Expecting? Once you enter the second trimester and are showing a little more, sleeping or resting comfortably can become a bit challenging. The solution? Investing in a pregnancy pillow! We can’t promise it’ll take away all those aches and pains, but we can assure you it’ll make things a bit easier as your baby grows and your body changes. Better yet, you can get good use out of them once you start nursing your baby. Keep reading to find out more about the best pregnancy pillows in 2024.
What is a Pregnancy Pillow?
A pregnancy pillow is a long, body-shaped pillow designed to provide comfort and cushioning along the length of your body. Its purpose is to support a pregnant woman’s changing and growing body and make sleeping as comfortable as possible. A pregnancy body pillow comes in different shapes, sizes, and materials, so it’s all about finding the one that will work best for you.
What are the Different Types of Maternity Pillows?
As we’ve mentioned, pregnancy pillows come in different shapes and sizes. Here’s a breakdown of the main styles to choose from to help you find the best pregnancy pillow for your needs:
Full-Length Maternity Pillow
As the name suggests, this is a full-body pillow designed to offer total support against your side. It’s a good one for supporting your stomach and can also help with your back alignment if used under your knees. It works great for side-sleeping mums as it provides support to one side of the body.
U-Shaped Pillow
This style of pillow wraps around the entire body to offer all-around support. From cushioning your growing belly to supporting your back and providing comfort between your knees, it covers you from every angle.
Wedge Pillow
A wedge pillow is smaller and takes up less room in bed. This one is great if you’re travelling a lot while pregnant, as it’s so lightweight and compact. Despite its small size, it still offers excellent support for your bump, back, and under your knees.
C-Shaped Pillow
A C-shaped pillow is similar to the larger U-shaped pillow in that it curves around your body. You can use it to support your growing bump or back. Keep in mind, however, that it takes up a lot of space in the bed, so be mindful of this if purchasing.
Are Pregnancy Pillows Worth It?
In our experience, they absolutely are! If you value comfort and a good night’s sleep, then a pregnancy pillow is worth it. The best pregnancy pillow can relieve pressure on your spine, back, and hips while improving the alignment of your hips, shoulders, and spine.
Pregnancy pillows are particularly helpful in preventing you from sleeping on your stomach, which is a big no-no during pregnancy. Depending on the specific pillow you choose, you’ll likely find it helpful during breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
The key is to position your pregnancy pillow where you need the most support, which can vary for each mum and day to day as your baby grows. You might prefer a long pillow to support your entire abdomen, or a wedge-shaped pillow under your knees for more comfort—it really depends on your needs.
When Do I Need a Pregnancy Pillow?
When it comes to pregnancy pillows, we recommend starting to use one around the second trimester. However, if you normally sleep on your stomach, it’s a good idea to start using a pillow right away to get used to sleeping in a different position. There are no hard and fast rules, though, so listen to your body, and if things start feeling uncomfortable, then it’s a safe bet that it’s time to use a maternity pillow.
Our List of the 3 Best-Rated Pregnancy Pillows in 2024
At The Memo, we don’t believe in overwhelming you with long lists of 20+ “best” products. We know how confusing things can already be and how valuable your time is. That’s why we’ve done the research and testing for you, so we can offer a short list of the best-rated pregnancy pillows in Australia for 2024.