The Best Pregnancy Pillows, as Tested by a Pregnant Wellness Editor

Of all the pregnancy pillows I tested, I found myself reaching for the Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool Pregnancy Pillow the most. This lightweight cylinder-shaped pillow is filled with microbeads to allow for proper airflow and keep you cool. It’s also fully adjustable and can be molded into a U, C, L or I-shape. Because it’s moldable, it also gets less in the way if you share a bed compared to a traditional full-body pregnancy pillow.

I will admit, this isn’t the firmest pillow on the list, so if you’re not into a softer option, this may not be the right fit for you. If you’re heavily pregnant and want ultimate support all around, you’ll also find this pillow lacking. In that case, you may be better off with a full body pillow. I found this pillow was the best fit for me and my needs throughout the majority of my pregnancy, but it may be more suitable during the second trimester as your belly grows and needs some support when you sleep on your side.

This pillow isn’t too big and I could easily maneuver it as I switched sleeping positions throughout the night. You can also wrap your legs around it if you need extra hip support, which is common during pregnancy. I also appreciated how the pillow didn’t overheat and remained comfortably cool throughout the night. I even caught my husband napping with it one time, so if you’re generally a side sleeper you can enjoy this pillow. Another plus is that the cover is machine washable, so you don’t have to worry about ruining the shape of the pillow.

Pros:

• Easily adjustable
• Cooling
• Takes up little space 

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer full body support
• May be too soft for some people 

Rating

• Firmness: Soft (1 to 2)
• Support: Medium soft (3 to 4)

If you’re looking for a side sleeper pillow that offers some back and belly support that you can adjust throughout your pregnancy, you’ll love the Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow. The side sleeper pillow is best for those looking for a pillow that specifically supports their belly and back when they sleep on their side. It consists of a round flat pillow wedge to support the belly and a triangle wedge for the lower back. There’s a velcro belt across the middle of the two pillows, which you can adjust according to the space your body needs. This was one of my favorite features on this pillow since you can use it throughout all the trimesters as your belly grows. It’s also travel-friendly thanks to its compact size. 

This is a smaller pillow compared to some of the others, so if you’re looking for something that offers more head or hip support, you’re better off with a full body pillow. I’d recommend the Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow for most people during the second trimester as your belly grows, but some might not find it supportive enough during the third trimester when most people experience extra discomfort that comes with the final weeks of pregnancy. 

One aspect I found a little uncomfortable was having to adjust the pillow throughout the night every time I shifted sleeping positions. If I started off sleeping on my right side and changed to the left, I’d have to make sure I grabbed both pillows right side up otherwise the velcro strap would flip one side upside down. But it takes up little space in your bed, so if you share the space with a partner, it won’t be intrusive to them. It also won’t cause you to overheat the way some of the full body pillows do. 

Pros:

• Adjustable belt
• Compact
• Offers belly and back support

Cons: 

Rating

• Firmness: Medium (5 to 6)
• Support: Medium soft (3 to 4)

Speaking of full body pillows, they can feel a bit over the top if you’ve never slept with one before. The Momcozy Maternity Body Pillow was one of the better ones I tested because it has a cooling pillowcase cover and it’s breathable so you don’t overheat. This was important to me since being heavily pregnant in the middle of summer means I’m constantly trying to stay cool. It is massive and has some weight to it — initially I thought was too big considering I’m petite. However, it really helped during the third trimester when I needed more support and cushioning around me. I already sleep with the air conditioner on full blast, but between the AC and this cooling body pillow, I didn’t feel overheated throughout the night. The cover is also machine washable so you can remove it easily during laundry day.

This pillow is plush enough that you don’t need a regular pillow for your head — unless you like your head more elevated while you sleep. The other good thing about this pillow is that the memory foam holds its shape no matter your sleeping position. I slept on both of my sides and laid on my back, and it never felt like it was sinking or losing plushness. I should point out that I have a queen-sized bed and it took up enough space on my side of the bed that it didn’t interfere with my husband’s sleep. But if you have a full-sized bed, it may leave little to no room if you share it with a partner.

Pros:

• Cooling
• Plush all around
• Good for full body support

Cons: 

• May not fit all bed sizes
• Heavy

Rating

• Firmness: Medium soft (7 to 8)
• Support: Medium (5 to 6)

If you find most body pillows to be too heavily cushioned, then you’ll want to check out the Newton Baby Pregnancy Pillow. Not only is it less cushioned than a traditional full-body pregnancy pillow, but it’s made up of organic cotton and has memory foam to provide you with support throughout your body. The arm on this U-shaped pillow is detachable and adjustable so you can customize it based on your needs. 

This pillow wasn’t the most cooling, but I did find it comfortable during the second trimester despite it not being as cushioned as Momcozy maternity body pillow. Even though it was obtuse like most full-body pregnancy pillows, the lack of fluff seemed to make it fit better in my bed without taking up too much space. One aspect I didn’t love was the cotton cover, which is removable and machine washable. The design didn’t seem well-protected and I could see it getting easily ruined if something sharp snagged on it. I also wasn’t a fan of the head part of the pillow since it fell flat and didn’t fluff up, so if you want extra head support, you’ll need to use your own additional pillow. Additionally, it’s all white so I worried about staining it as well.  If none of these things are a dealbreaker for you then you’ll like the Newton Baby Pregnancy Pillow as a full-sized body pillow for a good night’s sleep

Pros:

• Made of cotton 
• Weight is light for a full-body pillow
• Not heavily cushioned like other body pillows

Cons:

• Head part could use more cushioning
• Can be flat for people who prefer a pillow with more fluff
• Cover may be prone to getting stained or snagging onto something sharp

Rating

• Firmness: Soft (1 to 2)
• Support: Soft (1 to 2)

The Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge was my go-to pillow during the second trimester when my belly was starting to grow and I needed a little support as I slept. It takes up minimal space so if you share a bed, your partner won’t feel cramped. It’s small enough that it can be used for traveling and comes with its own travel bag, which is always a plus. It has a soft CertiPur-US memory foam on one side, and is breathable and remains cool thanks to its airflow technology. The pillow cover is also machine washable. And if you ever ruin your pillow, Hiccapop has a generous lifetime guarantee policy where it will send you a replacement free of charge. You just have to make sure it’s a pillow you’ve bought through the company’s direct site or Amazon page.  

I personally preferred using this wedge pillow while relaxing on the couch because I could lay on my side as I watched TV and use it as extra support on the belly area. It’s also versatile enough that you can use it for back or knee support if you need it while sitting or lying down. However, if you’re looking for more of a traditional pregnancy pillow that offers support all at once for your hips, back and belly, I’d recommend one of the full body pregnancy pillows on this list.

Pros:

• Portable and compact
• Can be used for belly or back support
• Travel-friendly
• Can be used in bed or on the couch

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer all around support the way a full body pillow does

Rating

• Firmness: Medium soft (3 to 4)
• Support: Medium soft (3 to 4)