The 5 Best Pregnancy Pillows in 2020

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Best C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

PharMeDoc C-Shaped Full Body Pregnancy Pillow  provides the proper support for head, neck, back, hips & knees, providing you a pillowy comfort that is perfect for laying on your back, sitting up or laying on your side. With this adjustable body pillow, you can toss the extra pillows and get the best heavenly sleep. We made sure to include this in our  Review of the 5 Top Rated Maternity Pillows.

Best Value for Money

Just like it’s sister pillow, the PharMeDoc C-Shaped Full Body Pregnancy, is also at the top of the list as one of the best pregnancy pillows, providing great support for you and your baby bump. Just snuggle in – this pillow will snuggle you back, providing support to every part of your  body.The 100% knit jersey pillow cover will move with you.

And don’t forget you can et C-pillow covers for approximately $20. This pillow is just different enough to be included in the Review of the 5 Review the 5 Top Rated Maternity Pillows.

Best U-Shaped Pregnancy PIllow

This pillow is one of the highest rated U-shaped pillows, receiving as 4-5 star rating by 82% of those who have purchased it – we just had to include it in our Review of the 5 Review the 5 Top Rated Maternity Pillows. This pillow offers lots of support due to its oversizing, providing just the right amount of support in all the right places. It is quite large, taking up ½ of a Queen-sized bed – but sleep is precious!

Best Affordable Pregnancy Pillow

This pillow is not only one of the top rated maternity pillows (95% of buyers rate it at 4.5-5 stars) it may be the ONLY pillow you need throughout your entire pregnancy and beyond.

Forget about all those other pillows – this one replaces them all, providing the proper support for your head, shoulders, back and tummy all at the same time.

Best Versatile Pillow for Pregnant Women

And here goes another C-shaped option in my review of best pillows for pregnant women. The Leachco Snoogle is awesome for its versatility. You can use it as a pillow not only during your pregnancy but also after that! 

By simply wrapping up the Leachco around your waist, you’ll get a lightweight and supportive cushion for your breastfeeding sessions. Just place your baby on top of this cushion and support their head. See? Feeding has just gotten so much easier!

Factors We Look At

When it comes to getting equipped with the right pregnancy gear, everything matters. After all, your and your child’s health and comfort are at stake. Here are the main factors we consider when looking for pregnancy pillows:

• Shape and size. Different types of pillows are designed for different sleeping positions. We choose the ones that can give maximum comfort to women in the family way, regardless of how far in their pregnancy they are, be it four months or eight months.
• Firmness. During pregnancy, women need more support for their body during the sleep. That’s why a firmer pillow than one is used to is advised. We recommend items that can offer a balanced feel, the ones that won’t make you feel you’re surrounded by stones or sinking in quicksand.
• Noise. Some pillows make crinkling and rustling sounds when you move because of the nature of the materials inside. It can get really annoying, especially if you’re a light sleeper. We test items for noise and offer only the ones that won’t wake you up in the middle of the night.
• Versatility. Some pillows, apart from being useful during pregnancy, can also serve other purposes when this period is over. For example, they can be used as a snuggle or a nursing pillow. So, versatility is always a plus.
• Rating. It’s important to consider other women’s experience using this or that pillow. That’s what we always do before actually listing an item here. Although the term “comfort” differs from person to person, we’re willing to offer you only top-rated pregnancy pillows that are universally comfortable.

Types of Pregnancy Pillows

More than 50% of women report having lower back pain during pregnancy. Getting a pillow that supports all parts of your body properly and helps you relax during the night is a great idea.

But here’s the deal:

The shape is the primary factor that defines whether your pregnancy pillow will feel comfortable or not.

So, here’s an overview of three main types of pillows based on their shape.

Full-Length Pillows

This type of pillows is very comfortable to cuddle at night. Being rather long, they can have either a straight shape or be moldable and bendable. Whichever you choose is up to you, but with either of them, you can do without a head pillow, which is a plus.

There’s also a minus, though:

You might not get enough support for your spine because full-length pillows are placed in front of you.

Thus, if you’re a stomach sleeper or tend to toss and turn during sleep, chances are you will have proper support when falling asleep but you will lose it once you turn to your side or try to lie on your stomach.

Overall, women who are used to hugging something at night will benefit from using this type of pillow the most.

“Some pregnancy pillows will be quite useful not only during sleep. You can fold your pillow or wrap it around yourself when reading in a sitting position for better support. Or, you can use it when breastfeeding after the baby is born.”

Total Body Pillows

These can be shaped like the letter “C” or “U”. They are usually quite big so that you could comfortably nestle inside, and they give proper support to both your front and back. Total body pillows, apart from doing their main function, can also supplement for both a head pillow and a knee pillow.

Here’s the deal:

U-shaped pillows are more comfortable due to their symmetric design. They allow you to switch from lying on one side to lying on another quite easily.

Note, though, that pillows of this type are rather bulky and more expensive than other options.

Wedge Pillows

Wedge pillows are used as support pillows either under your tummy or behind your back. They are quite small compared to other pregnancy pillow types, and they require you to use a regular head pillow and a knee pillow (if you need one).

When put under your stomach while you’re sleeping on your side, such a pillow will relieve some pressure and support your tummy. When put behind your back, it will prevent you from changing your sleeping position so that you could comfortably rest on your side.

The best things about wedge pillows are their affordability and functionality. They are cheaper than other options and they can be used in so many different ways, even after you give birth.

That’s not it:

Your partner will totally love the size, as he won’t have to sleep on a different bed anymore just because your pillows take up the whole sleeping surface.

But the tricky thing is it might be rather hard to find a suitable wedge pillow personally for you. That’s because they differ a lot in slope and firmness.

“There’s one more type of pillows that should be mentioned, and it’s inflatable pillows. They may be of different shapes but the common things for all of them are affordability and easy storage, as well as low durability and noise.”

Types of Materials for Pregnancy Pillows

There’s a range of different materials manufacturers use to help women during their pregnancy:

• Polyester. Pillows made from this material are soft and quiet but might sleep hot.
• Memory foam. These can be made from a solid block of foam or from shredded pieces. The latter option offers better airflow. Whatever the filling, memory foam pillows are quite supportive and retain their shape very well.
• Beads. Although they might lack some responsiveness, microbeads are quiet, lightweight, and quite supportive.
• Styrofoam balls. This type of filling is cheaper, moldable, and lightweight. However, such pillows can get quite noisy when you toss in your sleep.
• Natural materials. Most popular options include wool, kapok, wheat, and cotton. Each of them has some pros and cons, but they are all eco-friendly.

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