you sleep best at night to wake up refreshed and pain free.
Factors in picking out a pillow
Until I started researching for a solution during my first pregnancy with Porter, I had no idea there were so many types of pregnancy pillows out there. They have C-shaped, U-shaped, traditional shapes, tempurpedic, and all offer a different type of benefit. It will largely depend on your preferences but the main things to consider are: shape, size, and material.
If you are someone who likes to be cuddled and who has extra room in the bed to sacrifice (sorry partner), then you may not be concerned about the size of your pillow, like a U-shaped pillow, that can hug you from both front and back. The shape of a U-pillow may also be beneficial if you move a lot from side to side in your sleep and do not want to readjust every time you do so. Lastly, if you run hot check the label for material type and opt for cotton over polyester or get a bamboo cover if they have on available.
Pregnancy pillow line up
Chelsea Tried and Tested:
This was the first pregnancy pillow I bought because it was so highly recommended on the internet. It has good all around coverage and wraps around you in one direction, conforming to the front and back. The top acts as a pillow and the larger bottom goes in between your knees.
The biggest downside about this pillow was the fill amount which I found to be very uneven and unsupportive. Additionally it didn’t give me the full support to align my hips, knees and ankles where I experience the most pain. This may fit more for a smaller figure or someone not experiencing extreme pain.
The Hug Body pillow is made for side sleepers and designed to be hugged – hense the cute name- and it supports pressure on the arm and leg joints. The ergonomic twist design contours to the body and aids alignment. It is more expensive but they have lots of discounts through ID.me listed on their website.
I really loved this pillow, it was filled well, comfortable, and stayed cool. With my height, it was a little awkward for where it laid and I wish it was longer to fully address the pain in my pelvis and hips. Thought, will definitely be keeping this pillow to prop up with during late night feedings!
Snuggle-Pedic Full Body Pillow
This is the pillow I have been waiting for. It is a lovely 54″ long, and made of memory foam pieces that somehow, while initially lumpy, create an amazing amount of support. The length allows my my hips, knees, and ankles to align perfectly and keeps me pain free.
Since it is made with memory foam, it is a heavy pillow and will run warm with a cotton sheet. To help combat this I recommend a bamboo slipcover to stay cool!
Other Recommendations:
This baby has a whopping 52,963 5-star ratings on Amazon and the more I dig into it, I can see why. This multipurpose pregnancy pillow has 4 different configurations and a high grade, high density filing.
The PharMeDoc also features a detachable extension that can be used as its own full body pillow or attached to the main pillow for additional back or belly support. The jersey knit cotton cover assures you are cool, all night long.
Meiz U Shaped Pregnancy Body Pillow
This oversized, super soft pillow is made with a cooling jersey cover and is looking to hug you all over just right. The Meiz U-shaped pillow is designed to be your only pillow- taking the place of any supplemental pillows you need to support your head, back, belly and sides.
The pillow comes in a lovely variety of colors, which I love, and in a hypoallergenic velvet version as well (pictured). Although, I would opt for the cotton since I run hot at night. Pleasantly, this pillow is also available in 55″, 60″ or 65″ lengths which makes it more adaptable for tall bodies. Definitely would have booted Chris out of the bed for that 65″ version.
The CeeCee Pillow in Organic Cotton
Another well rated C-shaped pregnancy pillow is the CeeCee pregnancy pillow which comes in a 100% organic cotton cover and filled with GRS certified recycled polyester filling. This pillow can be used in a variety of ways and has a high review rating from both pregnant and non-pregnant alike.
This pillow is 57″ in length which gives taller bodies plenty to use while its curling shape makes it still suitable for any height. This pillow and it’s U-shaped cousin above are both backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Catching Up With Chelsea 