Best Pregnancy Pillows – UK 2022

A specially designed pillow to use during pregnancy is one of the easiest things you can do to get better sleep during your most uncomfortable moments, especially during the third trimester. These pillows are designed particularly to provide relief and support to the entire body while sleeping on your side.

The following article answers some of the most common questions about pregnancy pillows, including the benefits of using pregnancy pillows, and recommendations on what to look for when deciding what to buy.

Please note this article cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice.

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The Best Pregnancy Pillows 

Best Overall – Kolbray®️ U Shape Pregnancy Pillow

Best For Comfort – QUEEN ROSE Pregnancy Pillow

Best For Value – Hometex U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

Best Multifunctional Pillow – Koala Babycare Pregnancy Pillow

Best For Luxury – INSEN Pregnancy Pillow

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Do I need a pregnancy pillow?

If you want to maximise the chance of getting good sleep during a very uncomfortable time, then a pregnancy pillow is a must. When a woman is pregnant, the best sleeping position is the side sleeping position. This can put pressure on the hips and back that is partially alleviated by a pregnancy pillow.

Can I just use multiple pillows instead of a pregnancy pillow?

Yes, you can use multiple pillows instead, but you would need one for your head, one for your knees, and one behind your back to get the same comfort. A pregnancy pillow replaces three pillows and won’t move around in the middle of the night. You must use something that is going to keep you in the optimal sleeping position.

What are the potential benefits of using a pregnancy pillow?

• Increases comfort as you sleep
• Improves blood circulation
• Can relieve heartburn
• Lowers heart rate
• Reduces snoring
• Ability to use it for nursing or feeding

Our Best Selections

Best Overall – Kolbray®️ U Shape Pregnancy Pillow

The Kolbray U shape is a U shaped pillow with a breathable soft-knit jersey cover. It also has a Polyfil fill material, this is a premium polyester. It has over 1,500 ratings on Amazon with 90% rated as 4 or 5 stars. ‘I was so excited to get this delivered and to see if it lived up to the hype and it does!’ and ‘I’ve had it for two nights and I’m already impressed enough that I rushed to review.’

This pregnancy pillow measures 130 x 75 x 20 cm and fits well onto a double bed. The pillow cover is easily removable with an invisible zip, once removed the cover is machine-washable and dryable. A bonus of this pillow is that it comes with a lifetime manufacturer warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Best For Comfort – QUEEN ROSE Pregnancy Pillow

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The QUEEN ROSE pregnancy pillow is filled with Premium 7D PP Hollow cotton fill material which is soft and breathable. It is one of the most popular pregnancy pillows on Amazon with over 12,500 ratings with over 80% of people leaving a rating of 4 or 5 stars. Some highlights from the reviews include ‘Yes it’s great for your pregnant missus. Yes, it relieves pain. Yes, it aids sleep.’ and ‘The difference this pillow made to the quality of my sleep and life is huge.’

It is slightly bigger than the last pillow measuring 140 x 78 x 20cm. A highlight of this pillow is the super-soft Jersey QUEEN ROSE pillowcase made from 100% cotton. It is both breathable and moisture-wicking. Another thing that makes this pillow so popular is that it is available with different cover materials such as velvet and a range of colours. QUEEN ROSE also offers a 30-day money-back or exchange period if you are not completely happy with the pillow.

Best For Value – Hometex U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

The Hometex U-shape pillow is an affordable pregnancy pillow that is filled with anti-allergenic hollowfibre filling. It currently has over 3,000 ratings on Amazon with over 80% leaving a rating of 4 or 5 stars. Highlights from customer reviews include ‘Like sleeping on a cloud’ and ‘Best thing I have bought in ages, I have struggled with hip, back and neck pain with pregnancy and was getting a couple of hours to sleep at best. Now I sleep right through and no pain when I get up, heaven’.

This well-priced pillow measures 275cm in total with each side of the pillow measuring 135cm. The cover material is made from a super soft feel Polycotton polyester and cotton blend. It also comes with a 200 thread count pillowcase that is available in a range of 

Includes a premium 200 thread-count pillowcase to fit the pillow perfectly and are available in a range of 7 colours. A bonus is that the whole pillow is machine washable and able to be tumble dried on a low setting. Great for keeping it clean and hygienic. 

Best Multifunctional Pillow – Koala Babycare Pregnancy Pillow and Nursing Pillow

The Koala Babycare pillow is a Crescent moon shaped pillow with a soft-touch cotton cover and polyester fill material. It has received over 7,500 ratings on Amazon. Over 80% of these are rated as 4 or 5 stars. It is extremely popular with reviewers with some highlights including ‘Soooo comfy – and much easier to read in bed when laying on my side now too.’ and ‘As a breastfeeding pillow it is fantastic, firm enough and the material is soft enough for the baby to rest on.’

When first received it will be in a small vacuum packed package. Once removed from this it quickly expands to its full size of‎ 215 x 21 x 10cm. The cover of this pillow is 100% hypoallergenic cotton. It is also fully machine washable. It is noted though that the outer pillowcase should be washed at 30 degrees while the inner can be washed at up to 60 degrees.

Best For Luxury – INSEN Pregnancy Pillow

The INSEN pregnancy pillow is slightly different to the others as it is a C shaped body pillow. This design is shaped to follow your body contour when side sleeping. While not being massive in the UK it has gained over 9,000 global ratings, over 80% rated 4 or 5 stars. Customers leaving reviews mostly love the product. Highlights of these reviews include the following ‘I’m obsessed with this thing. I got it today and have used it all evening, from sitting on the couch folding laundry to laying in bed.’ and ‘Absolutely love this pillow! I can use it in so many ways and get amazing sleep.’

The fill of this pillow is Hypoallergenic and breathable premium polyester filling. Both outer and lining cases have an independent zipper for you conveniently to unpick and wash. There are several different cover materials available but we have picked out the 100% Velvet cover as our favourite. This is also machine washable.

What to look for when buying a pregnancy pillow?

When looking for a pregnancy pillow, find one that is a good price with great reviews. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure the reviews talk about how filled the pillow is because many of the cheaper pillows might be too flat to help. Pregnancy pillows tend to be pricey, so make sure you do your research so that you don’t waste your money.

What to consider when purchasing a pregnancy pillow?

There are different types of pregnancy pillows. Some will wrap around you on both sides of your body and some only have one side more like a body pillow. Some have detachable sides which makes it nice if you decide you would rather only have one side. Some pregnancy pillows are designed to double as a nursing pillows once the baby arrives.

What are the different types of pregnancy pillows?

• C-shaped pregnancy pillow – Provides complete support to the head, tummy, back, and legs, allowing you to sleep comfortably in a half-foetal position.
• U-shaped pregnancy pillow – Perfect for those that prefer to sleep on their back but cannot because of their growing belly because it supports the whole body all at once.
• Wedge-shaped pregnancy pillow – Commonly known as a maternity cushion, it provides support to either your back or belly.
• Full-length pregnancy pillow – Large size body pillow that you can hug but does not give support from behind.

How do I clean a pregnancy pillow?

Being able to properly clean your pregnancy pillow is a must. Therefore, look for a product that has a removable cover that allows you to easily throw it in the washing machine; believe me, you’re not going to want to make time for hand washing your pillowcase. As for the removable cover, make sure that it has “hidden zippers” so that they are not bothering you in the middle of the night.

Pregnancy Pillow Materials

Pregnancy pillows can be made from a variety of materials, including memory foam, down, or polyester fill. Each one has a different hardness, temperature, and allergy rating. If you are prone to allergies, pregnancy often brings them on, so consider a hypoallergenic material.

• Memory foam can provide great support, but some find that it holds too much heat.
• Down and down alternatives like polyester tend to be cooler and more lightweight, but they might not give you as much support.

Other tips for getting better sleep while pregnant

• Get a massage from your partner, especially focusing on sore legs and feet
• Elevate your feet for 20 minutes before bed
• Sleep on your left side
• Get enough exercise during the day
• Drink plenty of water, especially during the day, but slow down near bedtime to limit the trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night
• Take naps during the day
• Watch what you eat, especially anything that can give you heartburn
• Limit your caffeine intake
• Quietly stretch and breathe deeply to prepare your mind and body for sleep
• Listen to sleep meditation music
• Remove the phone from the bedroom

What is the best sleeping position during pregnancy?

The most important thing to do, especially in the third trimester, is to stay off your flat back while sleeping. Doctors recommend that pregnant women should sleep on their left side to promote healthy blood flow. This position will also promote relaxation in the hips and back, relieving pressure and pain from extra weight. Unfortunately, this sleeping position can misalign your back and cause pain in your hips if you don’t have a pillow between your knees, which is why a pregnancy pillow is a must-have.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API