If you came here wondering “are pregnancy pillows worth it?,” my answer is a resounding YES! My pregnancy pillow is the only reason I’m still getting good sleep just a few weeks away from my due date! Pregnancy pillows have so many benefits for back pain, hip pain, heartburn, and even circulation! Sure you could live without it but you could live life without chocolate too and who wants to do that?!
This post is all about breaking down the question, “are pregnancy pillows worth it,” so let’s get into the benefits of them, the different types of pregnancy pillows, and how/where to shop for a pregnancy pillow too.
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Are Pregnancy Pillows Worth It?
On first glance, pregnancy pillows might just seem like another one of the many expensive products that promises relief from all the pregnancy woes. But I’m here to tell you that they are worth every penny! I truly don’t think I could have made it through either pregnancy without it!
What benefits do pregnancy pillows have?
1. Relieves back pain
Pregnancy pillows not only provide back support but they also support your belly. Both these factors can drastically decrease lower back pain and make sleeping far more comfortable.
2. Prevents you from accidentally ended up on your back
Once you hit the 28 week mark doctors generally don’t recommend sleeping on your back. This is because sleeping on your back can compress a major blood vessel and decreases circulation. This can reduce blood flow to both you and your baby. A pregnancy pillow can help prevent you from rolling onto your back unknowingly while sleeping.
3. Relieves heartburn and acid reflux
Some pregnancy pillows are specifically designed to elevate the upper body. This helps relieve the insanely common but obnoxious heartburn problem that many pregnant women have. If you struggle with acid reflux or heartburn, definitely take this into account when choosing a pregnancy pillow.
4. Reduces the pressure on your hips and pelvis
Keeping your legs parallel with a pillow supporting between them helps keep your hips parallel and better supports your pelvis. As your pregnancy progresses and the amount of pressure on your hips increases, this extra support will feel amazing.
5. Keeps your neck, back, and hips aligned
Supporting the natural curve of your spine will improve posture and help you wake up without tweaking anything in your sleep.
6. Helps you sleep better overall
Since pregnancy pillows are especially made for well… pregnant people…they are specifically designed to support all the aches and pains pregnancy brings with it. Being comfortable means that you can fall asleep quicker, stay asleep, and wake up without all the aches and pains.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Pregnancy Pillow
- A removable cover- I’ve used my pregnancy pillow through every one of my pregnancy pillows and I definitely couldn’t have done that without a removable cover to wash!
- The size of your bed- The U-shaped and C-shaped pregnancy pillows are pretty large and are really only usable if you have a queen bed or bigger. So, if you have a smaller bed and don’t want to kick your spouse to the very edge of the bed, you may want to look into a wedge style pregnancy pillow.
- If you sleep hot or cold- The material on the outside of the pillow as well as the filler can affect how hot or cold it may feel to use, especially if it’s a “U” shaped pillow. While a poly fil will tend to be a little cooler, a memory foam pillow may restrict air flow and get a little too warm. That is, unless you go for a cooling memory foam.
- How much you travel- If you plan to travel a lot while you are pregnant, you may want to consider a small wedge pillow vs. a larger “U” shaped pillow. However, if you want the additional support of a bigger pillow you may want to pick one that has a travel bag. I don’t travel often but when I do my Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow comes with me everywhere and I’m so glad it has a carrying bag with it. It’s also great for storing it in between pregnancies too.
- If you want it to break down into pieces- One of my favorite things about my pregnancy pillow is that I can unzip a zipper to turn my “U” shaped pregnancy pillow into a “C” shaped pillow if needed. I can also use that extra pillow piece as an additional pillow to prop myself up when I have heartburn too. Being able to manipulate my pillow into different configurations lets me change it as my belly grows through the trimesters.
Different Types of Pregnancy Pillows
U-shaped pillow
This is my personal favorite! This type of pillow wraps around you to support both your back and your belly. A U-shaped pillow does a great job keeping you neck, back, and hips aligned. Just make sure you consider the size of your bed cause these ones can be a little cumbersome.
C-shaped pillow
This type of pregnancy pillow still does a great job supporting your whole body but definitely makes it a little more tricky to change what side you want to sleep on during the night.
J-shaped pillow
This pillow provides support for your head, neck, belly, and legs. However, it doesn’t offer much support to your back like C and U-shaped pillows do.
Wedge pillow
This pillow supports your growing belly bump to help take pressure off your hips and back. It does prevent you from rolling onto your belly but does not prevent rolling onto your back. These pillows are far more travel friendly and are generally a little more inexpensive as well.
Where can you buy a pregnancy pillow?
- Amazon- You can find tons of different brands at a range of price points on Amazon which makes it a great place to start if you aren’t yet sure what you are looking for. Plus, having it show up on your doorstep is never a bad thing.
- Walmart- While Walmart does have pregnancy pillows in stock, few Walmarts carry them in store. You can check online to see if your local Walmart does carry them.
- Kohls– Since a good pregnancy pillow can be on the pricier side, purchasing one at Kohls where there are always coupons and Kohl’s cash is a great way to save a bit of money.
My Review of the Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow
I have personally used the Pharmedoc pregnancy pillow throughout my last two pregnancies and I truly owe all the good nights of sleep to that pillow. So you can get a better idea of the quality and practicality, here’s how I would rate it in the following areas.
- Size 8/10– Given the fact that I wanted a U-shaped pregnancy pillow, it was bound to be on the bigger side. However, I really don’t find this pillow to be overwhelmingly big. My husband still has more than half of our queen size bed when I’m using this and it doesn’t seem to invade on his space at all.
- Adaptability 10/10– The ability to unzip and detach the small portion of pillow between your legs is a huge perk. I don’t usually like to use that portion of the pillow at first but it is so helpful as the pressure increases on my pelvis and my hips get more sore.
- Portability 7/10– As I said above, the pillow portion between the legs does unzip and detach. Having the option to leave this portion of the pillow behind when traveling makes just a little less to bring with you. This pillow also comes with a travel bag to put it in. The pillow/bag are on the bigger side but it doesn’t bother us too much traveling in our mini van.
- Comfort/Support 8/10– While this pillow has definitely been an absolutely life saver for my back and hips, I do wish it had a little more filling and body to it. Somedays I just want a little more behind my head and back.
- Temperature 10/10– I really have not struggled at all with overheating while using this pillow. This pillow does have the added option for a cooling fabric cover as well.
- Price 10/10– I found the price to be insanely reasonable, if not on the cheap side. Paying under $50 to sleep well despite the watermelon in my stomach is a good deal if you ask me.
This post was all about answering the question every pregnant woman has, “are pregnancy pillows worth it?” To buy or not to buy…. Well if you ask me I say that pregnancy pillows are worth every penny! Sleeping with a pregnancy pillow has reduced my back, hip, and neck pain dramatically and I am actually able to stay asleep at night too. I’m going to deliver any day now and still only waking up once a night most nights! I hope this article helps you find the perfect pregnancy pillow for you and you can finally get a good night’s sleep too.
-Beautifully Busy Mom
