A pregnancy pillow may help you find a more comfortable resting position as your bump grows. It is an optional comfort aid: some people prefer a shaped body pillow, while others manage well with ordinary pillows they already have.
The useful question is whether it supports you comfortably. A higher price, larger size or medical-sounding product description does not make a pillow necessary for a healthy pregnancy.
What can a pregnancy pillow help with?
Extra support may ease some of the discomfort of lying on your side. Depending on what feels good for you, try a pillow:
- Between your knees to support your legs.
- Under your bump for gentle support.
- Behind your back while you are lying on your side.
Start with one change and see whether it helps. You should be able to move and get out of bed easily. If a position increases pain, stop and ask your maternity team or physiotherapist for advice.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby includes side-lying with a pillow between the legs among its back-care suggestions. A pillow cannot diagnose or treat every cause of back or pelvic pain.
Side-sleeping from 28 weeks
From 28 weeks of pregnancy, start every sleep on your side, including daytime naps. Left or right is fine. If you wake on your back, roll onto your side and go back to sleep.
This advice from Safer Baby concerns your going-to-sleep position. It does not depend on buying a particular pillow, and no pillow can guarantee you will stay in one position overnight.
Choosing a pillow without buying more than you need
Try an ordinary pillow first. If you want something different, think about:
- Where you want support: a small cushion may be enough for one area; a long body pillow offers a different shape to rest against.
- Space: check the dimensions against your bed and whether you can turn over comfortably.
- Feel: firmness and filling are personal preferences, rather than proof of a health benefit.
- Cleaning: a removable, washable cover can be useful.
- Cost and returns: check the total price and the seller’s return conditions before buying.
Be cautious of promises that a pillow prevents pregnancy complications or guarantees pain-free sleep. Comfort is a reasonable aim; medical concerns need individual advice.
Can it help during feeds after birth?
A pregnancy pillow and a feeding pillow are designed for different uses. Do not assume a large adult body pillow is suitable for positioning a newborn. Check the instructions and ask for help finding a comfortable feeding position.
A cushion supporting your back or arms can be useful during a feed. If you use a feeding pillow, keep holding your baby securely rather than leaving them lying on it. The pillow should not push them too high, leave them too low or prevent you from keeping them close.
A pillow does not guarantee a good latch. If breastfeeding is painful or you are concerned about how your baby feeds, contact your midwife, child and family health nurse or a lactation consultant. The Australian Breastfeeding Association’s positioning guide explains how to support yourself and your baby.
For bottle-feeding, hold your baby and the bottle throughout the feed. Never use a pillow to prop the bottle or leave your baby to feed alone.
Pregnancy and feeding pillows are not baby sleep spaces
Do not put a newborn to sleep on or against a pregnancy pillow, feeding pillow or cushion, even if you are watching. Keep pillows out of the cot or bassinet. For sleep, place your baby on their back on a firm, flat mattress in their own safe sleep space, with their face and head uncovered.
If your baby dozes off during a feed, move them to their safe sleep space when the feed is finished. If you feel sleepy, put them down safely or ask an awake adult to take over. Falling asleep holding a baby on a sofa or armchair is particularly dangerous.
Do not use a pillow to raise your baby’s head or prop them on their side for reflux. Do not tilt or raise the cot or bassinet mattress. Babies with reflux still need to sleep flat on their backs. If a rare medical condition requires a different sleep position, the treating specialist should provide individual written instructions. A feeding pillow is not a reflux treatment. Red Nose explains safe sleep for babies with reflux.
Read Red Nose’s advice about pillows and its safe-sleep recommendations.
When comfort measures are not enough
If pain is persistent, worsening or affecting sleep and daily activities, talk to your doctor or midwife. Contact your maternity unit, doctor or midwife immediately for severe pain, vaginal bleeding or fever. Back pain with new leg weakness, loss of feeling, or difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels needs emergency assessment; call 000 for an ambulance.
If your baby’s movements are reduced or different from their usual pattern, contact your maternity team straight away; do not wait to see whether a different position helps. Read Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s guidance on movements if you are unsure what to do.
For other practical ideas, see nine useful pregnancy essentials. For your baby’s separate sleep setup, start with our new baby supplies checklist.