The 11 Best Pregnancy Pillows, Tested by 6 Tired Moms-to-Be

Voted Best Pregnancy Pillow in the 2024 Mom Must-Have Awards, the Momcozy U-Shaped Pillow earns rave reviews for actually making it possible to sleep through pregnancy pains. The key is the polyfill blend, which is firm but still soft enough that you’re comfortable at night.

"It’s more malleable, which makes it better, in my opinion, for sleeping in different positions," says Madelyn Casey, a mom of two. 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.

"The between-the-legs part of the Momcozy U-Shaped Pillow actually aligned my knees and legs in a way that I expected, so I got the hip support I needed," says Christine Mattheis, What to Expect’s VP of Content, who relied on this award-winning pillow during her second pregnancy. "It did a really nice job of supporting my back until really late in the third trimester.”

Another pro? Its versatility. Madelyn says she uses it at night and during the day to help relieve lower back and sciatic nerve pain while reading, watching TV, or doing other activities. 

“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!”

Tested by Madelyn Casey, mom of two and What to Expect Contributor:

"All in all, this is an awesome pillow, especially if you prefer that softer stuffing. Plus it can be flipped and used in many different ways that offer me support during my pregnancy."

If you’re looking for a no-frills pregnancy pillow that offers maximum comfort and medium pain relief, this Target option is it. The basic body pillow that provides just enough comfort and extra support for a mom-to-be’s growing belly. I used this during the first trimester with Baby #2 when I was craving a little extra comfort. (I.e. before the aches and pains really set in.) I also used it further along in that pregnancy when I was resting on the couch or sitting on my chair; it's super light making it easy to take from room to room. 

Another perk to the size: It didn't give off as much heat, which is clutch if you're pregnant in the summer. 

It doesn’t have contours or curves like a body pillow marketed for pregnancy, but I found it easy to mold to the shape I needed. And it has a decent fill to help support your back, legs and bump, though not as much as pregnancy-specific pillows.  

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.

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Commerce Director:

"Despite being light — perfect if you're dealing with pregnancy sweats — Target's no-frills body pillow had plenty of fill to support my knees and head at a time when pain was minimal. "

The PharMeDoc Full Body 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.  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.

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. 

Tested by Robin Hilmantel, mom of three and What to Expect's Senior Director of Editorial Strategy and Growth: 

"I just loved the feeling of being cocooned in the PharMeDoc U-Shaped pillow. It was so comfortable and helped me sleep on my side throughout my pregnancy. I enjoyed it so much that I kept it a few months into postpartum — much to my husband's chagrin. It was a sad day when I finally got rid of it!"

During my second pregnancy, the Leachco Snoogle easily earned the MVP title. Both my OB/GYN and pelvic floor therapist recommended the C-shaped option, saying it would provide the ample, full-body support I needed to combat round ligament pain. And, to no surprise, they were right.

The secret is the extended C-shaped design: it wraps around your entire body, from back to belly, ensuring proper alignment to reduce strain on your achy back and hips. In the center, there’s a curved space that provides more room in the shoulder and hip areas to better cradle your belly.

And if you have a tiny bladder, like me, you’ll really appreciate the pillow’s C-shape. The lack of backing made it easy for me to roll out of bed and waddle my way to the bathroom. (If you need a laugh, ask a pregnant woman to climb over a U-shaped pillow to pee in time.)

The fill is on the firmer side, which isn’t right for everyone, but I found it had just the right amount of squish — so I was sleeping on a cloud rather than a brick. Several other What to Expect moms agree with me, believing the unique fill allows the pillow to stay firm longer. In fact, one What to Expect mom said she’s used the pillow for four pregnancies.

Another potential downside is the size. Although my pillow, dog, husband, and I were able to fit comfortably in our king-sized bed, it probably wouldn’t work if we had a smaller bed—or if my toddler insisted on sleeping with us, too.

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Commerce Director:

"My pelvic floor therapist recommended the Leachco, saying the C-shape would properly align—and reduce the strain on—my back, hips, and legs. After a few nights of use, the sharp, nightlong pain became a dull, short-lived ache."

The Queen Rose stands out for best supporting hips and spine, to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve (thus, reducing the pain!). Something Lisafe Carreon, Senior Product Manager at What to Expect, can attest to. “It helped alleviate my hip pain when lying on my side, by allowing me to put the pillow in between my legs," she says. 

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, though some, including Lisafe, found it a little too firm. Expectant moms also love the comfort of the velvety material (although it might be warm for those who tend to sleep hot).

One other thing to note: the size. Longer than most pregnancy pillows, it comes in 55- 60- and 65-inch sizes, perfect for moms-to-be who are tall or who want plenty of leg support. But if you don't have the space, you may want to consider a different pillow. 

Tested by Lisafe Carreon, mom of one and What to Expect's Senior Product Manager:

"It was comfortable and helped me feel supported when lying on my side."

Almost every pregnancy pillow I tried supported my ever-growing belly, but the Momcozy J-shaped pregnancy pillow was a step above the rest. The secret? Its ability to contour to your belly, offering a bit of extra, customized comfort. The specialized support also helps relieve pressure throughout your entire body. Although it wasn't the most effective at reducing my intense round ligament pain, it did provide relief once that symptom became more mild. 

Of course, the support isn't limited to your belly. Momcozy's J-shaped option provides cradling support from head to knees, and you can flip it in either direction depending on which side you prefer to sleep on and whether you need more knee or neck support. Plus, many moms-to-be love that the Momcozy pillow fill is soft and malleable, making it easy to squish into (and stay in) the desired shape. Although I wish it had been a little firmer, I didn’t find it lacking in support.

Unlike C- and U-shaped pillows, its slimmer, one-sided shape means it won’t take up the entire bed — great if you're short on space. That also means it’s significantly lighter, so it's easy to move in the middle of the night or bring to the couch for daytime use.

Worried about being too hot? The jersey cover is lightweight enough for hot sleepers and can be machine washed for easy cleaning.

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Commerce Director:

"The pillow is squishy, but still provides enough support to relieve mild pregnancy pains in the hips and back." 

Back aching? Been there! The Hiccapop pregnancy wedge delivers a one-two punch. First, its wedge design elevates the upper body — just position it under your head, chest, or belly — to ease lower back strain and maximize comfort while sleeping on your side.

Then there's the memory foam fill, which conforms to your head and neck for better, more even weight distribution, helping to reduce pressure on your back. Moms say it’s not as dense as other memory foam pillows, but still offers solid support. Bonus: it’s well-ventilated, with a breathable foam layer that helps keep the pillow cool.

As an added perk, the pillow is dual-sided — one side features soft memory foam, the other firmer foam — so you can choose the support that suits you best. 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 needed help managing middle back pain at night. And she found the Boppy Side Sleeper was the perfect solution, as the butterfly-shaped design simultaneously supported her 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.

Tested by Christine Mattheis, mom of two and What to Expect’s VP of Content:

“I originally tried a wedge, which supported my belly, but my torso would still twist while I was lying on my side. I found that the Boppy Side Sleeper supported my back from both sides and prevented me from turning.”

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). 

The foam beads also aren’t as heavy as traditional memory foam or down fillings, which means they don’t generate as much heat — something Karla Martin, What to Expect's Sr. Photo Manager, deeply appreciated.

"It’s so cooling, which helped me a lot because I was very pregnant during the summer," she says. In fact, Karla shares that it was so comfortable her husband would often snag it when she wasn’t using it. I also found the filling, combined with the light cover, made sleeping in the summer more bearable. 

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. 

Tested by Karla Martin, mom of one and What to Expect’s Sr. Photo Manager:

"I loved that I could twist and turn it to provide whatever support my body needed." 

As I mentioned, my first pregnancy was about finding a pillow that would make side-sleeping more comfortable. 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.

Karla Martin, What to Expect's Senior Photo Editor, also found the wedge helpful later in her pregnancy, saying, "I slept mostly on my left side, and when the baby started to get really heavy, this wedge helped so much." She added that she also used the wedge for tummy time and side-lying play after her daughter was born.

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

Tested by Leah Rocketto, soon-to-be mom of two and What to Expect's Associate Commerce Director:

"[The Boppy Wedge] is stiffer than most pillows, which I personally like. That said, it's still soft so you don't feel like you're resting on a brick."

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.