Sleep soundly with the best pregnancy pillows

It’s like a cruel joke: before a screaming baby arrives to disrupt your slumber, many expectant mums find it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Thankfully, pregnancy pillows are designed to bring comfort, support and pain relief to usher in some proper rest. But with so many different designs available, what is the best type of pregnancy pillow? From full-body styles to V-shaped, J-shaped and more, here’s everything you need to know.

Doctors recommend side sleeping during pregnancy, particularly on the left side to optimise blood flow. A pregnancy pillow can help maintain this side sleeping position comfortably by supporting your back, tummy and hips. They can also take pressure off any aching joints.

If you have a medical condition, speak to your midwife or a professional about the best pregnancy pillow for you. Otherwise, all styles (U-shaped, C-shaped, full-body or wedge) are supportive, but read on to check they will align with your body, needs and sleeping habits. Choose a firmness that you feel comfortable with and note that a removable, washable cover is also vital.

You can use a pregnancy pillow whenever you like; typically it starts to come in handy during the second trimester (week 20) when your bump gets bigger and you may begin experiencing aches and pains. A pregnancy pillow can be used throughout pregnancy and beyond – some people never stop using theirs. Here are five of the best…

This C-shaped, multifunctional pillow promotes a neutral sleeping position by elevating limbs and separating your hips. The 1.4-metre length transforms easily into different configurations – you just unzip sections you don’t want – so you can get support exactly where you need it. Once baby arrives it doubles up as a feeding support, as well as a wedge to help them sit upright. Available in beautiful patterns and neutrals, it’s an investment buy that gives impressive cost-per-use value.

Pronounced ‘bee bee hug me’, this versatile sausage-like pillow was designed by female Norwegian medics. The microbead filling is secured by silicone clamps at each end, which allow the shape and firmness to be instantly adjusted to suit your needs. The bbhugme also has a super-soft, machine-washable outer cover and comes in dusky pink, seashell beige, stone, eucalyptus and green. Many parents continue to use theirs as a nursing pillow; one five-star reviewer said ‘I loved mine so much, I even named it!’.

‘This has revolutionised sleeping during pregnancy for me!’, said one happy customer of the ergonomic U-shaped design. Rather than using multiple pillows, you can comfortably slot your entire body into this one, which offers support for your head, back, tummy, sides, knees, hips and feet. The perfect choice for anyone seeking whole-body cushioning. It does take up a fair bit of bed space, but that’s not exactly your problem…

This classic, white J-shaped pillow offers soft and versatile extra support for your changing body, and – once your baby arrives – transforms seamlessly into a comfy, no-frills nursing pillow. It comes with a bubble texture on the outer case, which can be removed for easy washing, and is designed with no zips (it uses a housewife closure) to protect little ones from any nips. As it’s smaller and lighter than other styles it’s easier to travel with, too.

Versatile and comfortable, this extra-firm pregnancy pillow is a great option for anyone seeking greater support between the knees. It’s on the bulkier side, because a softer one would collapse and would not alleviate pain, which means it is less easy to move around. But it can be used to support you when you’re sitting or lying down. It scores highly for durability, keeping its shape after prolonged use, and the silk-cotton pillowcase is cosy, easy to remove and washable.