Pregnancy
Pregnancy pillows – is it still all about the bbhugme? When to start using (& 5 of the best)
Jessie Day, Senior Editor | 23 Oct 2024
Until I was pregnant, I just didn’t get it. How can getting comfy in bed suddenly be so difficult – especially if you’re tired to start with?
But from around week 16 in my first pregnancy, I got it. Sleep, when you’re pregnant, is perplexing. You can fall asleep pretty much anywhere (I used to pull over in the car for naps at any given opportunity), but when trying to get your ‘proper’ sleep at night, your body (and baby) have other ideas.
Alongside the hormones, baby’s movements, crazy dreams (been there!), fluctuations in temperature and everything else combined, simply getting comfortable can be a big part of the challenge, as your baby bump grows.
I didn’t know I needed a pregnancy pillow, until I tried a pregnancy pillow. Having tried a friend’s hand-me-down brand unknown pillow during my first pregnancy, I decided to pull out the big guns and bought a bbhugme during my second time around. And honestly, it transformed my sleep and pregnancy experience.
The best of the best (from my experience)
The bbhugme is pretty special. Coming in a range of Gram-friendly colours (mine is the dusky pink with a spare fern-flecked case), it’s adjustable – you can make it firmer or softer, depending on preference – and I actually used it a lot postpartum too, to prop and cushion myself while feeding, creating a sort of makeshift nest.
Inside the pillow, you get these microbeads which give the characteristic ‘hugging’ feel – they instantly and gently relieve pressure, supporting side sleeping and all the body parts which seem reluctant to just get comfy – from your back to your ankles (because yes, even your ankles get a bit needy during pregnancy!)
And, if you’re looking for a specific shape – the bbhugme can be adjusted into C, U, I, or L-shapes. It’s award-winning for a reason, and for me worth every penny (mine currently goes for around £153 online). I still use it for comfort while reading to the kids in my bed, and have loaned it out so many times.
And 5 of the rest – 2024’s best sellers (& why)
So, my OG really is the bbhugme. But I’ve squished, cuddled and read up on several other options, too. Here are five of 2024’s most popular pillows to browse and pick from – if you’re in the market, keep tabs on them ahead of Black Friday this winter. They’re prime deal material.
AMAZON: Nuliie Pregnancy Pillow for Sleeping
Shape: U-shaped
Price: £29.99
Why do we love it?
A fraction of the bbhugme price, this is Amazon’s current best-seller in the UK. With the pick of other brands and options available, an average 4.5/5 star rating, 908 reviews and 2K+ bought in the last month alone, it’s one to look into.
You can snap it up for £29.99 (that’s on Prime, non-Prime members may pay slightly more), choosing from a range of colours. The cover is washable, with a velvet feel, and customers rate it for comfort, support and cosiness, saying it helps them sleep on their side (as recommended by the NHS from week 28 in pregnancy).
There’s a little debate around the quality factor, for the Nuliie, as well as size and value for money. However if you’re looking for a much cheaper option than some of the boujee, big brand names out there, and a U shaped body pillow to see you through pregnancy, this one might be worth a go.
NATURAL BABY SHOWER: Purflo Breathe Pregnancy Pillow
Shape: U-shaped
Price: £59
Why do we love it?
First things first, the best seller on baby/pregnancy hero site Natural Baby Shower is the bbhugme. Right behind it though, the Purflo Breathe comes with a different price tag, and is a much-loved option by mums and buyers in the know.
Available in a few really pretty designs and shades – a gorgeous botanical option is the current favourite on Natural Baby Shower – customers love this one for its build quality and design. You’d call it a U shape, but it’s actually just listed as ergonomic with clever contouring, rather than the traditional sausage shape construction.
Value for money is again the pain point for the Purflo Breathe, although mums do say they used it again and again after pregnancy, for feeding and tummy time.
BOOTS: Momcozy Pregnancy Pillow
Shape: U-shaped
Price: £44.99
Why do we love it?
This one sits mid-range in the price bracket, nowhere near the bbhugme but a little more expensive than the Amazon bestseller. It gets an average 4.8/5 stars with Boots customers, and again is their top seller in the category.
For an option under £50 you aren’t getting microbeads or adjustable multi options, but this pillow offers full-body support, designed for side sleepers.
Instead of beads, it’s filled with premium long silk cotton, and works well for hot and cold climates, cleverly dispersing heat as you rest and sleep. Not the prettiest pillow for your money, and featuring more polyester than the more premium options, but best-selling for a reason with the high street favourite.
Plus, just like my bbhugme, the Momcozy is great for propping you and your baby up for cuddles, feeding and just hanging out, long after pregnancy ends.
MAMAS & PAPAS: Welcome to the World Seedling Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow
Shape: U-shaped
Price: £45
The Mamas & Papas own brand option gives earthy colour palette, plus simple pare-back design if you’re looking for something easy on the eye. There are other bits and bobs in the range – so you can mix and match – from bedding to dreampods.
It’s not a game-changing design, but it does the trick, competing with other top-selling pillows with 5-point support for your pelvis, lower back, abdomen, knees, and ankles. It also has a built-in carry handle – a small thing but really handy, especially when carrying anything alongside your bump is a mission in itself.
Again, it’s a more polyester-heavy option. The cover and cushion pad can both be machine washed – you’ll need to do a bit of reshaping though, if you do wash the pillow itself.
JOHN LEWIS: John Lewis Maternity and Nursing Pillow
Shape: V-shaped
Price: £20
Why do we love it?
I find this one super-intriguing. The cheapest on our list but a pretty, textured white look and feel, the brand’s best-seller by far and an average rating of 4.6/5 stars – this pillow is beloved by many for its no-frills but dependable comfort.
John Lewis currently sell 5-10 of these pillows a day, and gets a solid quality rating, for the £20 price tag. Reviews suggest this is something of a cult item (so don’t ponder, they tend to sell out!) and recommended between mums as a true maternity essential.
You’re not buying into microbeads here, and the bright white cover is crying out for stainage, especially once your baby arrives. But for the price and reviews, this would be next on my list to test drive across pregnancy.
Which shape is best?
– C-shape pregnancy pillow: Provides full-body support in a more compact design, ideal for smaller beds or those who need back and bump support.
– U-shaped body pillow: Offers full-body support on both sides, great for keeping you in the side-sleeping position.
– V-shaped maternity pillow: Smaller, more portable, and doubles as a breastfeeding pillow postpartum.
When should you start using a pregnancy pillow?
There’s no hard and fast rule for when you should start using a pregnancy pillow, but most women find that by the second trimester – around week 20 – their growing bump makes it harder to sleep comfortably. This is when a pregnancy pillow can really help. As your belly expands, pressure on your hips, back, and joints increases, and a pregnancy pillow can relieve this discomfort, ensuring better sleep and alignment.
However, if you’re experiencing back pain or general discomfort earlier in your pregnancy, you can start using a pregnancy pillow even earlier. Some women choose to begin in the first trimester for support, especially when sleeping on their side starts becoming more of a priority.
Mine ended up pretty much replacing my husband in bed next to me. Sorry, not sorry.
Can I use a pregnancy pillow in early pregnancy?
Of course! You may not have a visible bump, but by 8 or 9 weeks of pregnancy you might already feel some physical changes, such as fatigue, breast tenderness, and slight abdominal cramping. If you’re struggling to find a comfortable sleep position, it’s perfectly fine to start using a pregnancy pillow at this stage. It can be particularly helpful in encouraging side sleeping – something many doctors recommend early on, to help improve blood and oxygen flow to the baby.
While it’s not essential to begin using a pillow this early, the extra comfort it provides could be a game-changer if you’re already experiencing back or pelvic discomfort.
Liked this? Put these on your reading list: Where to get the best pregnancy massage in London, plus the 5 pregnancy must-haves we couldn’t do without.
