The Best Pregnancy Pillows in 2021 (Reviewed & Compared)

Looking for the best pregnancy pillow? This might be the first thing you’ll ever do for your baby-to-be.

Yes, that’s right! Maternity pillows provide support for both mother and child and are an indispensable sleep and comfort aid that both of them deserve.

However, not all of these pillows are made the same, so to select the best, our team of experts looked into the following important aspects:

• Quality
• Safety
• Functionality 
• Value
• Buying perks

If you’re expecting and hoping to get the most out of your sleep while you can, check out the great features of the best maternity pillows on the market—as well as their flip sides—in the short reviews we made. And if you want to learn how to pick one out by yourself, scroll down to our Buyer’s Guide at the end. Enjoy!

Affiliate Disclosure

Sandinrayli’s U-shaped pregnancy pillow places so well on this list for many reasons. But let’s take it step by step.

First off, it’s double covered with cotton—from the inner 50-denier cover to the denser outer cover, which is removable via zipper. It’s breathable and has a cooling effect more powerful than that of any artificial fabric.

Next, it’s big and quite versatile. This means it can be adjusted to become the best pregnancy pillow for your back, neck, and belly, as well as your hips thanks to its solid 7″ loft.

Much like Sandinrayli’s Coffee U Shape Body Pregnancy Pillow, it can also be used for lounging, as a postpartum recovery aid, or as breastfeeding support.

That being said, there’s no harm in also benefiting from a few buying perks, like its affordable price, 90-day money-back guarantee, and fast refund processing (two business days).

Pros:

• Double cotton cover
• Good value
• Versatile 

Cons:

• Colors may stand out

Do you prefer a standard pillow shape to U- or C-shaped body pillows? Then this will be your perfect bed companion.

In short, what makes this the best pregnancy pillow in a rectangular shape is its proven safety, excellent loft, and adjustable filling. 

The bamboo-viscose mixed fabric cover (Lulltra) not only feels soft and cool to the touch, but it is also highly breathable and stretchable thanks to the polyester liner. 

Plus, you can machine-wash and tumble-dry it whenever you need to. In fact, if you find a big enough washing machine, you can throw the whole pillow in. 

It’s also the best body pillow for your pregnancy because the foam is hypoallergenic, mite-resistant, and 100% safe from toxic materials. More to the point, it’s both GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified, which means it doesn’t contain heavy metals, PVC, vinyl, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Furthermore, it’s highly adjustable, and you can actually mold and modify the firmness levels in certain parts of the pillow. Just unzip it and add or remove the squishy memory foam.

What’s more, because of its traditional shape and medium-density firmness, any sleeping position on it becomes the best position for this pregnancy pillow.

You can also add Coop’s Adjustable Knee Pillow or the adjustable Four Position Support Pillow to your shopping list to complete your own pregnancy pillow set.

Pros:

• Highly adjustable
• Hypoallergenic
• CertiPUR-US certified
• Fully machine-washable

Cons:

• A bit heavy

This maternity pillow is the most innovative design among Leachco’s 32 body pillows.

Look at it this way, if a regular body pillow offers full-body support, this one gives extra lift to your upper body and back. With this in mind, this pregnancy pillow is best for heartburn, as well as neck and shoulder pain.

Cocooning yourself in it is really easy thanks to the pillow boosts attached to each side by an elasticized, shiftable panel.

In this way, the pillow transforms into five different support positions, which include an armchair and a seat position.

Plus, it’s perfectly symmetrical—allowing you to turn from one side to the other and enjoy the same support. Being so comfy and convenient, it’s among the best pregnancy body pillows on the market today.

On the flip side, it isn’t machine-washable—although it does come with a removable, washable cotton cover.

Besides this one, other ingenious Leachco pregnancy pillows worth checking out are the Snoogle Band It and the Back ‘N Shape.

Pros:

• Five supportive positions
• Two adjustable boosts
• Symmetrical support
• Ideal for heartburn

Cons:

• Not machine-washable

Not enough space in your bed for a full body pillow? The compact but highly supportive Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow is best for this kind of situation. 

Its unique design includes a stretch panel in the middle that accommodates your belly every step of the way and delivers suitable back support at the same time. 

In fact, whether pregnant or not, if your doctor forbids you from sleeping on your back or stomach, this pillow will help you maintain the right position. 

Conversely, while supportive and comfy when you sleep on your side, it’s restrictive if you want to turn onto your back. With this in mind, it’s the best pregnancy pillow for back sleepers because it helps them create the new habit of sleeping on their side—the best sleeping position during pregnancy.

It’s also good for back support if you have to sit for a prolonged period or are traveling because it’s light (1.79 lbs) and entirely machine-washable. (Boppy’s Wedge Pillow is another travel-friendly option.)

Pros:

• Unique compact design 
• Grows with the belly
• Lightweight (1.79 lbs)
• Back and belly support

Cons:

• The cover may stretch if not washed regularly

Given all this pillow has to offer, it’s not surprising that it was cited as the best pregnancy pillow in 2020 by the New York Times in a Wirecutter article, as well as by ConsumerSearch in 2018. 

So what’s so special about this Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Body Pillow?

First of all, you receive it in eco-friendly, vacuum-sealed packaging, and given today’s devastating recycling statistics this is highly important.

Then, after the foam pieces self-inflate, the pillow retains its plush form for years to come! Indeed, the cloud-coated, shredded memory foam pieces in the filling keep their form so well that the manufacturer offers a whopping 20-year warranty.

The supportive filling also makes it the best pregnancy pillow for stomach sleepers—as well as side-sleepers—because of the orthopedic support it provides. Obviously, if you’re pregnant, you should avoid sleeping on your stomach, but for those who aren’t expecting, this pillow is also a great choice.

The memory foam is double certified (CertiPUR-US and GreenGuard Gold) and can be tightened or spread out to better conform to your shape.

What’s more, the luxurious-looking cover is soft and breathable (micro-vented) and doesn’t retain heat.

However, what makes this pregnancy pillow best, above all, is the fact that you can sanitize it in the drier (on a high-temperature cycle), wash it entirely in the washing machine, and even bleach it for stains.

Pros:

• Micro-vented cover
• Machine-washable
• GreenGuard Gold certified

Cons:

• Non-removable cover

With its impressive dimensions and wider central space, this U-shaped pregnancy pillow provides better comfort for big-bodied people.

The design helps sleepers easily find their best sleeping position and enjoy a sounder slumber. To that goal, the pillow never loses its loft—thanks to the Fusion Fiberfill synthetic down filling, which is a non-clumping polyester with a springy rebound. 

Furthermore, it’s entirely washable, or you can remove and wash the cover alone.

Speaking of which, the cover is available in four different fabric or color options, from organic cotton to an equal polymer/cotton blend.

And finally, if you think that the Comfort-U Full Body Pillow is too big for you, Moonlight Slumber has a smaller version, the Comfort-U Deluxe Body Pillow.

Pros:

• Big
• Four different casings
• US-made
• Safety-tested

Cons:

• Difficult to remove pillowcase

Soft and huggable, you’re bound to love this pillow, whether you’re pregnant, nursing, or a difficult sleeper. It’s even great to use when you’re working from home, reading, or watching TV.

The best part? The cover is removable. It might seem a banality, but the best pillows for pregnancy should have a machine-washable cover—and when the pillow has a double-zipper cover like this one, it’s an even bigger advantage.

More good news is that the Luxury Long Maternity Pillow is highly adjustable. You can remove and add the poly-fill (polyester fibers) to achieve your preferred loft as if you were DIY-ing the pillow based on your precise needs.

However, if you prefer a simpler version, Queen Rose also offers its Classic U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow.

Pros:

• Double seam
• Two-sided cover
• Adjustable fill
• Extra long

Cons:

• Difficult to remove cover

This pregnancy pillow also doubles as nursing support, but thanks to its generous length (60″), it can also be used as a reliable sleep barrier around your baby or toddler. As a result, it’s a practical pillow that you’ll probably use well past the duration of your pregnancy.

However, the main function of this medium-firm pillow is providing you with neck and back support during pregnancy. Along with being one of the best pregnancy pillows, it can help anyone suffering from sciatica, heartburn, or back pain.

The semicircular shape of Restorology’s pillow follows the contours of your body, giving your belly, neck, and back the necessary support, depending on which side you’re sleeping on. Yes, it’s very flexible and can be used for sleeping on both sides.

The incredibly soft, removable cover is made of microfiber and can be machine-washed and tumble-dried.

On the flip side, it’s quite heavy (8.03 lbs), and only available in white.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Soft microfiber cover
• Flexible design
• Generously stuffed

Cons:

• Available in only one color

Feeling too hot in the grips of a full body pillow? While a good-quality comforter might help you regulate temperature better, a pregnancy wedge pillow is a great solution for your sweaty nights. 

Hiccapop’s Pillow Wedge can be used for belly, hip, back, or neck support. Apart from its versatile use, this pillow ranks as the best pregnancy wedge pillow because of its unique double-layered design, which allows you to choose between two different firmness levels.

As your baby bump grows bigger, you’ll need firmer support if you want to help your back and ligaments deal with the weight. This pillow has just what you need: a softer and a firmer side to help you throughout the whole duration of your pregnancy.

In addition, the ventilated foam filling prevents the pillow from going flat or retaining heat. So together with the plush Velboa cover, it creates a cool and comfy belly-bed.

Altogether, this is why it’s the best pregnancy pillow wedge, with reviews confirming its quality. In total, the Hiccapop Wedge Pillow counts more than 1,300 excellent user testimonials on the brand’s website alone.

Pros:

• Dual-layered design
• Ventilated foam filling
• Travel-friendly
• 1,300 excellent user reviews

Cons:

• Made in China

Bluestone’s Full Body Maternity Pillow takes the classical U-shape pregnancy pillow design one step further by creating a sort of cradle for mothers-to-be. This ingenious design gives your body support whichever way you choose to toss and turn. 

Plus, the extra knee, leg, and hip support make it the best body pillow for a twin pregnancy in our eyes. Women carrying more than one baby are heavier, and this weight puts extra pressure on their hips and knees, which can be painful.

However, rest assured that this pillow will give you more than hip and leg comfort—it gives you head-to-toe body support in multiple sleeping positions.

For greater comfort, this hollow fiber-filled pillow is slightly on the softer side, with a standard 7″ loft. You’ll also get a washable, natural cotton cover that can be removed via the zipper.

Pros:

• Lofty and soft
• Cradling contour design
• Head-to-toe support
• Large

Cons:

• Heavy (8.25 lbs)

There’s so much information on what makes the best prop for a smooth pregnancy and labor that anyone can get lost and confused. 

With this in mind, we’ve determined the most important features and provided some clear-cut tips on how to evaluate these pillows, all while answering the question: How do I choose a pregnancy pillow?

Shape

Whether shaped like a standard rectangle, a U, a C, a wedge, or another shape, a pregnancy pillow should be comfortable and supportive, first and foremost.

Full-body pillows give neck, back, and belly support for the most part, but the best among them add shoulder and hip support to the equation.

Smaller pregnancy-supportive pillows, on the other hand, can only soothe one or two pressure points at a time.

So the best shape of pillow for you will depend on what kind of support you need, as well as the size of your bed.

What Is It Made Of? 

Cover

Toxic-free, breathable, natural, and organic pregnancy pillows are best for the health of the mother and baby, but unfortunately, not all products are hazard-free.

Therefore, taking a closer look at the brand’s safety certificates (if offered) is always a good policy.

Plus, if you want to avoid spending time on complicated maintenance, a machine-washable and dryer-compatible cover would be a better choice.

Filling

The most important feature of a pregnancy pillow’s filling is the anatomical support it provides for mothers-to-be. Luckily, there are many natural and synthetic materials that do the trick.

Keep in mind, when searching for the best body pillow for your pregnancy, reviews from customers can come in handy in assessing the level of support to expect.

Other important characteristics of the pillow’s filling include its breathability (porosity) and its overall heat retention. A woman’s boosted metabolism during pregnancy makes her feel hot, so a good pregnancy pillow in combination with other quality bedding—like cooling mattress toppers, for example—should keep the bed’s temperature neutral.

What Does It Do?

If you’re using it only for its main function, a pregnancy pillow will serve you for about 4–5 months before delivery and a few months in postpartum recovery.

This is why the best body pillows for pregnancy are those that double as breastfeeding supports, reading pillows, or even armchairs and seats. Plus, most pregnancy pillows can be used by the non-pregnant for back, neck, and hip pain, or simply for comfort.

Is It Worth It?

Getting ready to welcome a baby is both stressful and costly. Reducing costs when purchasing the best pregnancy sleep pillow for your needs can be a challenge, but it’s in no way impossible.

You can always check for different buying perks like free shipping, coupons, certain discounts, and sales before making your decision.

What Do Customers Say?

Even the smallest of design or quality faults won’t stand a chance before a maternity pillow customer. And fortunately, there are plenty of available pregnancy pillow reviews to give you an overview of what to expect.

However, you also need to be able to recognize the false ones. They’re usually imprecise, vague, and overly boasting or critical—and sometimes their star rating doesn’t correspond with their comments. 

Wrapping It Up

Support and comfort when you need it most—this is what a good quality pregnancy pillow should provide. But choosing “the one” isn’t an easy process. 

We hope our pillow reviews gave you a useful glimpse into the world of top-quality pregnancy pillows, and we’ll be happy if you manage to easily find your match among them. 

But we’re also confident that now that you know the quality standards and features a pregnancy pillow can have, you’ll find the right support with the best pregnancy pillow for your needs.