During both of my pregnancies, I found that the right pregnancy pillow could make the difference between falling asleep comfortably—or tossing and turning. These pillows help you sleep in a side position that’s ideal when you’re carrying a baby, while their varying shapes can cushion your hips, knees and bump. To find the best pregnancy pillows in 2025, I recruited a panel of seven expecting moms (including myself) to put 16 top-rated models to the test. We chose the as the best pregnancy pillow overall because of its exceptional supportiveness. But because every pregnancy is different, we also have a robust lineup of other great options to recommend.
“There are a ton of pregnancy pillows available on the market, and the first thing you should assess is whether or not you need a pregnancy pillow and what you are using it for,” says Dr. Ashley Comfort, an obstetrician and medical director at Oula, a clinical practice in New York City. “For example, are you looking for back support while resting at night, or do you need more belly support? The key features to consider include the shape and size, the material and the support needs.” Based on those top concerns and our testing data, here are my reviews of the best pregnancy pillows, as well as an in-depth guide on how to pick the right one for you.
We selected a U-shaped pregnancy pillow to be our best overall pick because this shape provides pregnant people with the most support, and it’s somewhat better for moms who want to easily roll from side to side at night—which was many of our pregnant testers. The Queen Rose Pregnancy Pillow is available with a lot of options to help you get more comfortable, including three sizes (55-, 60- and 65-inches long), and pillowcase fabric options (cooling, satin, cotton and velvet).
U-Shape Gives The Right Support—Even For Restless Sleepers
Our 5-foot-9 tester, who tested the 65-inch version, found this pillow to be her favorite, reporting that it gave her support from her knees to her feet, helping to align her pelvis. I also tested this pillow, and at 5 foot 3, I tried the 60-inch version and also found it to be plenty supportive for my hips and head, although a little bulky. I also toss and turn a lot, so I appreciated that I could just throw my leg over the top of both sides of this pillow without repositioning it. In fact, this U-shaped maternity pillow is so ergonomic and supportive regardless of sleeping position that our mattress and sleep team chose it as the best body pillow for back pain—for both pregnant and not-pregnant individuals.
Two Notes To Consider
However, this pregnancy pillow might not be for everyone: A third tester says the Queen Rose is great for lounging but she ultimately prefers a wedge-style pillow for sleeping. She adds, though, that she and her toddler find it nice for reading and relaxing. It’s also worth noting that the manufacturer recommends you wait a full 48 hours for the Queen Rose pillow to fluff up before using it.
For me, a pillow shape that worked well during one week of my pregnancy might start bothering me the next. That’s where an adjustable option like the Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow can be really helpful.
Unique Design Lets You Adjust Firmness And Shape
The Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow is essentially a long bolster pillow with a fastener on each end (the brand calls these “pebbles”) that lets you adjust the pillow’s density—move them toward each other for a firmer pillow and apart for a softer pillow. It’s filled with microbeads that you can squish around, so you can adjust the height and firmness at different pressure points—I appreciated a thinner area at my knees and more support at my head.
This pillow is also nice and bendy, so you can make the C-shape or J-shape you desire. I liked it in a shortened U-shape, too. Even as one of the shorter testers, the bottom of the Bbhugme didn’t reach past my baby bump and I needed a another pillow for between my knees. Another tester says she likes this pillow so much that she got a second one to put in her camper.
Discreet Design And Versatile For Postpartum Use
A plus of this maternity pillow is that it’s more discrete looking, so it may fit better with the style of your bedroom. There are a few different cover colors available, all woven from the same Oeko-Tex certified 95% cotton and 5% spandex fiber blend. I particularly like the feeling of this soft jersey fabric. The cover, however, is an incredibly snug fit and both myself and another tester found it takes some time to wrestle it back onto the pillow after washing.
The Bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow has also been very helpful to me postpartum—it’s a better size and shape to use as a nursing pillow than virtually all of the bigger pregnancy pillows on the market. I’ve been using it to breastfeed my twins for about 6 months now; it can be arranged to feed one baby or two at the same time. While most body pillows can be used by non-pregnant people as well, this one in particular received praise from my mother-in-law who gave it a try while visiting me.
A Shape With Options
This pregnancy pillow from Momcozy combines the best of U-shape and J-shape pillows into a surprisingly versatile design. While other J-shape pillows really only support one side of your body, this one provides a boost to both your front and back, and the hooked tail can be tucked between your knees.
This versatility can be especially helpful if you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, common symptoms of pregnancy. “Using a pregnancy pillow that allows you to be in a reclined position can help keep these symptoms at bay,” says Baillie McArthur, doula and owner of Hi Baby Maternity Concierge and Doula Services.
I personally found this pillow to be very nice, although not my favorite, while a second tester selected it as her top pick. “This was my favorite pillow, because it is the most versatile and can help with hip issues, reflux issues, and can also be nice for sitting up before going to bed,” she says. “I have recommended it to friends.”
A third tester also liked it, saying, “I slept better with it than without it,” but ultimately preferred something firmer. I did appreciate that I could unzip the pillow’s shell and move the stuffing around to get different firmness levels at different parts of the pillow—I made the area for my head more supportive and the area for my knees softer.
Plenty Of Pillow Case Choices, Too
Momcozy sells this pillow with a variety of cover styles, including cotton jersey, polyester velour and cooling fabrics. You can also find third parties selling cases that fit this pillow‚ so one of our testers gave a satin option a try to see if it was a worthwhile upgrade. Although she says the fabric was nice on her skin, the quality was disappointing—it started coming apart at the seams during the first wash. If you want an extra pillow case, I’d suggest sticking to the , although I do wish Momcozy sold more of its cases separately.
The quality of the Momcozy pillow itself is solid, and at a more affordable price than the competition, selecting this pillow is a relatively low risk and makes for a nice all-around choice.
Our testers tried out three wedge-style pregnancy pillows, which can be used to take pressure off your growing baby bump. The Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper emerged as the winner thanks to its firmness, compact size and range of uses. Its two adjustable pieces can be held in place by connecting them to the Velcro belt, or they can be used independently for more flexibility throughout the night. This is a particularly good choice for those who just want something to stop you from rolling onto your back.
Flexible Shapes And Just-Right Wedge Support
“I think this was my favorite I tested, although I usually slept with just the small wedge under my belly and didn’t use the back piece,” says one tester. I also found it useful to use just the belly wedge on its own—I even shoved it under my hips at one point and got some relief from a sore pressure point. A third tester describes it as “exceptionally strong and supportive.” Another mom agrees, saying that its firmness and lack of extra give was a “must-have” when leaning her whole weight onto the backrest. I personally found that I still needed another small pillow or folded throw blanket between my knees when using this pillow.
A Few Minor Downsides
While the highlight of this wedge maternity pillow is its smart Velcro strap, it does have one downside: “You have to be precise in adjusting it or you might feel that scratchy Velcro on your skin,” explains a tester. She adds that if you toss and turn a lot during the night, this may not be the pillow for you. “It doesn’t allow for much back-and-forth rolling without adjusting it to rearrange where the belly and back support is located.”
In terms of cleaning, the pillow’s jersey pillow cases are soft and can be removed for washing, but note that this should be done by hand. The covers are stretchy, and it’s not difficult to get them back on the pillow. But, it can be a little confusing—with both foam wedges I got the case orientation wrong on the first try.
Night sweats can be an issue for some pregnant women, but the Plufl Hugl’s cooling cover really keeps things cooler. As one of the testers of this pillow, I actually found it to be slightly too cooling in the depths of New York winter, although otherwise it’s among my favorite pregnancy pillows.
An extra-long zipper makes the cover easy to remove, and it can be machine-washed. The fabric is a bamboo-polyethylene blended material, which both myself and other testers found to be quite soft, comfortable and cooling against the skin—but if you dislike synthetic fabrics, this might be an issue for you.
Ergonomics And Adjustability
Like other U-shaped picks, the Plufl Hugl is quite bulky, but at the same time it’s ergonomic and highly supportive. This is a benefit not just for pregnant people, but also those who experience day-to-day aches and pains. Managing editor Emmy Favilla, who reviewed the Hugl prior to this panel testing, writes that she likes that “the shape of this body pillow is contoured and ergonomic, versus many popular competitors that have more of a uniform tube-like or narrow rectangular design.” A mix of microfiber and memory foam fill give the Hugl an even, medium-firm feel.
One thing another tester found is that she could also flip the pillow so that her face was at the opening of the U, enabling her to use a different pillow that she prefers for her head. I really like that the Hugl has loops and snaps to fold the pillow’s arms in, making it into a shape that can support you in a seated position. I found this to be a great option for when I wanted to lounge in bed with my feet up, but still needed a lot of back and hip support.
Very Cooling
As I mentioned earlier, the Plufl Hugl’s cooling abilities proved to be so exceptional that I found it too cool to use in the dead of a Northeast winter. Another tester confirms, “I haven’t felt sweaty or hot while using the pillow.” An extra perk is that this cover is also antimicrobial, which Favilla appreciates for its ease of cleaning, since her dogs also enjoy the pillow.
An Eco-Minded Option
I generally prefer bedding made with natural materials, but the majority of pregnancy pillows on the market use synthetic filling and cases. That’s why I was happy to learn that Yana makes a full-body pillow that’s great for pregnant people and also filled with natural latex. All of the company’s products are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning this pillow is free from a range of concerning chemicals.
The Yana body pillow comes with a nice cotton and bamboo velour pillow case, but if you don’t like this slightly fuzzy texture, there’s also a (a type of eco-friendly rayon) available. I tried both, and liked the eucalyptus one for its smooth feel, but if you prefer something more cozy the original case will serve you well.
Firmer, But Weighty
Similar to our top overall pick, the Yana pillow is firm enough to provide the right level of support and is contoured so that you have extra support for your belly. When I was at my biggest and heaviest carrying twins, I really appreciated this pillow. Latex is an ideal material to achieve this kind of firmness, and it is cooling as well. However, it is heavier than its polyester counterparts at 14 pounds, so for people with mobility issues this could be a drawback.
I also appreciate that the Yana body pillow is designed to be stored in an elegant way: It can be tied into a fancy knot that looks like an oversized designer throw pillow. The quality of the filling allows the pillow to hold this shape.
Other Pregnancy Pillows We Tested
In addition to the six winners that made our list, my fellow pregnant testers and I tried an additional 10 maternity pillows.
- (4.2/5 stars): Our testers also like this U-shaped pillow that’s quite similar to the Queen Rose, our top overall pick. But, the Queen Rose just slightly outscored it. The Meiz pillow comes in three lengths and has lots of case options, so it’s one to consider if you don’t find the case and size combo of your choice from Queen Rose.
- (3.5/5 stars): This maternity pillow from the makers of the popular nursing pillow didn’t provide enough support for our pregnant testers. Our 5-foot-9 tester found it didn’t properly reach her bump, while a 5-foot-4 tester found that while it did reach from her arms to her hips, it was just too soft.
- (3.5/5 stars): This pillow got middling reviews from our testers, but both said they would have preferred a more symmetrical shape. They also found it to be less supportive than other options.
- (3/5 stars): This small pillow is designed to provide belly and back support. But like the other Bobby pregnancy pillow, both of our testers found it to be too soft.
- (4/5 stars): This stylish bolster pillow is available with lots of different cover options, and our tester described it as “an adult-size lovey.” However, it’s quite soft, so it doesn’t quite provide the support most moms need from a pregnancy pillow.
- (3.5/5 stars): This pillow comes with a lot of different pieces that can be arranged in various ways without being particularly bulky. Unfortunately, none of the testers who tried it slept better with it. One tester did say she likes to use one of the wedge pieces on her office chair. Our shorter tester found the lift of this pillow to be too high, while our taller testers found it too difficult to roll over with.
- (3.3/5 stars): This small wedge didn’t score as well as the Belly Bandit wedge-shaped pregnancy pillow. Testers found the angle odd, and reported that it didn’t provide the right level of support for their baby bumps.
- (3/5 stars): This shorter bolster can be twisted or turned to make different shapes between your knees or under your belly. But our tester found it goes flat quickly, and isn’t as “supportive as other options.”
- Leacho Snoogle (4.5/5 stars): This pillow was previously our top pick for the best J-shaped pregnancy pillow, however the company stopped operating according to a .
- Moonwomb Pregnancy Pillow (3.5/5 stars): The maker of this pillow, The Sustainable Baby, appears to have gone out of business. Filled with buckwheat hulls, this pillow makes a great yoga bolster, but it’s much too heavy to use comfortably in bed.
How We Tested The Best Pregnancy Pillows
To find the best pregnancy pillows, we collected firsthand feedback from a panel of seven pregnant women—including myself, Forbes Vetted’s baby and kids gear editor. We began testing in 2023 with one single tester and have continued to collect data from pregnant moms.
Meet Our Tester Panel
Our panelists have varying body types, and range in height from 5 foot 3 to 6 feet tall. These expecting moms generally tested during their second and third trimesters, and I used the pillows while carrying twins. All of our testers sampled at least three pregnancy pillows in order to compare attributes.
As the editor overseeing this project, it was incredibly important to me that none of our testers lost sleep during the testing process, so I did not ask testers to use the pillows for any minimum amount of time. If a pillow didn’t help a tester sleep, they were welcome to move on to the next one as soon as they wanted. I also checked with my own maternal fetal medicine specialist to make sure our testing protocol was safe.
Pregnancy Pillow Testing Criteria
Our testers provided feedback on the following aspects of each maternity pillow:
- Firmness: How firm or soft is the pillow? Does it provide sufficient pressure relief, or does it compress too much as the night progresses?
- Comfort: Testers shared if they slept better, worse or about this same with the pillow and noted if they wanted to continue using it. They also provided insight into what parts of their body were supported (or not) by the pillow.
- Ease of use and care: Testers provided feedback about any setup required (some pillows need 24 hours to fluff up fully after delivery), as well as how easy it was to clean the pillow and if the cover was removable and washable.
- Cover fabric: Testers evaluated the quality of the pillow’s cover, if it caused any breakouts or other discomfort. We also looked at how many cover options were available for each pregnancy pillow.
- Temperature: Our testers shared if they woke up hot and sweaty and if the pillow possessed any cooling features.
- Features: We noted if the pillows had any special features—like cooling properties, adjustments or alternative configurations—and if these features were truly helpful to pregnant people.
- Quality: Finally, we collected insights into the quality and value of each pregnancy pillow. For maternity pillows that testers did choose to use on an ongoing basis, they evaluated if they showed signs of wear over time.
How To Choose The Best Pregnancy Pillow
The best pregnancy pillow for you depends on your body, and what areas of your body need more support. Here are a few factors to consider to determine what features might work best for you and your pregnancy.
Pillow Shape
“Identify your discomfort zones and target relief areas to narrow down which pillow shape will be most beneficial,” says McArthur. “Common areas requiring additional support include the back, hips, pelvis, neck and upper and lower body.” There are four main shapes: U-shaped, C-shaped, J-shaped and wedge pillows.
- U-shaped maternity pillows have symmetrical support for your belly and back, as well as your hips and knees. Comfort says they provide the maximum support and are “best for those who are uncomfortable at night and are restless sleepers” and are “extremely helpful for those with hip pain or sciatica.” They can also be helpful if you want something that stops you from rolling onto your back in the night; however, this shape will take up the most space in your bed.
- C-shaped pregnancy pillows can be used with the opening at either your front or belly to offer back, belly and knee support. “This is optimal for back pain and full-body comfort,” says Comfort, who adds they can be extremely helpful for those with hip pain or sciatica. McArthur says C-shaped pillows can also be good for petite moms who may find a U-shaped pillow overwhelming.
- J-shaped maternity pillows “are more compact, which is better for side sleepers who want extra belly and knee support,” says Comfort. They are quite similar to C-shaped pillows but with less curl at the top or bottom—depending on how you place it. Unless you place the stem of the J at your back, this shape is less likely to help stop you from rolling onto your back.
- Wedge pregnancy pillows are the smallest option and usually only target support for your belly and sometimes a portion of your back. Some moms find them helpful for alleviating round ligament pain. Comfort says they are ideal if you are interested in traveling and having a compact support pillow but also for those who don’t want a full-body pillow. They can also be helpful if you need extra lower back or lumbar support.
If you’re not sure what shape is right for you, you may want to play around with some regular bed pillows to approximate different shapes and see what’s most comfortable before purchasing a dedicated pregnancy pillow. The advantage of a pregnancy pillow is that it can hold your preferred pillow shape better and without the need to rearrange your fortress of support nightly.
Size
The pillow’s size matters not only in terms of how much space it takes up in your bed, but also how well it fits your body. If you’re looking for a full U-shaped body pillow, taller women should select a longer option like the , our top pick.
Many of our testers appreciated smaller pillows. “Consider your bed size and whether you sleep with a partner,” says McArthur. “If you travel frequently, a more compact option might be preferable.”
Firmness
A good pregnancy pillow has enough firmness to keep your hips apart while you sleep, as well as support for your back and bump, says McArthur. Generally, memory foam filling or latex is firmer than polyester fill, but this can vary by density. Our taller testers tended to want firmer pillows to get enough support.
Personally, as a tester on the shorter and smaller side (5 foot 3), I found I didn’t need pillows that are as lofty or thick—softer pillows helped me get a better alignment. However, thicker pillows for your head are typically more comfortable for sleeping on your side, which is recommend during pregnancy. If you just need a better pillow for your head and neck, consider our guide to the best pillows for side sleepers, as well as the best pillows for those with neck pain or shoulder pain.
Cover
“Just like regular pillows and bedding, opt for a pregnancy pillow with a removable, washable cover to prevent a buildup of bacteria, dander and allergens,” says McArthur. “Choose a breathable, cooling fabric to enhance comfort, as pregnant moms often experience increased body heat.” For a pick with cooling cover, our testers like the .
Some pregnancy pillow manufacturers sell covers made with different materials, like our top pick—the —which has cooling, satin, cotton and velvet options. We also found that it’s possible to buy third-party covers for some popular brands of pregnancy pillows, like the , although the one we tried for ourselves didn’t hold up particularly well.
A Note On Pregnancy Pain
While pregnancy pillows are helpful tools that can alleviate some of the pain of growing tiny humans, there’s no substitute to listening to your body and seeking medical care as needed. “If your discomfort is extremely bad, please reach out to your clinician because there are some conditions that occur during pregnancy that are better treated with pelvic floor physical therapy and further workup,” says Comfort.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Here at Forbes Vetted, we rigorously research and test a range of maternity and postpartum products.
- Margaret Badore, the baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted, is the author of this story. She recently gave birth to twins and personally tested eight pregnancy pillows. She has over 15 years of experience reporting on science and health topics, and also recently wrote about maternity clothing rentals, the best maternity leggings and gifts for new moms.
- We conducted deep background research, reading widely about pregnancy and sleep, as well as surveying the options available on the market and talking to a range of moms about what they need from a pregnancy pillow.
- We interviewed two experts for additional advice and guidance: , M.D., an obstetrician and medical director at Oula, a clinical practice in New York City that combines midwifery care and obstetrics; and , a certified doula and the owner of Hi Baby Maternity Concierge & Doula Services.
- This story was edited by deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala. A mom of three, she has been covering parenting topics for over a decade.
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