7 Best Pregnancy Pillows, Tested by Pregnant Moms

Our product tester gave the Momcozy Huggable Maternity Body Pillow top scores across all categories—from support and effectiveness to overall quality—making it our overall Best of The Bump winner for the third year in a row. (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.) Seeing it perform so well in testing, we were unsurprised to find that 40 percent of survey respondents stated that Momcozy was their favorite pregnancy pillow brand. Better yet, 84 percent of women who used the Momcozy said it had improved their overall sleep quality.

Personally, I can’t tell you how many Momcozy products I have in my house—they just seem to get pregnancy and parenthood. And Emily C., who tested the pillow at 25 weeks pregnant, is a big fan too. “It makes it so much easier to sleep and I haven’t been waking up in the middle of the night anymore to toss and turn,” she gushes.

This full-body, U-shaped pregnancy pillow keeps mamas-to-be supported from all angles, thanks to its high-tension memory foam filling designed not to sag or lose its shape. “I liked that it’s thicker than other pillows I’ve used,” Emily says. “The quality of the filling feels like it will last a long time.” The U-shape, though large, is designed to support your growing belly, aching back, sore hips and legs—and 59 percent of survey respondents said they'd sacrifice space for a pillow that offers the right level of support. Emily certainly found that the pillow provided superior comfort for her full body. “I love that it easily wraps around so it helps my back, knees and stomach,” she shares. Finding this pregnancy pillow so supportive, she gave it 10 out of 10 in the category, adding, “My lower back pain is much better!“

One great feature of this pregnancy pillow is that you can choose between two different fabric covers: a touchably-soft velvet material or a smooth, cooling material designed to help hot sleepers. Plus, Emily says the cover was very easy to remove and put back on. “It didn’t have any fading or shrinking after being washed,” she adds, giving it top marks for ease of cleaning.

The balance of comfort and support, the soft fabric and the high-quality memory foam all work together to improve blood circulation and relieve body discomfort—resulting in a deeper, restorative slumber for Emily. “It improved my sleep a lot,” she enthuses. “I really liked that it has the piece to go along my back,” citing how it helped ease most of her aches while sleeping: “It helps me take the weight of my stomach off and relax.”

While supportive, the Momcozy pillow is also flexible enough to be used to help you find a comfortable position while lounging, sitting upright or nursing after baby comes, as our survey respondent Charlotte* found. “It's incredibly comfortable and pliable; I can put it in several different positions,” she tells us.

Shape: U-shaped | Dimensions: 57" (L) x 27.6" (W) x 9” | Fabric: Polyester/nylon | Fill: Memory foam | Care instructions: Cover is machine-washable

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If you want the 360-degree support you get from a large U-shaped pillow without the huge price tag, stop scrolling. The Queen Rose Classic U-Shaped Pillow delivers quality support at a price that rings up for under $50, making it the most affordable high-performing full-body maternity pillow we tested. “This pillow is worth the price,” says Troy M., who tested it at 34 weeks pregnant and was pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was. “I love that it's a ‘full service’ pillow since I need my neck, knees and back supported,” adds Troy.

This pillow may have a low price tag, but it offers a high level of comfort and support. Troy gave it a 10 out of 10 score for support, saying, “I immediately felt supported and at ease, like a big hug after a stressful day! I just sink right in and it's like taking a deep, relaxing breath.” She noted that the inner filling was soft and flexible, while still being supportive. “It supported all my problem areas at once (especially the knees and the back), making it so much easier to fall into a deep sleep so much faster!”

Frequent bathroom visits still interrupted her sleep, but thanks to the Queen Rose our tester found it easier to get back to sleep after each potty break. “I also noticed that the walk to the bathroom was a lot less uncomfortable, so I could tell the support was working,” says Troy. “Overall, this pillow immensely impacted my sleep in the best way,” continues Troy, awarding this pillow an equally high score for effectiveness.

And by no means does the lower price tag equate to lower quality. Not only is the fabric “incredibly soft,” Troy says, but the pillow seems well-made and will hold up well across multiple pregnancies. “The pillow itself seems pretty durable, so I think it'll stand the test of time.”

It needs to be said that this pregnancy pillow is pretty massive, and Troy says it probably wouldn’t travel well. However, if getting the proper support in your pregnancy is more important than the size (and over half of pregnant women in our survey agree), you’ll be happy with the Queen Rose pillow. “It's not very versatile but definitely serves its purpose and gets the job done (which is all that matters, honestly),” says Troy.

Shape: U-shaped | Dimensions: 55" (L) x 31" (W) x 7" (H) | Fabric: Cotton and nylon or velvet | Fill: Polyester | Care instructions: Cover is machine-washable

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Studies show that 70 percent of women suffer from back pain during pregnancy—and a bad night's sleep can aggravate this discomfort. In my recent pregnancy with my son, I suffered from such bad back pain that I was put on bed rest for the last two weeks of my pregnancy. So when a pregnancy pillow claims to provide back pain relief, I pay attention.

Pregnant mom and product tester Noora L., in her third trimester, is also no stranger to back pain. “I have had such a difficult time sleeping during this time of my pregnancy—it’s been so hard to get the support I need from my pillows under my stomach, and I’ve had severe back pain, sciatica, restlessness and constant tossing and turning,” explains Noora. Fortunately, the S.O.S Side Sleeper, this year’s Best of The Bump winner as the best option for back pain, has helped ease her pain: “I am so happy that I have been able to use this pillow this time as it’s making a tremendous difference in my life,” Noora says.

That delicious relief comes from the unique design of this pregnancy pillow, which was developed by an ob-gyn. It consists of two supportive wedge pillows connected by a Velcro tab—a vertical wedge that supports your back and a lower-rise segment that sits under your bump. Unlike other pregnancy pillows that are squishy like a cushion, this pick is made from a firm foam that offers excellent support and won’t lose its shape over time. “It’s soft and comfortable,” says Noora. “It gives me the back support I need.” However, she notes that the Velcro strap is a little uncomfortable to lay on at night. Still, this pillow has significantly improved Noora’s sleep quality. “I haven’t had an issue with my sleep since I started using it,” she shares. “I still frequently wake up using the restroom, but the comfort of the pillow works great.”

Besides creating a safe and supportive sleep environment, this pregnancy pillow takes up little space in the bed, and as there are fewer contact points with your body it’s great for hot sleepers too. “I haven’t woken up hot from using the pillow,” confirms Noora. It also comes with a travel case, so it’s easy to store and transport.

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Shape: Double wedge-shaped | Dimensions: N/A | Fabric: 62% polyester, 33% rayon/5% spandex | Fill: Polyurethane | Care instructions: Cases are machine-washable

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Hip pain during pregnancy can range from the uncomfortable to the severe—which is what our product tester Bailey, who had symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), experienced. But the bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow helped to ease her pelvic discomfort while sleeping, thanks to its pressure-relieving microbead fill and five-point body support. “This pillow has helped tremendously with my SPD pain,” she says. “My hips feel so much better with the support of this pillow.” Small wonder it earned a Best of The Bump award for best pregnancy pillow for hip pain.

Different sleep positions can also help ease hip pain during pregnancy. “If your hips are hurting, try sleeping with the top leg on top of the pillow (from the inner thigh down to the foot),” explains Twogood. While some pillows can be difficult to maneuver in bed, you can easily mold the bbhugme into a C, U, L or I shape for maximum comfort. “It's easy to change positions during the night,” says Bailey, who tested the pillow at 28 weeks pregnant. Just flop on your side, hug your pillow and throw your top leg over.

Aside from being great for targeting tight hips, the standout feature of this pillow is that you can adjust the firmness levels. Simply move the “pebble” fastener on either side of the pillow to increase or decrease the firmness of your pillow. This clever feature allows you to create the level of support that’s perfect for you and your changing body. “It has been very easy to adjust the firmness and softness of the pillow and that has proven to be very beneficial,” Bailey confirms. While she describes the pillow as “soft and comfortable,” she wasn’t the biggest fan of the hard silicone pebble fasteners that keep the cover in place as they caused her discomfort if she came into contact with them at night.

The look of the pillow wowed Bailey, earning it a 10 out of 10 score for style and design. “The style of this pillow is one of my favorite features. I love modern, high-quality home decor, and this pillow fits right into my home's decor without drawing attention,” she says. “ It will most likely be something that stays even when I'm not pregnant! I cannot wait for my postpartum journey to start so I can use it in other ways like back support while sitting and breastfeeding or pumping.”

Shape: C, U, L or I | Dimensions: 57" (L) x 7.5" (H) | Fabric: 95% cotton/5% spandex jersey | Fill: Microbeads | Care instructions: Cover is machine-washable, hang to dry

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Once your baby bump pops, sleeping on your stomach is obviously out. And sleeping on your back isn’t recommended in your second or third trimester either, due to the weight of your uterus pressing on key blood vessels. Of course, you can train yourself to lie on your side—but if you’re a diehard back or front sleeper (like me), that’s easier said than done. I dreaded the point in my pregnancies where I needed to transition from my natural front sleeping position to the side. The good news is that a pregnancy pillow can help! According to ACOG, a full-length body pillow can help facilitate side-sleeping. And the Boppy Full Body Side Sleeper Pillow—winner of our Best of The Bump award as best option for natural back and belly sleepers—is specifically designed for this purpose.

Our product tester Ivy praises this pregnancy pillow—which features a full-body pillow connected to a smaller side pillow—for its ability to keep her comfortably on her side throughout the night. “I tend to roll over onto my back while sleeping without a pregnancy pillow, which isn't good for me or the baby. This kept me comfortable and locked into a position,” she says. “Overall, [it] adds a lot of comfort to sleeping, which can be hard to come by in your third trimester especially!”

A big bonus here is that you get side-sleeping support without the bulkiness of an extra-large U-shaped or C-shaped pregnancy pillow taking up the entire bed. While it's not exactly small, Ivy notes that the pillow fits into bed easily without creeping onto her husband’s side. “I really like how comfortable this pillow is, that it's easy to move around and get into position with and that it has just one long side and one shorter side,” she explains.

Ivy also loved this pregnancy pillow’s quality, rating it a 10 out of 10 and calling out its soft fabric, its comfortable plush filling and how easy it was to clean. Many maternity pillows have an insert that needs to be spot-cleaned by hand, but the Boppy’s cover and pillow inserts are both machine-washable—and retain their shape and softness after cleaning and it “washed beautifully,” according to Ivy.

Shape: I, J, L and wedge-shaped | Dimensions: 54" (L) x 30" (W) x 7" (H)| Fabric (body pillow cover): Rayon | Fabric (small pillow cover): 95% cotton/5% spandex | Fill: Polyester fiber | Care instructions: Machine-washable

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Worried about using a pregnancy pillow that takes up half the bed? Try Bub’s Maternity Pillow out for size—our Best of The Bump winner for best unobtrusive pregnancy pillow. The compact double-wedge design provides targeted support for your bump and back, and was the second most popular brand quoted in our recent survey of expectant mothers. “This pregnancy pillow is sleek, simple to use and far less bulky than other pregnancy pillows,” says our product tester Calihan S., who used the pillow at 33 weeks pregnant. “Due to its compact size, it doesn't take up much space in the bed, which allows my husband and pup to sleep comfortably as well,” continues Calihan, who gave it a top score for ease of use.

The winged design supports both your growing belly and aching back, alleviating any discomfort and providing you with a more restful sleep. For Calihan, who suffered from back pain during her pregnancy, this pillow was a godsend. “This pregnancy pillow provided great support for my hips and back,” she says. The central strap can be lengthened, so that each side comfortably wedges under your bump and back. “I enjoyed being able to adjust the length of the pillow so that it was hugging my bump,” says Calihan. “I found that this also helped to ease any lower back pain I was having while sleeping.”

An added benefit of this pillow’s small size is that it’s highly portable. “The Bub's Maternity Pillow can easily be packed in a tote bag to take along when staying away from home, which is a huge plus for comfortable sleep on the go,” Calihan says. And thanks to its high-quality polyester blend fill, it will travel well, without clumping or losing its shape. “The pillow feels very sturdy and I expect it to wear well over time,” Calihan says, “even with use every night during my pregnancy.”

Shape: Double wedge-shaped | Dimensions: 15.7" (L) x 13.2" (W) x 2.7" (H) | Fabric: Bamboo/polyester blend | Fill: Polyester and microfiber balls | Care instructions: Cover is machine-washable

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Lugging a giant pregnancy pillow around isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of travel-friendly. Bigger, full-body pillows likely won’t fit in a suitcase and might even take up too much trunk space for some cars. I was pregnant with my son when we decided to take a two-week-long family vacation 14 hours away, and my full-body pregnancy pillow was the first thing to get cut from the packing list—I needed something much smaller. That’s where the Boppy side sleeper comes in clutch. Selected as the best pregnancy pillow for travel in this year’s Best of The Bump awards, the Boppy is petite, lightweight and great for travel.

It measures 24 inches in length and weighs just under 2 pounds, making it easy to pack in a carry-on or large tote bag. And when you arrive at your destination, you can expect top of the line comfort, thanks to the Boppy pillow’s double wedge design that supports your belly and back. “The pillow felt extremely supportive for my bump,” says product tester Christine C., who used it in her third trimester. “The pillow is very plush, and I love how the center piece is flat but soft for your back.”

Another plus point is the affordable price tag, which is low enough to buy this pillow as a travel backup, in addition to your regular home pillow. Christine gave this pillow a 10 out of 10 rating for its value for money, saying: “I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this pillow. The $35 price point is so reasonable and worthwhile for anyone to try.” She felt it was well worth the investment for added comfort, especially if you’re venturing away from home.

The small size of the Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow doesn’t just make sense for travel, though. It’s also useful for those living in tight spaces and lacking storage—or those seeking an option that doesn’t take over their whole bed, like Christine. “[It] didn't interfere with my partner’s (or my toddler's!) sleep,” she says. And when the pillow is not in use, it can easily be tucked away. “It's small enough and easy enough to put back into the packaging without a struggle and store under my bed,” Christine tells us.

In addition to its portable size and top-notch support, this pregnancy pillow also earned top scores in ease of use, ease of cleaning, quality, and style and design. Bottom line—if you’re looking for a travel buddy that’s got your back, the Boppy side sleeper is a great one to have in your go-bag.

Shape: Double wedge-shaped | Dimensions: 24" (L) x 14" (W) | Fabric: 95% cotton/5% spandex (slipcover), 80% polyester/20% cotton (pillow) | Fill: 100% polyester | Care instructions: Cover and pillow are machine-washable

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