Get A Good Night’s Sleep With The Best Pregnancy Pillows (2020 Guide)
When you’re pregnant, it's rare that you feel actually comfortable.
The one place that I felt like I could totally unwind and relax was in my bed. But, once you hit a certain point and your “bump” begins to turn into a mountain, getting a good night’s sleep can be pretty difficult.
Once I started using a pregnancy pillow, though, I was able to get much more comfortable and actually sleep through the night again.
So if you're expecting and you’re starting to lose sleep from your discomfort, it’s time to invest in one of these bad boys!
Why You Totally Need a Pregnancy Pillow
Let me break down the benefits of having one of these bad boys…
Back relief. My back felt as though it was going to break once I entered my third trimester. A pillow will take on the weight of the baby when laying your side, and taking pressure off of your back. It is also very helpful for women who suffer from sciatic pain.
Relaxation. Many pregnancy pillows take the pressure off of your head and neck based on their specific design. When your neck feels less tense and your head aligns with your spine, you can guarantee a great night’s sleep.
It gives. I couldn’t snuggle with my husband after a certain point in my pregnancy for several reasons—mainly because he said it felt like a bowling ball was pressing down on him. And, his form wasn’t forgiving, meaning that I didn’t get any relief from laying on him. When I snuggled with a body pillow, I felt like all my extra weight was being absorbed into the pillow and it accommodated my bulging belly by allowing me to squish it and manipulate it as I pleased.
Important Features to Consider
Now that you know the benefits of using a pregnancy pillow, here are a few characteristics of a great one.
Decide which of these things will help give you the best possible sleep. You need to be healthy and well rested so that when your baby does arrive, you have all the energy you need.
Cut your cost down by choosing one with only the features you really want. Why pay for all the bells and whistles when you may not necessarily need them?
Keep in mind that some features you may not need at the moment but might further down the line when your tiny bump becomes a bulging belly.
Here’s what to look for in a pregnancy pillow that will fit your needs.
Easy to Clean
If you're pregnant, you probably sweat—a lot! So you'll want to make sure your pillow is able to be cleaned with ease, so look for one that has a removable cover.
Premium Stuffing
You want a high quality pillow that can hold up not just throughout regular use while you’re pregnant, but well after you give birth (so you can still remain comfortable during postpartum healing).
A pillow that has high quality, premium stuffing is what you need. Memory foam filling and micro bead filling keeps its shape and is highly supportive (and doesn’t make noise when you move).
Breathable
You're going to be hot due to hormones when you sleep, so our pregnancy pillow should be breathable so it doesn’t trap heat.
Appropriate Shape
Pregnancy pillows come in a variety of shapes, so pick the best one that will help ease your pain.
You can choose from wedge pillows (rounded or triangular), which reduce pain and stress in your back and tummy.
Or, you can choose from a full length pillow (straight or flexible, C shape/U shape/J shape), which is great for tummy support, sciatic pain, and offering spinal support.
Hypoallergenic
Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy, so a hypoallergenic pillow will ensure you don’t have any sleep interruptions from allergies or irritations.
Size
If you don’t have a big bed, you probably should consider a smaller pillow (not a full length one).
Full length pillows take up a lot of room and may be a burden to your partner!
Firmness
While it may be tempting to splurge for a soft pillow, it’s not wise.
Firm pillows will grow on you once you start using it and they're much more supportive and stable!
Other Pregnancy Sleeping Tips
Even when you find the perfect pregnancy pillow, your sleep will be interrupted from time to time.
There are a few things you can do to ensure a better night’s sleep, though.
Exercise
Daily exercise is important not only to you, but your growing fetus as well.
And, after partaking in some form of exercise, you will be more ready to catch some zzz’s!
Why?
Exercise releases adrenaline, which can keep you up at night.
Avoid Certain Foods
Caffeine (even in small doses) will keep you up, so try to stay away!
You should also avoid anything too spicy or acidic because you may be kept up with heartburn.
The same goes for too much deep fried foods as well, so pass on the fries!
Avoid Sleeping on Your Back
In order to relieve some pressure and pain you are feeling (which could be keeping you up), consider laying on your side.
I used to lie on one side for a few weeks, and then switch it up and lay on the other.
This helps promote healthy blood flow to your kidneys, uterus, and your fetus.
Best Pregnancy Pillows
My favorite option right now has got to be the uber-popular Snoogle (click here to check the price on Amazon).
The Snoogle was designed by a registered nurse and a mom, so you know you are getting a perfected product since the designer can understand the pain a woman feels while carrying a baby.
The Snoogle follows the natural contour and shape of your body from head to toe.
It’s a full size pillow, and it does take up a lot of room. However, its horseshoe shaped head allows you to stay in position and find the perfect position you need to get a great night’s sleep.
It offers full tummy support and it keeps you cool.
I suffered from heartburn toward the end of my 9 months, and the Snoogle allowed me to prop myself up, but in a comfortable way.
It has a remove able cover and is made out of polyester.
Another well-regarded choice is the PharMeDoc (click here to check the price on Amazon), which forms a super-comfortable J shape.
It helps eliminate stress, any kind of neck pain or strain, and promotes a better night sleep.
The PharMeDoc also has been known to relieve joint pain, which is a common complaint from mommies to be.
It has a cotton cover which can be removed for easy cleaning, and its stuffing is in between soft and firm, so for many women, it’s just right.
The PharMeDoc's shape is a bit big, so be sure you will be able to fit it in your bed comfortably.
It’s free from phthalates, latex, lead, and BPA, so you can “rest” assured that you will not be exposing your body to anything harmful.
Leacho makes another option that's also great, the "Back N' Belly" (click here to check the price on Amazon).
This one is designed to follow the natural curved shape of your body, no matter how you choose to sleep.
It provides support for your back and your tummy simultaneously, and offers something called "double decker" head support, so you can ensure proper spine alignment and prop yourself up more for easier breathing and to relieve heartburn.
This Leacho offering has a case that is remove able so you can wash it as you need.
Because this is U-shaped, it has two contoured legs so you can sleep on your back or your side.
Your hips stay elevated, which is important if you suffer from sciatica.
The pillow itself is made of polyester, which is firm and supportive.
Rounding out our list is the well-known Boppy (click here to check the price on Amazon).
The Boppy has a luxurious pima cotton slip cover and offers head to toe comfort.
It’s not bulky at all and is on the softer side, but still offers support.
It is contoured, so it promotes perfect spine alignment and relieves tension and stress on pertinent parts like the neck, shoulders, belly, back, and hips.
The Boppy is slightly smaller than the other standard, full sized options available, so you won’t need a king size bed to accommodate it.
Users rave about how it’s so easy to manipulate, and even as they tossed and turned, they were always comfortable and in a proper position.
Other Options to Consider
- web linens
- boppy wedge
The Naomi Home (click here to check the price on Amazon) is super cozy and excellently made, helping moms-to-be get in an ergonomic support position that allows you body to relax and cuddle up on something firm yet comfortable.
The Naomi Home allows you to sleep in a variety of ways, and it assists with the nursing process later on because it can be flexibly maneuvered. Women love this product especially because the edges are soft and comfortable, unlike most other options that have hard edging, which digs into the body.
The design may look odd, but once you position yourself according to your belly, hips, and head, you’ll never want to leave the bed!
An added bonus of the Naomi is that it comes with a removable, washable case that is extremely soft and comfortable because it is made of a high thread count. The pillow also never loses its firmness factor, so no matter how you sleep on it, how you scrunch it up and position it, or how big your belly gets, you can be sure it will retain its form.
Wrapping Up
Expectant mothers need all the possible sleep they can get!
Pregnancy pillows can be your saving grace when it comes to getting those extra zzz’s. Early on in your pregnancy, you may feel a bit of buyer’s remorse.
Once you get to your second trimester, you will be happy you spent a few extra bucks on something designed just for a you. Your back, legs, hips, and neck will thank you. You will wake up more refreshed and ready to rock and roll.
There are tons of choices out there, and sorting through the numerous shapes, sizes, materials, and designs can be headache-inducing!
But don't fret: a better night’s sleep is in your future.
