Login / Register 
Cart
Quote
Wishlist
Are you a mum-to-be? Whether it’s your first time or your third, it can be a challenging (yet beautiful) journey as your body goes through many changes, but sometimes it can be hard to sleep throughout the night! Thankfully, a pregnancy pillow, in comparison to a regular pillow, can provide support to your back, belly, hips, and knees, improving your sleep quality.
That said, there are a few types of pregnancy pillows to choose from, with different shapes designed to accommodate your body throughout each trimester. The question is, which one is for you? This blog will explore types of pillows, how to decide on one, and the overall benefits to you and your baby.
Whether you’re struggling with hip pain or just want to research maternity pillows before any family planning, there are many options for comfort during pregnancy.
There are many benefits to using a pregnancy pillow, especially in alleviating discomfort. The effects of a wedge-shaped pillow were compared with a standard hospital pillow in a study by the National Library of Medicine.
The wedge pillow was used to support the abdomen of a pregnant woman while lying on her side, preventing or alleviating backaches and backache-related insomnia; 92 women at 36 weeks of gestation completed the study.
Back pain was found to be common (87%), and the onset of pain before 29 weeks in 59%. In the study, women who used the wedge pillow reported less backache compared to the week they used a standard pillow. Using a wedge-shaped pillow to support the abdomen is likely to benefit women in the later stages of pregnancy.
Likewise, this study noted the effects of a new pillow for nightly pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women. Forty-four women (67%) completed the treatment, and the difference in nightly posterior pain intensity was significant. Sleep duration increased with fewer nightly wakeups and an increase in daytime sleepiness. Ultimately, a pregnancy pillow promotes better sleep posture and enhances sleep quality.
You’ll experience a more comfortable sleeping position using a pregnancy pillow. As your belly grows during the later trimesters, sleeping on your side can be less pleasant.
Laying on your back can cause the baby’s weight to press on your inferior vena cava (as mentioned in this study), a vein that transports blood to your heart, but a pregnancy pillow can promote better circulation.
Let’s take a look at the many types of pregnancy pillows!
Do you need extra support for your shoulders and neck? A U-shaped pillow gives you full-body support and is an excellent pick if you switch positions often as you sleep. This pillow cradles your body on both sides, supporting your neck and back at the same time.
A U-shape also stops you from rolling onto your back (which can reduce blood flow during the later pregnancy stages).
Designed to follow the natural curve of your body with all-around support, a C-shaped pillow offers support for your back, hips, and belly (and your ankles) while also giving your legs room to stretch out.
It is a compact design for side sleepers as it aligns the spine and reduces pressure on the hips, exceptionally better than a normal body pillow. C-shaped options are easier to move and reposition, so you can put the opening of the pillow by your belly.
Also called candy-cane-shaped pregnancy pillows, the J-shaped pillows don’t support your belly and back at the same time, but they do take up less space than U or C pillows.
Choose whether you’d like the longer section of a J-shaped pillow to support your back or belly, and put the curved part between your legs or under your head. It’s up to you.
Small, versatile, and often in crescent or triangular shapes, wedge pillows give pregnant women targeted support under the belly, behind the back, or between the knees.
The early pregnancy pillow can be used from the moment you or your patient is pregnant. The slight curve gently supports the hardening abdomen and allows pregnant women to lay comfortably on their front while being completely safe for the baby.
The late pregnancy pillow supports your or your patient’s growing belly right up until the last weeks of pregnancy. A pregnant woman can lay on her front and ease the pressure on her lower back and hips. It also includes one 4-way stretch cotton cover that slips over the Belly Pillow and provides an extra level of comfort. The cover comes on and off quickly and is machine washable.
Wedge pillows are also a space-saving option, especially if you need additional support in other areas of the body. The best thing about a wedge pillow is that you can put it underneath any area that needs support. For example, use it to prop your head up or slide it underneath your belly when you’re on your side.
A full-body pillow is a long pregnancy pillow that offers support for the front half of your body.
If you lay on your side a lot, you can pop it between your legs so one leg is underneath and the pillow and one is on top! However, if your primary focus is back support, this pillow might not be the best choice.
This pregnancy cushion is designed for massage and for women struggling to lay on their stomach during pregnancy. The set comprises two torso sections that are shaped to accommodate the breasts and stomach.
Side wedges allow the cushions to be raised as the pregnancy progresses. The adjustable face crest ensures perfect positioning for the head and neck, whereas the leg bolster takes pressure away from the lumbar region.
So you’ve been browsing pillows, but how do you know what will give you the most comfortable position?
How do you prefer to sleep? Sleeping on your left side has been shown to be the best position for a healthy pregnancy, but if you’re an adamant back sleeper, a long pillow shape will give you the right amount of front and back support.
But if you’re a side sleeper, you want a pillow that you can position in front of your bump, between your legs for hip support, and behind your back. Ideally, you want something breathable, lightweight, plush, and firm enough for full-body comfort.
How much support do you need? This varies from person to person. If you require more support for alignment, a firmer, denser cushion can mould your body to provide a balance of comfort and support.
And if you need less support, a softer cushion is squishier to lie against and hold with a compact, flexible shape. It makes it easier to reposition it in bed, maintain alignment for your hips and spine, and reduce pressure in your back.
During pregnancy, blood flow and hormone levels can increase (and your body temperature as well), so you’ll want a pillow that cools you down!
The material you pick can impact heat retention and airflow, such as a moisture-absorbent pillow cover for night sweating. For example, organic cotton lets air circulate through the fabric.
Where will your pillow be stored? When buying a pregnancy pillow, you don’t want it to be super bulky. If you’re not planning on keeping it on your bed at all times, you’ll want to store it in smaller spaces.
Some pillows are around the same size as a standard pillow and cradle your bump, support your spine, and maintain alignment with your hips and back.
Do you love the fabric?
Is the fabric breathable, and is it easy to wash and dry? Is it warm enough, cool enough, how does it smell, and is the colour to your liking? If you’re buying a pregnancy pillow in your first trimester, you’ll be spending a lot of time with it.
Do you like the filling?
The filling of a pregnancy pillow can make a big difference in sleep. Some fillings can be made from air, wool, memory foam, microbeads, polyester fibres, Styrofoam balls, or natural filling. What feels best to you?
Is the pillow noisy?
The noise of a pillow isn’t something that comes to mind straight away, but some pregnancy pillows are noisier than others when moved as you sleep.
Pillows filled with beads crinkle, or the fabric on the outside might rustle when you turn to your side, or the filling and fabric might be noisier than you’d hoped. In any case, you don’t want a noisy pillow waking you up or preventing you from falling asleep during your pregnancy.
Established in 1978 and a registered NDIS provider, Access Health has a range of products for your pregnancy journey. We lead the market in supplying high-quality, tried-and-tested products to all kinds of healthcare providers in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, orthopaedic braces and medical supplies.
ISO9001 Certified to the International Quality Standard, you’ll receive the best in quality. Browse and order through our online catalogue, call 1300 659 540 or contact us at sales@accesshealth.com.au or submit an NDIS order form. Whether you need pressure care and comfort, patient handling, bariatric, or daily living and mobility products, we pride ourselves on going that little bit extra to locate the product you need.
Disclaimer: Access Health is not qualified to agree or deny whether this content is correct. For accurate information, consult your medical professional or provider.
Suppose you have a loved one who has experienced an accident resulting in an injury or a long-term illness that affects your ability to walk. In that case, Rehabilitation Stairs are one of the modalities used to help improve that person’s condition over time. Rehab stairs are a common product used by physiotherapists in facilities […]
Are you investing time in physiotherapy or personal training? If so, you might have looked into fitness or rehabilitation mats such as the Airex Corona Mats. Designed as a movement therapeutic aid, Airex Corona Mats can be used in physiotherapy clinics and at home. These mats are an excellent way to restore motor skills, balance, […]
You may have seen ankle cuff weights in a pilates class, strapped onto a passing runner, or as a part of a friend’s strict fitness regimen. But did you know they are also commonly used in physical therapy? Ankle cuff weights, also known as ankle exercisers, are an indispensable tool in physical therapy to assist […]
Physical conditions and injury can reduce quality of life. Daily activities such as dressing, grooming, and household chores require coordination and strength, and resistance bands add gentle resistance for improving muscles over time. This article will explore resistance bands, their uses, and how rehabilitation centres and health professionals can support patient rehabilitation in balance, muscle […]
When undergoing dialysis treatment, the comfort of patients comes first. Dialysis takes over the role of the kidneys in cleansing the blood. As these sessions can take several hours, a dialysis couch is an essential piece of equipment supporting patients’ and providers’ health and safety. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, patient, or caregiver, dialysis couches […]
If you have an injury or medical condition limiting your mobility or activity levels, it is important to prevent pressure injuries or sores. This is especially true if you are elderly and more susceptible to health issues. Excessive pressure on one part of the body restricts blood flow and causes tissue damage, skin breakdowns, or […]
According to Health Direct, pressure sores–also known as ulcers, bed sores, or decubitus ulcers–develop when the skin is damaged by constant pressure or friction. Painful and uncomfortable pressure sores can form when patients are confined to a bed or wheelchair due to disability, illness, age, or frailty. This creates sleep disturbances and infections and affects […]
Innovative pressure cushions are critical to patient care and well-being. According to Mayo Clinic, pressure sores–also known as pressure ulcers or bed sores–damage the skin and the tissue underneath. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from moving or changing positions, this increases your risk. This blog will explore pressure sores, the types […]
If you’ve struggled with an injury or need to recover post-surgery, using ankle equipment for an exercise conditioning program can help. Correct rehabilitation supports the patient’s return to normal activities and an active, healthy lifestyle–such as sports and recreational activities–without the added stress of recovery setbacks. This article will highlight the key benefits of using […]
Although exercise bikes are a great choice for anyone wanting to improve fitness levels, they are also excellent for injury prevention and rehabilitation. According to this journal by the National Library of Medicine, in a 16-week aerobic exercise program using bikes, there was improved agility, flexibility, muscular endurance, strength, and cardiopulmonary endurance in female middle […]
