The 12 Best Pregnancy Pillows to *FINALLY* Relieve Those Nighttime Pains

What to Expect Moms overwhelmingly agree: The PharMeDoc Full Body U-Shaped pregnancy pillow is the pillow to relieve pregnancy pains come nighttime. Winner of a 2024 What to Expect Sleep Award, PharMeDoc’s U-shaped pregnancy pillow earns rave reviews for being comfortable and customizable. The dual-sided design makes it easy to flip around in the middle of the night with no readjusting. It also has a detachable “leg” that you can remove if you’d rather save yourself the space in bed. “Loved the removable section to be able to get support where I needed,” one What to Expect community mom said of this pillow. 

Despite the full-body design, the PharMeDoc U-Shaped pillow isn’t as large or bulky as other U-shaped pregnancy pillows, which is a huge factor for many moms-to-be who use this particular pillow. However, those who sleep with a partner in a queen-sized bed might find it to be too large. Robin Hilmantel, Senior Director of Editorial Strategy and Growth at What to Expect, used the Pharmedoc U-shaped pillow and loved it, but found it to be most suitable for her and her husband’s bed once they got a king.

The memory foam filling is firm enough to provide support, but still has a bit of squish for comfort. Meanwhile, the jersey cotton cover is machine-washable so it’s easy to keep this pillow clean. 

Moms say they love continuing to use all or part of this pregnancy pillow postpartum for support throughout recovery and while feeding. And if the U shape doesn’t seem right for you, PharMeDoc also makes a C-shaped pillow, as well as a wedge pillow for moms-to-be who are short on bed space.

If you’re looking for a pregnancy pillow that doesn’t break the bank, this Target option can serve that purpose. It’s a basic body pillow that provides just enough comfort and extra support for a mom-to-be’s growing belly. It doesn’t have contours or curves like a body pillow marketed for pregnancy, but it will still help support your back, legs and bump. Compared to pregnancy-specific pillows, it falls in the medium-range size-wise, which moms-to-be say is great for staying cool and leaving space in the bed for your partner.

Some moms in the What to Expect community suggest picking up two of these basic pillows — one for your front and one for your back — to serve as a makeshift U-shaped pillow for a fraction of the price. Just make sure you buy a few body pillow-sized pillowcases as well, as this one doesn't come with one included and is not machine washable.

U-shaped pillows are popular among moms-to-be who have a tendency to toss and turn at night, and the Momcozy U-Shaped Pillow is a wildly popular choice. In fact, Christine Mattheis, What to Expect’s VP of Content, says the Momcozy pillow is superior to the PharMeDoc pillow.

“It’s a lot firmer,” she says. “The between-the-legs part of the Momcozy pillow actually aligned my knees and legs in a way that I expected, so I got the hip support I needed. And it did a really nice job of supporting my back until really late in the third trimester.”

The pillow’s premium polyfill blend contributes to that desired firmness; still, it’s soft enough that you’re comfortable at night. Plus, you can remove, add, or move around the filling to provide the right support. Although you can’t adjust the shape like you can with other pillows on this list, What to Expect moms say they don’t mind given the pillow’s comfort and support level.

“I got the U-shaped full-body Momcozy pillow, and it's literally the most comfortable pillow ever,” writes a community  member. “I have a wedge that's good for a little extra support, but right now, I'm not even using it since I got this one!”

This Leachco pregnancy pillow is a favorite C-shaped option in the What to Expect community, thanks to the all-around coverage and ample support for your back, hips and belly. Unlike some body pillows meant to be wrapped around in one direction, the Snoogle’s extended C-shaped design wraps around your entire body, from back to belly, for ultimate comfort throughout the duration of pregnancy. In the center, there is a curved space that provides more room in the shoulder and hip area than in the waist area to contour and cradle your body. Expectant moms say this feature allows the pillow to comfortably conform to their body, which provides tons of support to multiple areas at once.

The fill is on the firmer side, which isn’t right for everyone, but some moms-to-be say this pillow has just the right amount of squish. Some believe this allowed the pillow to stay firm longer, with one What to Expect mom saying she’s used the pillow for four pregnancies. And, the removable cover is made from cotton, which reviewers say is great for staying cool at night.

If you’ve been stuffing pillows alongside your back and between your legs in an effort to get comfy, this Momcozy J-shaped pregnancy pillow might be the right choice for you. The shape provides cradling support from head to knees that you can flip in either direction depending on which side you prefer to sleep on and whether you need more knee support or neck support. And, unlike C- and U-shaped pillows, its slimmer, one-sided shape means that it won’t take up the entire bed. Moms-to-be love that the Momcozy pillow fill is soft and malleable, making it easy to squish into (and stay in) the desired position shape. Because this pregnancy pillow isn’t quite as large as others, expectant moms love to use it for cozying up on the couch just as much as they do sleeping in bed. The jersey cover is lightweight enough for hot sleepers and can be machine washed for easy cleaning.

Now, it's time for my personal pregnancy pillow recommendation. As I mentioned, my priority was to find a pillow that would make side-sleeping more comfortable. I didn’t think I needed a big pillow since easing pain wasn’t the priority. (Plus, I share a bed with my husband and our 60-pound dog, so there wasn’t exactly room for a full body pillow.) I appreciated that the Boppy Pregnancy Wedge Pillow took up little to no space while still making for a more comfortable sleep position. This is largely due to the fill: It’s stiff but still soft, so you get the support without feeling like you're resting on a brick.

Another perk: It can be used outside the bed. I'd put it beneath my lower back when sitting, between my knees when sleeping, and even behind my head if I was reading in bed. I even packed it in my hospital bag to make labor and delivery more comfortable.

Overall, if you don’t have a ton of pain or a ton of bed space, this Boppy wedge is a solid choice.

The Queen Rose stands out for its oversized, longer-than-most design. If you have the space, many moms-to-be in the What to Expect community say it’s a good pregnancy pillow for someone who wants the maximum amount of support. It comes in 55- 60- and 65-inch sizes, perfect for moms-to-be who are tall or who want plenty of leg support.

“It was comfortable and helped me feel supported when lying on my side,” says Lisafe Carreon, Senior Product Manager at What to Expect. “It also helped alleviate my hip pain when lying on my side, by allowing me to put the pillow in between my legs.” She found that the large size took up a lot of space in her queen bed, however, and wished it was a little less firm.

Although designed for side sleeping, moms love that you can configure it any way you want so that it supports you when you’re lying back watching TV or are sitting upright nursing. The polyester fill is adjustable and easy to contort to a position that’s to your liking both during pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Expectant moms also love the comfort of the velvety material (although it might be warm for those who tend to sleep hot).

If you’re looking for a pregnancy pillow that doesn’t invade too much of your partner’s personal space, but still provides full-body support, look no further than the Boppy Total Body Pillow. It has a uniquely contoured shape designed to be easily adjustable as your bump changes through pregnancy and the postpartum period. Specifically, it has an area that cradles your belly, a generous area for your head to rest, and another bump out to go between your legs to support your back and hips.

Dr. Wetter recommends the Boppy Total Body, because it can be twisted and folded to use for back support while sitting or as a nursing pillow. Many of our What to Expect community members are in complete agreement about this pregnancy pillow’s versatility and support throughout pregnancy and beyond. One of its best qualities is that the entire thing can be thrown in the washing machine as needed — not just the cover.

The Hiccapop pillow’s memory foam fill sets it apart from others, providing firm support for your growing belly and hips. Pregnant users appreciate that the wedge is not as dense as other memory foam pillows, yet they still feel well-supported. It’s designed to be well-ventilated with a layer of foam that helps keep the pillow cool. 

What makes this wedge extra special, however, is that it’s dual-sided; one with soft memory foam and the other with firmer foam. This gives you options depending on what type of support you need and where you’ll be using it. For instance, you might want to use the softer, body-contouring memory foam side under your bump, while the firm foam might be better suited between your legs or behind your back when sitting.

It weighs less than a pound, and moms-to-be say this pregnancy pillow is easy to travel with so you have comfort 24/7. At a lower price point than other memory foam options, some moms report purchasing two to support different areas of their body at the same time.

Christine also used the Boppy Side Sleeper to better manage her middle back pain at night.

“I originally tried a wedge, which supported my belly, but my torso would still twist while lying on my side, so I needed support behind my back as well,” she says.

The Boppy Side Sleeper was the perfect solution; the butterfly-shaped design simultaneously supports both your belly and back to relieve pressure on the hips. (Also a game-change if you're dealing with round ligament pain during pregnancy.) Many moms also say this design helped them adapt to sleeping on their side after spending a lifetime as back or stomach sleepers.

It’ll keep you securely in place while you sleep without the potentially claustrophobic feeling of a large dual-sided body pillow. Plus, the band in the middle stretches, so you can lengthen the distance between the two sides depending on your body.

Some members of our What to Expect community say that this pillow works well when paired with a regular pillow between your knees, as opposed to the small “extra” pillow included but not attached to the main butterfly pillow.

The pillow’s removable cover is machine washable for super simple cleaning. Moms also add that this pregnancy pillow is an excellent option for postpartum recovery and while breast or bottle-feeding.

Frida is known for creating products that take care of moms, like their game-changing upside down peri bottle and a breastfeeding care kit with items you didn’t even know you needed. So it’s no surprise that their pregnancy pillow is a popular choice among moms. What makes the Frida Mom pillow stand out from the others is that it provides full-body support without taking up the entire bed. This is largely due to the filling: It consists of foam beads that make it easy for you to twist the pillow to suit your needs (and fit your space). This is also what makes it great for travel, as you can easily roll it to the size of a travel pillow and slide it into your suitcase. At 1 pound, it’s also one of the lightest pregnancy pillows on our list, so you don’t have to worry about it maxing out your luggage. 

The foam beads also aren’t as heavy as traditional memory foam or down fillings, which means it doesn’t generate as much heat. Though moms say the pillow leans more on the squishy side, they add that it’s easy to adjust the fill to be more supportive where it’s needed. Simply “massage” the filling around until you reach your desired firmness. You may have some extra fabric, but that can easily be tied off. 

If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, Newton Baby’s Pregnancy Pillow comes highly recommended. Filled with a thick memory foam and covered with organic cotton, moms-to-be say the Newton Baby’s pillow is a soft but supportive place to rest your head . . . and back, belly and legs. 

“It’s big but sooo cozy,” says one What to Expect community member. “[It’s] literally saving me.”

Though it’s technically a U-shaped pillow, you can easily transform it into a J or C-shaped pillow by removing the detachable arm. If you’re in the early stages of pregnancy, this might be beneficial as your needs will change throughout the trimesters. 

And if pregnancy hormones have you hotter than normal, you’ll be happy to know that Newton Baby's pregnancy pillow features a breathable organic cotton that several moms say has kept them cool while they snooze. It’s also machine washable, which we always appreciate in a product. 

Overall, the Newton Pregnancy pillow is comparable to the PharMeDoc and Momcozy pillows. But at $100, it may not be in everyone’s budget.