Is A Pregnancy Pillow Worth It? [Should You Buy One?]

Have you recently discovered that you are pregnant? Well, first and foremost – congratulations! But now you’re starting to wonder about what kind of things you need. A pregnancy pillow is one such item, right? But are they generally worth the cost? Are they even necessary? Well, here is everything you are going to want to know and consider.

So, is a pregnancy pillow worth it? Pregnancy pillows are generally considered worth it. Many pregnant women swear by their ability to aid sleep, reduce pain, and provide comfort and support during challenging times. That being said, some pregnancy pillows are better than others and not all will provide the same level of benefit.

With all those other things you need to pay for – and all that money you need to save for your future baby, the fact that your asking this question is certainly a good thing.

Besides, it’s true that there are some things you don’t actually need.

I would say that this isn’t one of them.

Personally, I would argue you can’t put a price on alleviating pain.

I actually bought a pregnancy pillow recently. I actually documented my experiences with the brand I went for here.

And I can confidently say that a pregnancy pillow has been worth it for me.

But I do understand we all have a budget, and life is expensive, too.

So let us now explore the utility of a pregnancy pillow and whether or not you should get one.

What Are Pregnancy Pillows?

Pregnancy pillows are purposefully designed to provide additional support to core areas of your body – helping both the pregnant mother and baby alike.

Compared to traditional, and often much smaller pillows, pregnancy pillows are designed to enable full-body wrapping – ensuring a drastic reduction in pressure in all of the key areas, including; the belly, pelvis, lower back, knees and ankles.

Pregnancy pillows are there to help support longer, deeper, and more restless sleep.

What Are The Benefits Of A Pregnancy Pillow?

Pregnancy pillows provide many benefits, but they are primarily centered around providing comfort and support.

These larger pillows will help you to more easily:

• Adjust into new sleeping positions,
• Keep you in better alignment during sleep,
• Reduce pressure, particularly around your pelvis and hip area by keeping your legs in a parallel position.
• Reduce pregnancy symptoms, including leg cramps and nausea.
• Prevent you from lying on your back while sleeping,
• Improving general circulation (which can aid in the distribution of important nutrients).
• Breastfeed your baby after they have been delivered.

Essentially, a pregnancy pillow can ensure a proper and correct sleeping alignment; something that is so crucial yet hard to achieve (without a pillow) during pregnancy.

Besides, being pregnant adds a lot of pressure to your spine, ligaments, and joints. You’ll only make matters worse if you add pressure as you sleep on them.

Are Pregnancy Pillows For Everyone?

Pregnancy pillows are designed for pregnant and nursing women first and foremost. That being said, there is no reason why anyone could not benefit from their use.

That being said, the benefits obtained from a pregnancy pillow will likely vary from person to person.

Some women get on much better with them than others.

For instance, those who are most used to sleeping on their backs at night, or who naturally turn and toss a lot will likely see increased benefits.

At the same time, those with less supportive mattresses, or who experience back and joint pain more seriously, will find greater relief.

Nevertheless, pregnancy pillows can support and aid in more helpful restful sleep which everyone can benefit from.

Features To Look For In A Pregnancy Pillow

With many different brands and styles of pregnancy pillows on the market, it is essential you know what you are looking for if you decide you want to buy one.

Below, I run through some criteria that you can use to assess and compare the options side by side.

Quality

Firstly, you want to ensure that the pillow is made of superior materials.

Not only will this ensure greater comfort, but you also want to ensure that the materials do not cause any itching, irritation, or allergic reaction.

The better pillows will naturally have the right balance of softness and firmness; being comfortable yet providing ample support.

Design

There are several different pregnancy pillow designs, with wedges, full-length, u-shaped, and c-shaped being the most common.

Each has different use cases and will suit different sleepers.

Generally, I am an advocate of full-length pillows because they provide support to the whole body, including the arms, legs, and tummy.

Also, the ability to hug them while you sleep is a major benefit.

Durability/Longevity

A pregnancy pillow should last. Not just during your pregnancy but for the several years after when you will be nursing your baby.

You need the pillow to return to its natural and usual position, be washed easily (should it get dirty), and retain the shape/structure and comfort from the first time you used it.

The best pillows come with a cover that you can easily remove to wash and clean.

Size

Ensuring you get the right size is crucial – not only to ensure it supports you but from a practical sense too.

Besides, it will need to fit in your bed, and you may want to take it with you or carry it to another place in your home.

Smell

Cheaper pillows often carry this disturbing chemical smell. Of course, this is not a good sign.

You want the pillow you opt for to be completely odorless.

How Much Do Pregnancy Pillows Cost?

Pregnancy pillows can cost anywhere from $30-$250, sometimes more. The wide range often takes into account product quality, design features, brand reputation, and other aspects like customer service, product guarantees, etc.

For the most part, the more you pay, the better the pregnancy pillow will be.

Not always of course, but just like with any other product, a higher price usually indicates that it superior in some kind of way.

Now, you do certainly need to do your research and consider your budget too.

That being said, we can safely assume from the range of prices, that an average pregnancy pillow will cost around $140.

What Pregnancy Pillow Should You Get?

What pregnancy pillow you should get will come down to your preferences, budget, and availability. There is no one brand or product of pregnancy pillow that is right for everyone.

That being said, if you are looking for a recommendation, then I would strongly suggest you consider the bbhugme pregnancy pillow.

This incredibly soft, ideal-sized pillow is the one decided to get and I have never looked back.

It was designed by health professionals, recommended by midwives, and has won several industry awards.

That’s because it is ergonomic and fully adjustable – it literally shapes to your body depending on the position you are in.

It supports and aligns you in 5 essential areas; your belly, pelvis, lower back, knees and ankles – ensuring you do not suffer from pain and aches in these particular areas.

It’s fantastic for all stages of pregnancy, and can even be used to nurse your newborn when they come.

I found an instant improvement to my sleep, but it’s also helped me while watching TV on the couch, and when sitting up in bed to read a book.

The delivery was fast, the quality is exceptional and it can be easily cleaned and washed.

It is the one I would suggest and is certainly worth the higher price point.

I’d suggest you have a read my review of the bbhug pregnancy pillow.

Lastly

For the most part, pregnancy pillows are worth it.

That’s assuming you purchase a premium brand that is of a certain quality, and design and is fit for purpose. And of course, you actually use it!

While it can be tempting to opt for the cheapest on the market, and while some of them certainly will provide you with some additional comfort, the true benefit of a pregnancy pillow is the support they give you.

To ensure that’s the case, it simply makes sense to buy one that was designed by health professionals. One that was designed to support the body in various areas.

In my opinion, a pregnancy pillow is something that’s worth a little extra investment.

And that’s just it.

If you purchase a durable pillow, this is something that can last and support you, and your babies’ sleep, for years to come.

Related Questions

Related Guides:

• When Should You Get A Pregnancy Pillow?
• How To Wash Pregnancy Pillow
• What To Do With A Pregnancy Pillow After Pregnancy