As the mother of a toddler and a newborn, I know exactly how pregnancy can affect sleep quality. Side-sleeping, aching hips and waves of heartburn are far from conducive to sweet dreams, but the right pregnancy pillow can support your bump, hips, and knees.
Midwife Leah Hazard explains: “Pregnancy pillows can be great tools for preventing and easing the discomfort that can be part and parcel of any pregnancy, from backache to pelvic-girdle pain and leg cramps.”
These pillows aren’t just for pregnancy either; they can be invaluable during labour and postpartum, too. Hazard adds that “These pillows can even be used to help you maintain more comfortable, gravity-efficient positions in labour, and can be excellent props for breast or bottle feeding once your little one has arrived.”
But with a range of shapes, materials and functions available, deciding which pillow matches the unique needs of your body and your budget needs serious consideration. Do you want a product that can be used both in bed and around the house? Would you like an option that can support you post-partum, or one that can double up as a feeding pillow for your newborn? Or do you just want a basic pillow that will make bedtime more comfortable?
It’s a lot to bear in mind, but I’ve done the research for you. I tested a range of pillows during the third trimester of my last pregnancy to find the very best. My favourite is the Cushypuff pregnancy pillow, but everyone’s pregnancy is different, so I’ve included products that work for several sleep styles. Keep scrolling to find out which ones helped me the most.
How I tested
I tested the pregnancy pillows one by one, at night, in my king-size bed. I also used the pillows during the day to explore if they could work for nursing and relaxing away from the bedroom. Pillows were tested during the final weeks of my third trimester and for several weeks after the birth of my daughter. Factors I considered included:
- Comfort: The most important factor of all, these pillows had to be genuinely comfortable.
- Support: As well as comfort, I wanted these pillows to provide ergonomic support for my back during pregnancy, postpartum, and to support my baby while feeding.
- Breathability: Whether you’re naturally a hot sleeper or experiencing postpartum night sweats, these pillows had to keep me cool at night.
- Practicality: Bonus points went to pillows with adjustable fillers and shapes, which suit different sleep styles and help you move from pregnancy to motherhood.
- Style: I wanted pillows that could work well with room decor, too.
- Storage: While the best pillows help throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and for the first few months of your newborn’s life, I wanted pillows that are easy to store in cupboards in between pregnancies.
- Cleaning: As with any pillow, these pillows had to be easy to keep clean and hygienic.
Additional testing assistance was provided by my husband and my toddler, who now refuses to sleep unless she has a pregnancy pillow in bed with her.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s product reviews section, IndyBest, hosts product reviews from expert testers. Our knowledgeable reviewers use these products as you would in your own home to bring you an impartial list of the very best. IndyBest’s expert parenting writers have tested everything from baby monitors to high chairs and travel cots.
Katie Byrne is an experienced parenting writer and product tester. She tested these pillows in the third trimester of her last pregnancy and postpartum to help you find options that are worth your money.
The best pregnancy pillows for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Cushy Puff pregnancy pillow: £145, Cushypuff.com
- Best budget buy – Silentnight body support pillow: £27, Silentnight.co.uk
- Best I-shaped pillow – Bbhugme pregnancy pillow: £159, Bbhugme.com
- Best for feeding – Mamas & Papas welcome to the world seedling pregnancy and nursing pillow: £49, mamasandpapas.com
- Best cooling pillow – Simba body pillow: £109, Simbasleep.com
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Cushy Puff pregnancy pillow
Best: Pregnancy pillow overall
Length: 120–150cm
Key materials: 95% cotton and 5% spandex jersey fabric (outer cover); 85% nylon, 15% spandex (inner pillow); filled with EPS microbeads
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Super comfortable and easy to use
- Long-lasting as can be used from pregnancy into the fourt trimester
- Looks great
Take note
- Pricey
I loved the flexibility of this I-shaped design. It’s a space-efficient choice that worked as comfortably in bed as it did on the sofa. It’s great for use both pre- and post-birth, too.
Once the pillow was inserted in its case (which took more effort than I expected – although I suspect that’s a ‘me’ problem), it was easy to knot the excess fabric at each end to set my preferred level of firmness. The benefit of this design detail? The pillow can be easily adapted as your body changes during and after pregnancy, meaning increased product longevity.
The pillow moulded effortlessly around my body, while its 95 per cent cotton case felt smooth on my sensitive skin. It’s great for cuddling up to after you’ve positioned the pillow in a U shape between your knees, offering secure bump support in the process.
The Cushy Puff is also a reliable choice post-partum. It provided reassuring support and protection during my C-section recovery, as well as making a newborn-approved nursing pillow. The brand’s website also suggests the pillow can help with light post-birth exercise, although I’ve been in no rush to test this particular claim just yet.
On a more shallow note: the Cushy Puff looks great. Whether you opt for one of the candy-stripe designs or a block colour, it will add a pleasingly style-conscious twist to any bed.
Buy now £145.00, Cushypuff.com
Silentnight body support pillow
Best: Budget pregnancy pillow
Length: 148cm
Key materials: Polyester
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Great price
- Full-length body support
- Does what it says on the tin
Take note
- Not as flexible or multi-functional as some other pregnancy pillows
If you’re looking for something simple, effective and budget-friendly, search no further. Delivered folded in two, with a plain white pillow case to wrestle it into (yes, there’s a theme with my ability to put pillows into cases here), this pillow pinged into shape as soon as I removed it from its bag.
Great as either a full-length body support for side-sleeping or a prop-me-up when sitting in bed, it’s the epitome of practical design. I loved the pillow’s plump firmness, too – it has a certain hotel-worthy crispness to it.
There was plenty of room for this pregnancy pillow in my king-size bed, but if you share a regular double bed, your partner might find themselves teetering towards the edge once this pillow is introduced. The product also lacks some of the bendy flexibility and functionality offered by some other pillows listed here.
However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option that will undeniably make bedtime more comfortable, this is a fantastic choice. It’s also made in the UK, is hypoallergenic and comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £27.00, Silentnight.co.uk
Bbhugme pregnancy pillow
Best: I-shaped pregnancy pillow
Length: 140–145cm
Key materials: 95% cotton and 5% spandex jersey fabric (outer cover); filled with microbeads; BPA-free silicon 'pebbles'
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- It's easy to adjust the firmness
- Comfy I-shaped design
Take note
- Pricey
With countless awards, bbhugme’s pregnancy pillow is a favourite with many mums-to-be. The benefits of an I-shaped pregnancy pillow such as this are manifold: they offer full body support, are often easy to twist into a desired position and can offer post-partum support.
The pillow and its separate case were delivered inside a drawstring bag that’s ideal for storage in between pregnancies. In the spirit of honesty – or perhaps laziness – I don’t really understand why so many I-shaped pillows aren’t delivered already in their case, but, as with the Cushy Puff, I got there eventually.
The bbhugme enables you to set your desired level of firmness by using the two enclosed ‘pebbles’, which slide over the ends of the fabric to hold them in place.
I actually slightly preferred this to the DIY knot approach, as knots can be hard to untie, while the pebbles are simple to remove. Simply thread the material through the hole to position them, and then pull them off when you want to rearrange them.
Slightly skinnier than other I-shaped pillows tested, this one was still wonderfully comfortable to snuggle up against when positioned between the knees. The only reason it hasn’t taken top spot is that it’s a little more expensive than the Cushy Puff.
Buy now £159.00, Bbhugme.com
Snuz snuzcurve pregnancy support pillow
Best: Foam pregnancy pillow
Length: 135cm
Key materials: 92% cotton, 8% elastane (outer cover); polystyrene beads and polyurethane foam filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Posture-first design
- Comfortable all night long
Take note
- Not as versatile as some other pillows
This pregnancy pillow has been created in collaboration with a range of health professionals, including a midwife and a physiotherapist.
There was no setup required for the pillow, but the brand suggests you give it 24 hours to fully ‘bounce back’ after unboxing, though I didn’t find this necessary.
The pillow has a seat-like structure that provides support from the neck all the way down to the ankles. Due to the firmness of the lower section, I was sceptical about how comfortable I’d find it. However, on testing it overnight, I found the cushioned knee area – which has been specifically crafted to ensure legs are at the right angle for a well-aligned sleep – slotted between my knees very comfortably, while the softer, squidgier upper-core cushion helped to reduce pressure around my hips, while also supporting my back and shoulders. The pillow and I stayed in position all night long.
This is a design that stands out in a world of V- and I-shaped options, and I was genuinely impressed by how easy and comfortable the pillow was to use. The eye mask included with the pillow is an added bonus. The only drawback? You can’t use it for much else. This is perfect for sleeping while pregnant, but if you want something that also works postpartum, you might need to look elsewhere.
Buy now £84.95, Snuz.co.uk
Putnams back and bump pillow with British organic wool filling
Best: Wedge pregnancy pillow
Length: 22cm
Key materials: 100% cotton outer cover; British wool filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- British-made
- Clever design
- Easy to adjust the filling
Take note
- Lacks full body support
Whether you’re keen to pick a pregnancy pillow with a lower carbon footprint or like the idea of giving back to the local economy, look no further than this British-born option from Putnams. The family-run, Devon-based pillow-makers have created this clever back and bump supporting pillow, which also boasts a hypoallergenic British wool filling.
I found that the pillow’s design makes side-sleeping that bit more bearable and comprises two semi-circle cushions, with a band in between for you and your bump to nestle into. Its smaller dimensions make the pillow feel a bit less daunting than traditional pregnancy pillows, with the focus on your back and stomach rather than trying to provide a whole-body solution.
Another bonus? As with other products listed here, you’ve got complete control over the pillow’s firmness. The band can be made wider as your bump grows, while the wool filling can be easily removed or re-added to ensure the cushions are exactly how you want them.
However, unlike some of the pillows in this guide, you can’t use this pillow for feeding.
Buy now £79.99, Putnams.co.uk
Najell pregnancy pillow
Best: Versatile pregnancy pillow
Length: 145–165cm
Key materials: 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Super comfortable
- Useful post-partum, too
Take note
- Expensive
- Basic colours
Swedish brand Najell’s pregnancy pillow combines Scandi cool with simple functionality. Other than choosing from the stylish trio of colours, the trickiest part, strangely, was removing it from the bag it was delivered in. But once I’d managed it, I was wowed.
The pillow’s 95 per cent organic GOTS-certified cotton case is beautifully soft on the skin, making it a great choice for bumps and newborns alike. The product transforms from a full-size pregnancy pillow into two smaller cushions, giving you the option for more functionality post-birth, too.
From a pregnancy pillow perspective, I found its soft filling embraced my body to perfection and was great for helping me stay on my side overnight. Even though it’s made from two pillows, I didn’t notice an uncomfortable groove or dip when using the pillow in its full form.
Post-birth, it’s easy to remove one of the pillows from the cover and re-tie the fabric to create a feeding pillow that sits neatly in your lap. The other pillow is still large enough to use in bed on its own, or can be put away in the storage bag.
Buy now £109.00, Najell.com
Mamas and Papas welcome to the world seedling pregnancy and nursing pillow
Best: Pregnancy pillow for feeding
Length: 143cm
Key materials: 100% cotton outer case; 100% polyester filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Classic, comfy design
- Great for feeding a newborn
- Useful carry handle
Take note
- Not as flexible as some other options
Surprisingly firm compared with some of the other pregnancy pillows on test, this pillow offers five-point support for the pelvis, lower back, abdomen, knees and ankles. With its super-soft grey case, it was soothing to cuddle up to – its short, slim design made it simple to use on the sofa or when curled up in an armchair. The pillow’s handle is a nice touch, too, making it easier to carry around the house.
Once my baby was born, I found that this pillow made a great feeding pillow, too. Its firmness meant my baby stayed where she needed to, and the pillow was easy to position in a way that was comfortable for both of us. When an unexpected spit-up drama occurred, the pillow’s case was easy to remove and wash, and it dried quickly.
Just bear in mind that the firmness won’t suit everyone, and unlike Cushy Puff and Bbhugme pillows above, it’s inflexible, so you can’t adapt it to different positions.
Buy now £49.00, Mamasandpapas.com
Simba body pillow
Best: Cooling pregnancy pillow
Length: 120cm
Key materials: 100% cotton cover; 100% recycled polyester filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Great for tackling night sweats
- Smart design
- Comfortable to sleep with
Take note
- Not as versatile as some other options
This pillow has been created with cool comfort in mind. Erratic body temperature is a typical side effect of pregnancy. Post-partum night sweats are also common, with about one-third of women experiencing them, according to the pregnancy charity Tommy’s.
The pillow’s entire cover is made of smooth, non-itchy cotton and is embedded with the brand’s ‘stratos’ cool-touch tech. This means it can wick away sweat and help improve comfort levels.
Delivered in a handy travel bag, the pillow does feel pleasantly cool to the touch. When faced with testing it on an unbearably warm August night, I wondered how effective it would be, but I was pleasantly surprised. Focused on body alignment when positioned between the knees, the pillow offered a genuinely cooler, more comfortable night’s sleep. In fact, I almost slept through the whole night, waking only when my baby needed me.
Buy now £109.00, Simbasleep.com
Next pregnancy pillow
Best: V-shaped pregnancy pillow
Length: Unspecified
Key materials: 100% cotton outer cover; 100% recycled polyester filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Great for support
- Feels cool and smooth on the skin
Take note
- Not the most aesthetically pleasing
- Stains very easily due to light colour
A traditional V-shaped pregnancy pillow can provide a range of benefits, from helping with back pain to doubling up as a feeding pillow. This option from Next also claims it can “rapidly move heat away from your body”, thanks to a partnership with cooling textile technology company HeiQ. Costing less than half the price of the Simba body pillow (see above), this Next pillow wasn’t quite as effective at tackling middle-of-the-night sweats during testing, but the 100 per cent cotton cover felt pleasantly cool and smooth on my skin.
The pillow features a relatively non-descript tiled pattern in a barely there grey, meaning the pillow looks bare from a distance. Delivered in a zipped storage bag, it’s an extremely practical product but lacks some of the versatility of other pillows tested. However, the V-shaped design was great when it came to providing comfortable support through the night.
Buy now £50.00, Next.co.uk
BellaMoon 3-in-1 pillow
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Best: C-shaped pregnancy pillow
Length: 140cm
Key materials: Organic cotton outer cover; 100% polyester inner pillow filling
Machine-washable case: Yes
Why we love it
- Multi-functional
- Comfortable
Take note
- Fiddly design
C-shaped pregnancy pillows are great if you’re struggling with hip and back pain. Irish brand BellaMoon claims its three-in-one C-style pillow is “expertly crafted to elevate your limbs, separate your hips, support your neck, and promote a neutral sleeping position”.
The pillow splits into three pieces from the inside, via a series of concealed zips, and is grandly described as “architecturally designed” on its packaging. It can act as a pregnancy pillow, a feeding pillow and eventually, it can even help your child practice sitting up.
As a pregnancy pillow, it’s comfortable, supportive and offers just the right amount of firmness, while still being easy to twist into different positions. However, when it comes to splitting it into a feeding pillow or a cushion to support your baby, things get more complicated. The idea is genius, but you need to focus to ensure you’re removing the right part of the cover and inserting the correct portion of the pillow, as it’s easy to get this wrong and have to start all over again. When you’re tired from pregnancy or juggling a newborn, you don’t want to be faffing with a pillow. So while it works very well, it’s not an entirely stress-free experience.
Buy now £125.00, Bellamoon.co
Your questions on pregnancy pillows answered
What is the best pregnancy pillow?
My tests put the Cushy Puff on top, as I loved the flexibility of its I-shape design for use before and after birth. If you’re looking for something that can provide more specialist support, pillows such as the body-aligning SnuzCurve and cooling Simba body pillow are good options. Alternatively, for something that can offer more general comfort overnight, the budget-friendly Silentnight’s body support pillow may appeal.
What to look for in a pregnancy pillow
There are several things to consider when shopping for a pregnancy pillow:
How to sleep using a pregnancy pillow
Of course, every pillow may have slightly different instructions on how to find the most comfortable position, but most will follow a U-shape approach. Position the pillow in an upside-down U, lie in the middle, popping your head and neck on the top and following the shape under your belly and in between your legs. This ensures your neck, stomach, hips, and pelvis are all well-supported and should hopefully make for much more comfortable sleep.
At what stage of pregnancy should you start using a pregnancy pillow?
There is no specific time when the use of a pregnancy pillow is recommended – it’s mostly down to your personal comfort levels throughout your pregnancy. Most people tend to pick one up during their second trimester, as this is when the belly becomes heavier and starts to pop, straining the rest of your body.
Meet the experts
Leah Hazard is an expert midwife. She is the author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story (from £2.99, Amazon.co.uk) and host of the podcast What the Midwife Said.
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