Were you complaining about waking up with an aching back and sore hips, and a friend piped up to say “hey! You need a Snoogle body pillow”?   If you’re like me, the thought of a body pillow never occurred to you until now. 

I went 24 years without ever using one, and the idea of a large body pillow being added to our little queen size bed sounded less than appealing.

But when I was expecting twins nearly four years ago, I couldn’t hardly sleep from the pain and weight of my 5 month tummy that was already measuring at 7 months.

forgive the 4 year old photo quality and that morning-sickness-is-still-hanging-around twin pregnancy tired face. 😉

My husband did his research and found what he believed to be the best body pillow for pregnancy, and got it as a Christmas present for me.

I was so confused when I opened that heavy box and found a compressed bag of something inside. But as I opened it it just kept on decompressing until it was a massive, U shaped pillow that I hung around my neck and laughed about.

I was genuinely thrilled. 5 months in and the twins were already wreaking havoc on my sleep and comfort.

Of course, he felt guilty for buying a “boring” present, but that’s just because he’s a man and can’t actually understand the thrill of being pregnant and being gifted a super pillow.

He had gotten me the  Comfort U Maternity Pillow. It did, honestly, take up a lot of room in our bed, and my massive 60 lb gain over the next 4 months didn’t help with the crowding factor, but there was nothing gonna separate me from that pillow.

It held up very well, and with my next pregnancy, 2.5 years later, I pulled it out for the third trimester with our next pregnancy.

Now it lives in our camper and is invaluable on the less than cushy travel mattress that we use on camping trips. It’s a good friend, and I trust I’ll have it around for many more years, and maybe even another pregnancy or two!

 

Top-Rated Pillows For Maternity Use (2017 Product Roundup) 

 

We picked out the best of the best for you to look over here, with a rundown of what reviewers have been saying on multiple shopping platforms. The good, the bad, and the ulgy are lined out here for each of these selections, but they are all mostly good.

You want a goood pillow? Any of these will serve you well!

 

Leachco Snoogle Pillow With Washable Zippable Cover

 

If you want a smaller body pillow, the C shape of the LeachCo Snoogle is a little less overwhelming than the larger U shaped, or fully contoured maternity pillows. 

The soft cover makes it have ultimate snuggle power, while it is shaped ideally to be a good pillow shape for your head while providing back support and wrapping around to go between your legs for hip lift and support.

image from leechco.com

 

While some have found that it doesn’t hold up to long-term use, most have not had that problem, and pregnancy isn’t exactly long term, so I don’t find that to be a major drawback for a maternity body pillow.

If you’re even a little claustrophobic, or toss and turn a lot in your sleep, this might not bethe best option for your sleeping style, as once you get adjusted and comfortable you are firmly supported in one position. 

To change sides requires a little bit of effort, so this is ideal for someone who sleeps in one position for most the night, or for someone who is supposed to stay in one spot. 

If you’re having trouble maintaining a healthy position and have complications that include circulation or blood pressure issues, the Snoogle can help you comfortable sleep in that one desired position. 

Since it’s best to sleep on your left side throughout your pregnancy to optimize blood flow to the placenta, this pillow might be motivation to accomplish that for anyone who is struggling to stay in that optimal position, even if they don’t have extra complications. 

Pros:

  • The Snoogle is quite a bit smaller than many full body maternity pillows. 
  • Rediculously snuggly and soft.  
  • Removable, machine washable cover. 
  • Horseshoe shape for tucking between your legs for extra relief for those overly-relaxin-loaded hip joints. 

Cons:

  • May not hold up to as long-term use as some other options.  
  • It can be difficult to get initially positioned in. 
LeechCo Back N Belly Pillow


LeechCo also offers a Full U shaped maternity pillow that is called the “Back N Belly”. It’s contoured on both sides so that you can roll from side to side with the countouring fitting either way. 

The soft lovability of the Snoogle is replicated in the Back N’ Belly, but many people find it overwhelmingly massive and a little too firm. 

 

Shop The LeechCo Total Body Pillow Here!

 

The PharMeDoc Total Pillow For Pregnancy Use

The PharMeDoc is another C shaped pillow with excellent reviews and durability. It’s larger than the Snoogle pregnancy pillow, and a more complete C Shape, so it takes up a little more of the bed.

Washability of the covers is fine, with them zipping off and on easily. The cover is soft and cozy, and the pillow doesn’t seem to trap body heat, and has good breathability.

image from pharmedoc.com

Again, it can be hard to get in and out of, but this can be a positive if you need help sleeping on your left side through pregnancy.

Keeping your back in a straight line and your hips happily opened is pretty invaluable through your third trimester, so keep in mind that if you purchase a pillow early on, it might not be worth the effort of use until your later months.

So hang onto it, and try it out every couple of weeks to see if it improves your current sleep comfort!

 

Pros:

  • More breathable material means less sweating! This was a big one for me, since I was carrying twins and constantly overheating. 
  • Supports a side sleeping position nicely! 

Cons:

  • It is hard to switch sides while using this pillow. 

 

Check Out The PharMeDoc Full Body Pregnancy Pillow Here!

 

 

Comfort U Total Body Support Pillow

When my husband researched what pregnancy body pillow for twin pregnancies, this is the one he chose.

While some argue that it is too soft, I didn’t find that to be the case for me.

Being able to switch sides was drastically important to me because the weight on my stretched skin and my poor hips was too much to sleep on one side exclusively, and the U shape of this pillow meant that I could simply switch sides without moving the pillow.

image from mycomfortu.com

I say “simply switch sides”, but at 38 weeks with twins that meant hoisting myself onto my hands and knees, carefully collapsing one elbow and knee to let myself down slowly, positioning the pillow underneath my massive tummy, then tucking the end carefully between my legs, then deciding whether or not my engorged breasts wanted me to tip slightly back and position the pillow under them as well

This pillow also folds and reconforms quite easily, meaning that when you want to get out of bed you simply lift one arm of it and fold it up by your head. Same for getting into bed. No wrestling with a stiffly shaped curve that requires the entire pillow to be moved if you want to move.

There was also the added benefit that, when I went on bed rest at 32 weeks to prevent preterm labor, the pillow folded nicely to be a large backrest for sitting reclined in my bed for watching tv and reading books.

I can’t imagine those four weeks without a foldable, mile-long body pillow on the bed to manipulate into whatever shape I needed it to be!

Pros: 

  • Soft and squishy, this is more of a comfort pillow than it is a support brace. 
  • Flexible padding means that it is easy to manipulate into different configurations for different activities. 

Cons: 

  • Not firm enough for major support. 
  • Some users have had problems with pilling on the removable case. I personally did not find any pilling until after my second pregnancy of using it. 

 

 

To See More Reviews Or To Purchase The Comfort U, Go Here!

 

Snuggle Pedic Memory Foam Bamboo Body Pillow

 

Not technically a pregnancy pillow, but Oh. My. Gosh. This pillow is the ultimate body pillow. Before, after, and during pregnancy, if you need extra support for sleep, this is a pillow worth owning.

Carefully blended bamboo and poly materials keep it from trapping heat against your body, minimizing sweat and over warmth. That makes this an ideal pillow for sweaty sleepers.

The entire pillow is also washable, though if you want it to last longer, just get a standard   54 x 20 inch body pillow case or cover so that you can wash the cover and keep the pillow from being beat up in your washing machine for as long as possible! If you love the bamboo blend material, you can get a case made from the exact same material that zips on over the pillow!

image from snugglepedic.com

There have been small numbers of defective pillows, but the customer service in getting the pillow swapped out for a good one is excellent!

Seriously, this is a beautifully high-quality pillow that you will have to fight to keep away from your partner!

Pros: 

  • Super breathable and cool makes it ultra comfortable. 
  • Eco friendly production and natural materials. 

Cons: 

  • It’s not a maternity pillow, so the long straight shape may not meet pregnancy needs. 

 

Shop Here For Snuggle Pedic Bamboo and Memory Foam Body Pillows!

 

 

Are There Medical Benefits To Using A Body Pillow While Pregnant, Or Is It All Anecdotal?

 

Did you know that at least 78% of pregnant women struggle to get adequate sleep due to the discomforts that come with carrying a baby? 

We all know that we aren’t supposed to sleep on our backs while pregnant and that the left side is better, but why? 

Don’t sleep on your back while pregnant because: 

Sleeping on your back is a problem during pregnancy because of the weight of your growing baby, the amniotic fluid, and the placenta, all lay on your main arteries and vital organs, compressing them as you sleep. 

Your body is already working double time due to the 50% blood volume increase and the nutrients your baby needs and adding the stress of back sleeping can cause blood pressure issues, heartburn, and trouble breathing. 

If you are a die-hard back sleeper and a body pillow isn’t cutting it, try sleeping in a recliner with a pillow propped behind one side of you to tilt you slightly off center. 

Left side is better than right for sleeping because: 

  • Your liver is on the right side, and the pressure and weight of your full uterus and baby can compress it, causing it to struggle to keep up. 
  • The Vena Cava carries blood from the lower extremities back to the heart. Sleeping on the left side can improve circulation because it reduces pressure on the vein, which will reduce swelling and improve circulation. 

It isn’t dangerous to sleep on your right side unless you have a medical condition that your doctor has said means you MUST NOT LAY ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE, but that’s pretty rare. So try practicing sleeping on your left side (it actually is the healthiest position whether or not you are pregnant) and only rotate to the right side if you get too uncomfortable to sleep. 

Keeping a pillow between your legs also takes pressure off of your low back as your hips adjust to the extra weight and widen for birth. 

Don’t forget the added benefit of propping something between your legs for circulation and hip pain relief! Choosing a C shaped pillow can make that easier, since you don’t have to worry about the pillow “escaping” in your sleep! 

If you are suffering from SPD (symphesis pubis dysfunction) where your pubic bone is too loose due to the relaxin in your body, getting yourself carefully positioned in a body pillow that helps you not move in your sleep may give you much better rest, as it should aliviate some of the sudden sharp pangs that wake you up when you shift positions in your sleep. 

Good luck shopping! I hope this has been helpful!

 

 

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