Types of Pillows for Pregnant Women

There comes a time when a pregnant woman’s belly starts to grow, and this produces certain discomfort. For example, muscle pain, achy bones and upset stomach. As the developing baby grows, it also becomes harder and harder for pregnant to find a comfortable position. Many end up tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of pillows for pregnant women on the market that respond to this need. All of them have been designed in order to finally give pregnant women the rest their bodies need.

However, while they are few, we’ll also discuss some of the disadvantages of these pillows. In general, these disadvantages have to do with the large size of the pillows. To learn more, don’t miss out on the information below.

Advantages and disadvantages of pillows for pregnant women

Women may or may not find the pillows that they use from their second trimester and onwards to be useful. This all depends on the condition they’re in.

During this time lapse, the fetus starts to grow, both in size and weight. As we all know, this is quite evident in the growth of the pregnant woman’s belly. These factors start to affect the quality of rest that she gets.

Pillows for pregnant women are often the answer. These pillows have many benefits, but also some disadvantages. Let’s take a look at their main advantages:

Adjust to a woman’s body

Most pillows for pregnant women support their backs, bellies, hips and even their legs. However, some designs are very large in size, and can be uncomfortable for the person a pregnant woman shares her bed with.

Help to avoid abrupt movements

In the beginning of the second trimester, a pregnant woman’s belly has already taken on a considerable size. This makes movement difficult, as well as finding a comfortable position to fall asleep. Pillows for pregnant women are ideal for preventing any sort of sudden movement.

Are also useful for breastfeeding

These pillows aren’t only useful during pregnancy, but in the postpartum period as well. This is because new mothers can also use them to provide support while breastfeeding their little ones.

Easy to maintain

Pillows for pregnant women are easy to wash, as long as their design and filling allow it. Some models, however, are very large and bulky and won’t fit in a washing machine. Also, you want to make sure that the stuffing won’t come out while you’re washing it.

Ergonomic

The wide variety of designs, for the most part, help to avoid stomach and muscle discomfort.

Types of pillows for pregnant women

We can find a variety of models of pregnancy pillows that adjust to the specific needs of the future mother. Below are some of the most popular options:

Horseshoe pillow

These pillows are shaped like a horseshoe and are designed to support both sides of the entire body. They offer comfort from head to toe. In general, they’re very large, preventing future mothers from making abrupt movements.

One of the disadvantages of this type of pillow is maintenance, as many of the models won’t fit in a washing machine.

Circular, donut-shaped pillow

For the most part, the stuffing of these pillows consists of styrofoam pellets. They’re ideal for reading a book, watching TV, or just taking a rest, as they adapt to a mother’s silhouette. After giving birth, mothers can use the same pillow for support while breastfeeding .

Full-body pillow

These long rectangular pillows are similar in design to the classic bed pillow, but are much longer, providing support from head to toe. Future mothers can place them in whatever position they wish, including cradling their body in one end. These pillows are usually slender, meaning they don’t take up a lot of space or make bed sharing uncomfortable.

Triangular pillows

In general, these pillows consist of high-density foam. They’re perfect for pregnant women to use while sleeping on their side, as they provide a good amount of belly support. Women can also place them under their knees or backs. This position helps to relieve the pains that are typical in these areas.

Pregnancy pillows can offer comfort or discomfort for future mothers, depending on their situation. Therefore, it’s important to make a careful choice and keep each individual mother’s needs in mind. 

We recommend consulting a specialist about the functionality that each option offers. That way, mothers can determine which pillow is most suitable.