The best pregnancy pillows for support and comfort, tested

It's a cruel twist that, just when you're trying to bank some rest before the arrival of a baby, your body and brain conspire to make falling – and staying – asleep more difficult. Hormonal changes, pelvic or back pain, stress and extra bathroom trips are among the delights that can make sleep elusive for pregnant women. As your baby bump grows, general discomfort is a given.
The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.
Pregnancy pillows aim to help relieve some of this discomfort by supporting key parts of the body, such as your growing baby bump, back and hips. Many are designed to encourage an optimal pregnancy sleeping position: the NHS recommends sleeping on your side after 28 weeks. That's due to research suggesting a link between falling asleep on your back and an increased risk of stillbirth – although note that the overall risk is still very low, and there's no need to worry if you wake up on your back. Just roll over and go back to sleep.
Best pregnancy pillow overall:Bbhugme pregnancy pillow£159 at Bbhugme
Best budget pregnancy pillow:Dreamgenii pregnancy, support and feeding pillow£48.99 at Ebebek
Best pregnancy pillow for leg support:Snüz SnuzCurve pregnancy support pillow£84.95 at Snüz
Best for temperature control:Simba extra support body pillow£109 at Simba Sleep
My usual expertise is in technology, and I've tested all kinds of tech gadgets and AI tools in my decade or so as a tech journalist. But what really made me the perfect tester for prenatal pillows is that I was entering the third trimester of my own pregnancy as testing began – a stage I would describe as 'how is everything suddenly so uncomfortable?' Throw in a dash of persistent pregnancy insomnia, and I developed a deep personal interest in unearthing the best maternity pillows for a decent night's sleep.
There are many pregnancy pillows on the market, most of which fall into a few main categories: C-shaped, U-shaped, wedge or I-shaped (which I more often found myself calling 'sausage'). I selected pillows that were popular with buyers, sparked discussion on pregnancy forums, offered unique features or simply dominated internet ads. I tested 11 in total.
To test, I shamelessly cheated on my existing pillows by sleeping with each contender for at least two nights. I kept notes on firmness, support, comfort and how much bed space each pillow took up. I also noted their aesthetics, ranging from chic to orthopaedic, and their versatility. Some convert into nursing pillows after birth, which extends their usefulness and adds value.
The best judge of a pregnancy pillow, of course, is a good night's sleep. I tracked mine using a smartwatch, focusing on total sleep time and time spent in deep sleep (though I took other factors into account too).
£159 at Bbhugme£159 at John Lewis
The Bbhugme is a flexible, microbead-filled cylinder that can be moved into an I or J shape the full length of the body, or a smaller C (useful for sitting) or U (for between the legs). It comes with a cotton jersey cover, secured at the end with plastic 'pebbles,' giving the overall impression of an oversized sausage – emphasised by the dusty pink colour of my test pillow. 'You look like you're riding a hotdog,' my husband said as I straddled it sloth-on-a-branch style.
Why we love itThe revelation of the Bbhugme is the microbead filling, which gives flexibility in both its shape and firmness. It was easy to mould the pillow around me so that it supported my bump, went between my legs and kept me nestled in a comfortable side sleeping position.
Despite its size, it's lightweight and pliable, making it easy to move when I shifted sides in the night. It even offered some comfort during a 1am bout of Braxton Hicks ('false labour') contractions.
Its adjustability makes it a great all-rounder. I can see it being useful at all stages of pregnancy, as support needs shift, and after birth as a nursing bolster. The covers come in a range of muted tones, so the pillow can blend in with most bedroom decor.
It's a shame that … at £159, the Bbhugme's comfort also comes at a hefty price – this is not a budget option.
Suitable for: pregnancy and nursingShape: I-shapedSize: 140-145 x 20cmFilling material: microbeadsCover material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey
£48.99 at Ebebek£57.99 at Mamas & Papas
The Dreamgenii pillow is a sort-of C-shape (G-shape, perhaps?) that curves under your bump and through your legs, as with most pillows, but also provides an attached back support, similar to a wedge. This means it offers support on both sides of your body without taking up the space of a full U-shaped pillow.
Why we love itThe Dreamgenii's cotton jersey cover felt particularly soft against the skin and, although large, the pillow didn't feel too unwieldy in the bed. Its very particular shape is specifically designed for side sleeping, and it offered ample support for this, with the back wedge helping to prevent unintended rolling and keeping me in position.
Despite its odd shape, the pillow does promise some versatility: after birth, Dreamgenii suggests using it for nursing too, by wrapping the leg support behind your back and using the back support to help cradle your baby. It's also reasonably priced.
It's a shame that … you can't adjust the gap between the front and back pillows, which would be a nice way to support changing bump size. Because the pillow is specifically shaped for sleeping on one side, it's also cumbersome to shift position in the night.
Suitable for: pregnancy
Shape: C-shaped (ish)Size: 102 x 77cmFilling material: polyester hollow fibreCover material: 100% jersey cotton
£84.95 at Snüz£84.95 at Amazon
The innovation of this maternity pillow is its dual fillings: the upper part is a sausage-style pillow filled with polystyrene beads (à la the Bbhugme), while the lower section has a firmer foam filling. For what Snüz claims is the perfect pregnancy sleeping position, snuggle the upper part in your arms and under your bump, then place the foam part between your legs.
Why we love itThe pillow's shape felt very supportive, and the mix of bead and foam fillings provided the best of both worlds. The beaded portion was comfy to cuddle and moulded nicely around my bump.
Meanwhile, the lower portion did a particularly good job of keeping my legs separated and supporting me in a side-sleeping position. A bumper for the knees (Snüz calls a 'KneeBlade') helped hold it in place through the night. Keeping your legs separated can help relieve pressure from the pelvis, hips and back – so if you're experiencing pelvic girdle pain or similar discomfort, this could be a strong choice.
It's a shame that … the SnuzCurve is designed to keep you in one position, so it may not be the best if you're a wriggler. It's only available with either a grey or white cover – the latter seems destined to show every mark.
Suitable for: pregnancyShape: C-shaped
Size: 135 x 30 x 25cmFilling material: polystyrene beads; polyurethane foamCover material: 92% cotton, 8% elastane
£109 at Simba Sleep
The unique selling point of this C-shaped pillow from mattress brand Simba is its cooling effect. The cotton cover contains the brand's Stratos 'cool-touch' technology, which aims to draw heat away from the body. The shape is a gentle curve designed to support bump, hips and knees when sleeping on your side.
Why we love itThe Simba pillow absolutely delivered on its temperature-regulating promise – it stayed cool to the touch, even after a full night's sleep during a surprise spring heatwave. Given that pregnant women can be prone to hot flushes, night sweats and overall higher body temperatures, anything that can help combat overheating is a boon for night-time comfort.
While fairly bulky and lacking any adjustable features, the pillow was comfortable, and the fairly firm, down-like filling offered good support, especially for the hips.
It's a shame that … the cover fabric, while cooling, isn't the softest to snuggle up against, and the pillow lacks flexibility in shape and firmness.
Suitable for: pregnancy and nursingShape: C-shaped
Size: 120 x 35cmFilling material: combed recycled PET bottle fibresCover material: cotton with Stratos
Sign up to The Filter
Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.
after newsletter promotion
£99 at John Lewis
Best for: nursing
Possibly the most stylish pillow in our test, the BellaMoon comes in various organic cotton cover designs featuring trendy muted prints. It's a C-shaped pillow: you position the long section along either your front or back, then place one curved end under your head and the other between your legs. Its secret power is two hidden zips that allow the curved ends to detach and then zip together, forming a smaller, half-doughnut shape to support breastfeeding or use as support for your baby.
It didn't make the final cut because … while the BellaMoon pillow is described as medium firmness, I found it too firm, particularly under my head. This also made it unwieldy to reposition during the night and created a bulky barrier in the bed.
Suitable for: pregnancy and nursing; shape: C-shaped; size: 140 x 50 x 20cm; filling material: 100% polyester; cover material: 100% organic cotton
£39.99 at Babybub
Best for: small spaces
The Babybub is a wedge-shaped pillow that's really more like two wedges: one to support your back and one to support your bump. It also comes with a small cylindrical pillow that can be added to the front or back as needed.
Its winged design makes the Babybub much smaller than a traditional pregnancy pillow – you might even call it compact. It took a bit of fiddling with the adjustable Velcro strap to get the wedges the perfect distance apart, but this means you can reposition them as your bump grows.
It didn't make the final cut because … the bamboo and polyester blend cover is slightly scratchy to the touch, and the off-white colour gets grubby easily and looks a little 'orthopaedic aid'. I was also quite nonplussed by the additional mini-pillow, which I found inevitably ended up somewhere tangled in the duvet.
Suitable for: pregnancy; shape: wedge; size: 36 x 46 x 10cm; filling material: polyester and microfibre balls; cover material: bamboo and polyester blend
£135 at Scandiborn
Best for: colour options
Currently dominating my Instagram feed, the Cushy Puff is another microbead-filled sausage in the style of the Bbhugme. As such, it effectively adapts to support your body where you need it. The cotton-jersey pillowcase comes in bold colours and statement stripes and simply ties off at either end – letting you adjust it for firmness by tightening or loosening the knots.
It didn't make the final cut because … the tying mechanism was a bit of a faff. My pillow also gave off a slight chemical odour when first unboxed – off-putting to someone with a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy.
Suitable for: pregnancy and nursing; shape: I-shaped; size: 120-150 x 25cm; filling material: EPS (expanded polystyrene) microbeads; cover material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex jersey
£33.40 at Amazon
Best for: travel
A novel wearable concept, the Babymoov Dream Belt fastens around your waist with an adjustable Velcro strap so it moves with you. The stretchy jersey front panel goes over your bump, while memory foam pads sit on the hips to provide bump support when sleeping on your side. I found the belt comfortable to wear, and it stayed in place well, offering support through plenty of tossing and turning.
The most compact pillow tested, this would be a good option for travel – and it comes at a reasonable price.
It didn't make the final cut because … the Dream Belt offers support only around your bump, so its usefulness is limited. You could pair with another pillow (or regular cushions) to add leg and back supports.
Suitable for: pregnancy; shape: belt;size: available in two body sizes, XS/S and M/XL; filling material: polyurethane memory foam; cover material: 95% cotton, 5% elastane
As you can tell from the variety above, pregnancy pillows come in different shapes. Which you choose is down to personal preference and the kind of support you're looking for. Common shapes include C, U, V and wedge pillows. C-shaped pillows support your front (or back), head and legs; U-shaped pillows envelop the body and so offer support on all sides; V-shaped pillows can be used in various ways, including one leg of the V supporting your bump and the other going through your legs (like a C-shaped pillow without the head support).
When choosing a shape, also consider how much bed space it requires: U-shaped pillows are typically the largest. Wedge-shaped pillows are usually smaller, wedging under bump or back, but this also limits how much of your body they support. Some pillows, such as the I-shaped pillows with microbead fillings, offer much more flexibility for you to bend them into different shapes.
This will depend on the shape of the pillow you choose, your support needs and your sleeping position. The NHS recommends sleeping on your side after 28 weeks of pregnancy, and many pillows are designed with this in mind.
Longer pillows that go along the front of your body (I, C or U shapes) are usually intended to be cuddled: place one arm and one leg under the pillow, and one on top. At the end of the day, the point of the pillow is comfort, so anything that brings relief and helps you sleep is a plus. Of course, if you're having any issues with pain or pregnancy symptoms, or are unsure if a pillow is a good idea for you, you should seek medical advice.
When choosing a pregnancy pillow, you'll want to consider the type of filling (eg microbeads, hollow fibre, memory foam) and the fabric of the cover. Most pillows have removable, washable covers. You may want to choose a pillow that can double as a nursing aid to get extra value out of the product after your baby arrives; some pillows offer specific mechanisms to reshape them for this purpose.
Victoria Turk is a technology journalist whose work has brought her into contact with the latest gadgets and gizmos for the past decade. She is expecting her first baby this summer

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Times

15 minutes ago

• Times

Alcohol labels should warn of cancer risk, urge health groups

Bottles of wine and beer should have warning labels stating that alcohol causes cancer, public health experts have said. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), a charity based in London, has launched a campaign urging the government to require companies to put 'bold and unambiguous' health warnings and calorie information on alcoholic drinks. One in 25 cases of cancer in the UK — about 17,000 each year — are caused by alcohol, research shows. Alcohol can cause seven types of cancer, including breast and bowel. A group of health organisations have signed a letter to Sir Keir Starmer demanding a new 'national alcohol strategy', which would include mandatory product labelling. It is also calling for minimum alcohol pricing of 65p per unit in England — the level already in force in Scotland — as well as marketing and advertising restrictions on alcoholic drinks. The organisation said that this would reduce cancer risks as well as cutting other deaths from alcohol, after a 42 per cent increase in alcohol-specific deaths between 2019 and 2023. Alcohol has been shown to cause seven types of cancer OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES Kate Oldridge-Turner, head of policy and public affairs at WCRF, said: 'The evidence is clear: health labelling on alcoholic drinks is urgently needed in the UK to help save lives. 'Health warning labels must be bold, unambiguous and completely separate from any marketing on the product. They should carry strong, clear messages about the health risks, which include the risk of cancer — far beyond vague advice like 'consume in moderation'. 'The goal must be to reduce alcohol use, given it increases the risk of seven types of cancer. Even if people continue to drink on social occasions, cutting down their regular intake would be a major step forward.' A poll of UK adults found that only one in 13 people knew that alcohol increases the risk of cancer and more people thought red wine had health benefits than knew of its cancer risk. Dr Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at WCRF, said: 'England prides itself on food safety, so why are our alcohol labelling and marketing restrictions far behind so many other countries? Why hasn't there been a national alcohol strategy in England since 2012? And why do bottles of beer show less information than bottles of orange juice? It is not mandatory in the UK to put health warnings on labels of alcoholic drinks MATTHEW HORWOOD/GETTY IMAGES 'We urgently need proper public awareness so that people understand the risks that come with drinking alcohol.' Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: 'One of the reasons public awareness is so low is that we are being kept in the dark about the true cost of drinking. People have the right to know the full picture so that they can make informed choices about what they consume. 'To reduce the impact of alcohol on our health, we need change at a national level. We urgently need a national alcohol strategy to open up honest conversations about the risks of alcohol, while putting measures in place to tackle and prevent its harms.'

The Guardian

26 minutes ago

• The Guardian

Vapes threaten to undo gains in tackling dangers of tobacco, health leaders warn

Aggressively marketed vapes threaten to undo progress made on smoking control, according to the World Health Organization. Officials, speaking at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, said efforts were stalling when it came to helping tobacco users to quit, campaigning in the media on the dangers, and imposing higher taxes on tobacco products. Young people were particularly vulnerable, it added. Countries should consider extending the graphic health warnings already required on cigarette packets to vapes or e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, the WHO said. In many countries, tobacco products had become more affordable in the past decade, the report said, despite a WHO recommendation that cigarettes should be taxed at 75%. While cigarettes became less affordable in 46 countries, they became more affordable in 42 others, including 23 low or middle-income countries. In 133 countries, vapes and similar devices are now regulated in some way – up from only eight in 2007. However, 62 countries apply no regulations at all. The extent of regulation varies, with almost 90% of wealthier countries either regulating or banning sales, compared with 66% of middle-income and only 27% of poor countries. In the UK, disposable vapes were banned this month in a bid to prevent young people using them and on environmental grounds. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said: 'Twenty years since the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we have many successes to celebrate, but the tobacco industry continues to evolve and so must we.' The report highlights nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products, as well as vapes, as examples of new products. Dr Rüdiger Krech, the WHO's director of health promotion, said they were 'aggressively marketed in ways that undermine hard-won public health gains'. He said national regulators could not be expected to deal with an onslaught of 'thousands' of new products, which represented an attempt by tobacco companies to focus attention away from their 'major business' of traditional tobacco. He added, however, that it was 'hugely important to regulate these new products, because they are attracting children and young people to actually use nicotine, and that's with the addiction that it brings', which he said would lead to tobacco use. Data is not available for all countries, but surveys suggest about 6% of children aged 13 to 15 use e-cigarettes. The WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic focuses on six tobacco control measures and rates countries on how far they have implemented them. These include taxation, introducing smoke-free air legislation, and offering smokers help to quit. Other measures include monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and warning people about the dangers via pack labels and information campaigns. Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one of the six measures at 'best-practice' level, the report found, with four countries – Brazil, Mauritius, the Netherlands and Turkey – implementing the full package. However, 40 countries have no measure at best-practice level, and more than 30 countries still allow cigarettes to be sold with no mandatory health warning. It means billions of people remain unprotected from the ill effects of tobacco, which claims kills more than 7 million people a year, the report warned. Alison Cox, director of policy and advocacy at the NCD [non-communicable disease] Alliance, said: 'It's clear that there is a long way to go if we are to reduce the many unnecessary tobacco related illnesses and premature deaths still occurring globally. 'Raising taxes is one of the most effective measures that offers governments a triple win of reducing tobacco consumption, saving lives and healthcare costs, while raising much-needed revenue.'

Daily Mail​

26 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE What I'm hearing about Kate's royal future after her sudden absence from Ascot - and why it was a startling reminder of her gruelling cancer battle: REBECCA ENGLISH

She's been 'to hell and back' over the last year and a half, in the words of one who knows her well. But while her physical recovery is still a 'work in progress', the Princess of Wales 's illness has left her with a firm 'mental clarity'.