Are you shopping for a pregnancy pillow? With so many options available on the market today, it can be hard to make a decision on what to buy. That’s where we come in! In today’s article we will be walking you through everything you need to know before you buy a pregnancy pillow. We will also cover the top 12 pillows that are currently on the market. For more information on each pregnancy pillow, click on the individual review tab in the table below!
Here Are The Best Baby High Chairs of 2018!
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Product Name |
Rating |
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QUEEN ROSE 55“ Pregnancy Pillow |
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Bluestone Pregnancy Pillow, Full Body Maternity Pillow with Contoured U-Shape |
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PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover |
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hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow Wedge for Maternity |
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Ang Qi 55 inch Total Body Pregnancy Pillow with Easy on-off Jersey Cover – U Shaped Maternity Body Pillow |
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Leachco Back ‘N Belly Contoured Body Pillow |
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Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow |
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Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow |
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ComfySure Pregnancy Full Body Pillow-U Shaped Maternity and Nursing Cushion |
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Meiz Full Pregnancy Pillow with Hypoallergenic Velvet Cover |
When To Start Using a Pregnancy Pillow
There is no “right” time to start using a pregnancy pillow. That said, most pregnant mothers will find that they need one around 20 weeks along in their pregnancy. It is around 20 weeks that you may begin to feel back pain. It is also around 20 weeks that your baby bump will increasingly grow. In fact, you will start to gain one pound per week. Because your womb will keep expanding as it makes room for your baby, you may need some support. That is where a pregnancy wedge pillow can come in handy (I’ll go over the details of a pregnancy wedge below). At about 28 weeks in pregnancy, your hips will expand as they get ready for birth. Once your hips expand, you will find it more comfortable to have a pillow in between your legs.
Some women have started using pregnancy pillows within the first month. Others have waited until right around 20 weeks. If you do not have a large baby bump, you may not need a pregnancy pillow to support your stomach. And if you already have extra pillows to put between your legs, you may not even need a pregnancy pillow. Mainly, once you start feeling like you need support or you start experiencing back pain, it is time to get a pregnancy pillow.
Different Types of Pregnancy Pillows
There are many kinds of pregnancy pillows. Although all the types are very similar, they each have their differences. I’m going to discuss those differences, and how each one may help you feel more comfortable during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Wedge
The pregnancy wedge pillow is a pillow that goes under your stomach only. This will help support your stomach, and allow you to sleep more comfortably. This pregnancy pillow is more for pregnant mothers who have a large baby bump that needs to be supported. Unfortunately, the wedge pregnancy pillow does not give full body support. Therefore, your hips will be unsupported, and you may experience back pain.
Total Body Pillow
A total body pillow gives full body support, unlike the pregnancy wedge pillow. This pillow may be described as a pregnancy pillow with a hole, as it has a hole for your body to fit in. There are different types of total body pillows. You have the choices of a U pillow, C pillow, or J pillow.
U Pregnancy Pillow
The U pregnancy pillow gets its name because it is in the shape of a U. This pregnancy pillow will give support for your back, stomach, neck, head, hips, legs, and knees. This total body pillow is a great option for those who are needing total body support.
C Pregnancy Pillow ( Snoogle Pregnancy Pillow)
The C pillow is also called the snoogle pregnancy pillow. Similar to the U pregnancy pillow, the C pregnancy pillow offers head, neck, stomach, back, leg, knee, and hip support.
J Pregnancy Pillow
The J pregnancy pillow gives support for your stomach, back, and hips. It does not have support for your head, which means you will need to use your own pillow. Although this may be viewed as a con, you may appreciate having options for what pillow you want to use. One of the most common complaints of pregnancy pillows is that pregnant mothers had sore necks due to not having the correct neck support. With a J pregnancy pillow, you can use your own comfortable pillow.
Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow
Although all pregnancy pillows could be referred to as a side sleeper, there is a specific pregnancy pillow that is called that. This pregnancy pillow is designed to give support to your stomach and back. Similar to the pregnancy wedge, the side sleeper pregnancy pillow does not offer hip support nor neck support. Therefore, you will need to use your own pillows, and possibly some pillows to put between your legs. However, you could use this pillow for your legs instead of your stomach/back. But whichever way you choose to use it, you will still need support, either for your legs or your back.
Pregnancy Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
Pregnancy pillows for stomach sleepers have a hole for your stomach to sit in. Although sleeping on your stomach is not the healthiest way to sleep during pregnancy, this pillow is a good option for those who have always slept on their stomach.
Knee Pillow
A knee pillow is placed between the knees and can offer hip support. This is a great option for those who don’t need back support or already have back support, such as with the side sleeper pillow.
Best Features of Pregnancy Pillows
Supports Your Body
One of the nicest features of a pregnancy pillow is that it supports your body. Some, like the pregnancy wedge and side sleeper, are designed only to support your stomach and back. The total body pillow, on the other hand, gives full body support. This means you will receive back support, neck support, head support, stomach support, leg support, knee support, and hip support all at once.
Memory Foam
A lot of pregnancy pillows are made from memory foam. Memory foam is considered one of the best fillings for pregnancy pillows.
Accessories To Buy With a Pregnancy Pillow
Filling
There are many options for filling to choose from. Some of those options are memory foam, micro-beads, or hollow fiber filling.
Cover
A removable cover is a nice accessory to buy with a pregnancy pillow. Some pillows will come with a cover, but for others, you may have to buy it as an accessory. The nice thing about a cover is that you can take it off to wash it.
Things to Consider When Buying a Pregnancy Pillow
- What shape of a pillow do you want?
- How much are you willing to spend?
- What kind of filling would you like it to have?
- Do you have a color preference?
Do You Need Different Pillows For Different Trimesters?
You do not need different pillows for different trimesters. However, some women do switch to other shaped pillows as their body changes through pregnancy. For example, you may want more back and tummy support the 3rd trimester more than the first trimester. A lot will depend on your personal preferences and how much weight that you gain.
Make sure to buy a high chair that will fit your child now and for a decent amount of time into the future.
General Sleeping Positions
There are three main sleeping positions: lying on your back, stomach, or side. I’ve already discussed why it is better to sleep on your side. Now I’ll go over these two other types, and why these positions may not work well during pregnancy.
Lying On Your Back
Those who lie on their back will need to have a pillow underneath their legs to keep their back completely straight. This type of sleeping position is not good for those who snore, as it can cause them to snore louder. Lastly, pregnant women should not sleep in this position because when you lie with your stomach up, the weight of your uterus can compress a major blood vessel, called the vena cava, disrupting blood flow to your baby and leaving you nauseated, dizzy, and short of breath.
Lying On Your Stomach
This position is considered the worst sleeping position. It flattens the natural curve in your spine and therefore may cause back problems. It also causes your neck to become sore because you are sleeping with your head tilted on the pillow all night. It is not bad to sleep on your stomach while pregnant, but most likely it will be uncomfortable with your growing baby bump. If you feel like you must sleep on your stomach, try lying on a pregnancy pillow for stomach sleepers.
Best Positions For Sleeping During Pregnancy
The best way to sleep during pregnancy is to sleep on your side (SOS). It is recommended to sleep on your left side so that more blood and nutrients will reach the placenta and your baby. Always keep your knees bent when sleeping on your side.
While you are at it, you might want to purchase some additional items while shopping for a high chair. Several washable bibs will keep your child’s clothes relatively clean while eating. You may also want to purchase age appropriate utensils, bowls, and plates. Some people like to purchase a pad that goes under the chair to catch all of those spills and things that your child may throw over the edge of the tray.
Natural Tips for Sleeping While Pregnant
- Reduce the amount of stress in your life so that you fall asleep and don’t stay awake and worry.
- Exercise daily (with your doctor’s permission). This can work wonders for your sleep patterns.
- Stay well hydrated during the day, but try to cut back on your fluid intake a couple of hours before bedtime, so that you don’t have to get up and pee during the night as often.
- Do not drink caffeine or alcohol while you are pregnant. Not only will these drinks cause you not to sleep soundly, but they are not healthy to drink while you are pregnant. Try avoiding caffeine and alcohol while pregnant.
How Much Sleep Should a Pregnant Woman Get?
An average woman needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. However, when you are pregnant, that number will rise. Everyone is different, but many pregnant women need closer to 9 hours or more of sleep a day. The extra sleep time can come in the form of a nap or just a longer nighttime sleep. The first trimester can be one of the most tiring trimesters of all. Some women have a hard time getting through the first trimester without a nap.
Tips for Relieving Back Pain During Pregnancy
50 to 70 percent of pregnant mothers experience back pain. Although it is very common to have back pain during pregnancy, you will want to try your best to avoid it. To do that, you will need to avoid lifting things with your back, sitting improperly, and lying down improperly. Here are some other tips:
- Exercise
- Try applying heat or cold to your back
- Try massages
- Stand straight and tall
- Sit in a chair that supports your back
- Squat down when you need to lift something off the ground. If you can’t lift it, ask for help.
Recommended Best-Sellers
[amazon bestseller=”pregnancy pillow”]
Conclusion
So there you have it! Everything you could possibly need to know about pregnancy pillows, their pros, cons, and uses. I hope that this article can help you and your family to pick out the perfect pregnancy pillow for you!