On my third month, my doctor kept telling me to sleep on my side, but that’s when things actually got harder. My hips hurt, my belly felt like it was pulling me forward, and I was constantly rearranging pillows just to feel okay.
At that point I was still using regular pillows, but it was obvious they weren’t cutting it anymore. I’d wake up sore, half twisted, or overheating from the pile of pillows I’d built around myself.
So I started trying out pregnancy pillows.
Over the course of my pregnancy, I tested six of the most popular ones (those in Amazon and “best of” lists), trying to figure out which one actually worked for me as a side sleeper. Most of them helped a little, but only one really stuck with me.
I realized these were the things that made or broke it for me.
- Side-sleep alignment – Did it keep my spine aligned while supporting my belly, hips, and knees?
- Hip & knee pressure relief – Did it prevent my top leg from pulling my hips forward?
- Stability – Did it stay in place when I switched sides?
- Breathability – Did I wake up hot and sweaty?
- Adjustability – Could I adjust the support as my body changed week to week?
And here they are, ranked!
- Araluna CloudSoft Adjustable Maternity Pillow
- Body Nest Cooling Pregnancy Pillow
- Yana Pillow
- Belly Bandit S.O.S Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow
- Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow
- PharmeDoc Pregnancy Pillow
My Top Choice
Araluna was the sixth (and last) pregnancy pillow I tried.
I had already gone through 5 popular pregnancy pillows but somehow they made my nights worse. Too flat. Too hot. I was constantly fixing my back, shifting my hips, and adjusting my belly multiple times throughout the night.
I was in my second trimester when Araluna quietly changed that.
What finally made the difference for me was how evenly it supported my body when I was on my side. My belly didn’t pull me forward. My top leg stayed lifted so my hips stayed stacked. My lower back didn’t twist overnight.
And because it is 50% fuller than other pregnancy pillows, I could increase knee and belly support as my bump grew, something no other pillow I tried allowed.
What Surprised Me The Most After 5 Months of Use:
One night in my third trimester, I stayed at a hotel and forgot to bring my Araluna. I had to use a regular pillow again and that night felt familiar in the worst way. My back and belly weren’t supported, I kept waking up uncomfortable, and I slept hot. That’s when I realized how much work the pillow had been doing without me noticing. Now in my eighth month, I still use Araluna every night.
The memory foam fill hasn’t flattened, it still feels breathable to sleep on, and it continues to support my entire body. I can already tell this won’t be something I stop using after pregnancy especially once I’m nursing.
Side Sleeper Verdict: ⚠️Good early on, but insufficient hip support long-term
This one wasn’t terrible.
I liked the full-body U-shape and how easy it was to switch sides. It felt comfortable at first, which makes it easy to see why it’s popular.
Over time, though, the polyester fill flattened around my hips, and the reversible “cooling” cover didn’t feel noticeably cooler as I felt warmer than expected.
After looking through other customer reviews, it seems I wasn’t alone in the experience.
Still, I think this is best for moms who want a simple U-shaped pillow that helps you switch sides easily but not if you need long-term hip support or tend to sleep hot.
Side Sleeper Verdict: ❌ Luxurious feel, but the lack of adjustability caused my spine to twist
This pillow feels premium right away.
It is super soft, double-sided, does not irritate sensitive skin, and definitely provides full body support.
For me, the downside was the price tag ($200!) and that it was not adjustable. I couldn’t change the firmness as my body changed. I personally found better options at lower prices that offer the same benefits (and more) without the hefty price tag.
I think this is best for moms who want a polished, luxurious pregnancy pillow.
Side Sleeper Verdict: ⚠️ Helps you stay on your side, but doesn’t support side sleeping
This one is very specific in what it’s meant to do.
It is a minimally intrusive “two-wedge” pillow that supports your back and bump at the same time. I did like how I can adjust the width between the wedges but it does not offer full-body support as I still needed extra pillows for my legs and back.
I think this pillow is a decent option for moms who only sleep on one side and doesn’t need one pillow to support your whole body.
Side Sleeper Verdict: ❌ Underfilled around the hips
This pillow is a popular C-shaped option on Amazon, very easy to use, and more affordable that many others.
However, it didn’t feel stuffed enough, especially around my hips. The polyester cover felt a bit rough and scratchy, and didn’t say as breathable overnight.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, straightforward pregnancy pillow, this could be a good pick. But honestly, if you want something that will provide the best support and is overall comfortable, this pillow probably isn’t the best option.
Side Sleeper Verdict: ❌ Flattened too quickly to keep my spine aligned.
This was the very first pregnancy pillow I tried.
It did help me on my first trimester but after a month and a half, the fill flattened quickly so it didn’t feel as supportive as I wanted it to. I felt like I wanted to add more fill but couldn’t.
It’s a decent option especially if budget is a concern, just not one I personally wanted to keep long-term.
Final Verdict
I couldn’t believe it took me six pillows until I found the one I wanted to keep.
Some of these worked well for specific needs or stages of pregnancy, and that doesn’t make them bad, they just did not feel right for me.
The Araluna CloudSoft Maternity Pillow was the only one I kept using because it continued to support me as my pregnancy progressed and kept me cool and comfortable throughout the night.
If you’re trying to decide, I don’t think there’s one pillow that works for everyone. It really depends on how you sleep and how your body is changing.
As someone who sleeps on her side, Araluna just worked better then the rest.
