Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
A cheap pregnancy pillow can be enough if it supports the one or two spots you actually need. Save on size and extras. Do not save on the details that decide whether it works: size, firmness, care label and return terms.
- Free first: try regular pillows for a few nights.
- Cut: length, cooling covers, extra attachments.
- Keep: dimensions, fill details, care label, return rules.
2:15 a.m. and a pillow that cost half as much
Most budget pillows that disappoint were not too cheap. They were cheap in the wrong place: lots of pillow, not enough support where it was needed. This is what that looks like at night.
2:15 a.m.
I was 30 weeks and I had a spreadsheet for the baby. Car seat, crib mattress, diapers, everything. The pregnancy pillow got the smallest line, so I bought the biggest one I could find for the least money. It looked like a bargain. It was huge.
By week two it had gone flat under my bump. I was lying in the dark with that giant pillow around me and two of our regular pillows stuffed on top of it just to feel held. Ryan asked why we owned a pregnancy pillow if I was still using all of our pillows. I did not have an answer. I just felt stupid for trying to save money and ending up with less sleep.
- If you bought the cheap one and you are now piling regular pillows on top of it...
- If you are scared to spend more because the first one already felt like a waste...
- If you are choosing between the pillow and something the baby needs...
- If you just want to know the least you can spend and still sleep...
You did not waste money because you were careful. You paid for size when what you needed was support.
"Yeah I had to layer like three more pillows on top of the pregnancy pillow just to get comfortable"YouTube comment on a pregnancy sleep video
"there were so many pillows with too silky a fabric making it slip around and loose support"Amazon review of a pregnancy pillow
"quickly loosened seams"Amazon review of a pregnancy pillow
What most of us try when money is tight
On a budget, most people try free pillows, then the biggest cheap pillow, then a second cheap one to fix the first. Each step costs a little money and a lot of nights.
- Every pillow in the house.Free and smart. But every time Dana got up to pee, the pile came apart, and she rebuilt it half asleep.Right idea, nothing holding it together.
- The biggest cheap U on the marketplace.Lots of pillow for the money. It went flat under her bump within weeks, and a seam opened along one side.She paid for length, not firmness.
- A second cheap wedge to fix the first.Now she had spent twice and owned two pillows that each did half a job.Two cheap guesses cost more than one checked choice.
- Almost buying the most expensive one at 3 a.m.Out of pure tiredness. She closed the tab because she could not tell what the extra money was for.Price alone did not tell her what she was paying for.
Why do cheap pregnancy pillows often disappoint?
Because a low price usually buys size, not support. The parts that make a pillow hold you, like enough filling, the right firmness and a shape that stays where you need it, are exactly what a bargain listing leaves out.
Fill per inchA long pillow with little filling flattens under a growing bump. Size hides how much is inside.
Support pointsSide sleeping needs support under the bump, behind the back and between the knees. You may only need one or two of them.
Missing detailsNo dimensions, no firmness, no care label and no return terms means you find out after it arrives.
On a budget, pay for the support points you need, not for the most pillow.
Below is the exact table Dana used to cut her list down: what to skip, what to keep, and the cheapest way to cover each spot. At the end, the setup she finally kept.
Can you use regular pillows instead of buying one?
Yes, and on a tight budget you should try that first. The NHS suggests side sleeping with a pillow under your bump and one between your knees, and regular pillows can do both.
- Keep your normal head pillow.
- Fold a firm pillow under your bump.
- Put another between your knees and ankles.
- Push one behind your lower back, tight against the mattress.
- Sleep on it for three nights and notice what falls apart when you turn.
Whatever falls apart is the only thing worth paying for. Our guide do you need a pregnancy pillow? walks through the full test.
Which features can you skip on a budget?
Skip anything that adds size or comfort extras you will not miss. Keep anything that tells you whether the pillow will fit and hold up. That second list costs nothing to check.
| Feature | Skip on a budget? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Full-body length | Usually yes | You pay for pillow you may not need, and it takes bed space. |
| Cooling or specialty cover | Yes, unless you sleep very hot | A regular cotton pillowcase or a lighter sheet can do some of that job. |
| Extra attachments | Yes, at first | Add them later only if a gap shows up. |
| Brand name | Yes | The fit checks below matter more than the logo. |
| Certified or organic fabric | Unless you have an allergy | With a known allergy, materials come first. See materials and allergies. |
| Dimensions in inches | Never skip | The only way to know it fits your half of the bed. |
| Fill type and firmness | Never skip | Decides whether it flattens under your bump. |
| Care label | Never skip | A cover you cannot wash is a cost later. |
| Return terms | Never skip | A wrong guess is cheap or expensive depending on these. |
If a cheap listing does not give you the four "never skip" lines, it is not cheap. It is unknown.
What is the cheapest way to support each spot?
Match the cheapest option to the spot that actually hurts or falls apart. You may only need to buy for one spot.
| What you need | Cheapest way | When it is worth paying more |
|---|---|---|
| Between the knees only | A regular firm pillow | Rarely. A knee pillow mostly saves it from sliding out. |
| Under the bump only | A folded pillow or a single small wedge | If the folded pillow keeps flattening. |
| Behind the back only | A regular pillow pushed tight against the mattress | If it rolls away every time you relax. |
| Bump and back, turning often | Two loose pillows, rebuilt each turn | When rebuilding is waking you up. A joined bump-and-back set stays together. |
| Wrapped on all sides | A long body pillow | If you love being surrounded and have the bed space for a U or C. |
Ongoing or sharp hip, pelvic or back pain is something to raise with your midwife or OB-GYN before spending money. A pillow is a comfort aid, not a treatment.
When is it worth spending more than the cheapest option?
When the free setup fails in a way a cheap pillow will not fix. Tick what sounds like your week:
- I rebuild my pillows more than once a night.
- Turning over wakes me up fully.
- The cheap pillow flattened within a few weeks.
- I am already piling regular pillows on top of a pregnancy pillow.
- My partner is losing bed space.
Two or more? Spending a bit more on the right shape is likely cheaper than buying a third wrong one. Before you pay, add up price, shipping and what a return would cost. Our buying checklist has a five-line cost sheet for that.
What changed when she paid for support, not size?
She stopped buying pillows and started buying one spot of support. That turned two wasted purchases into one she kept.
Dana ran the three-night test with regular pillows. Her knees were fine with a plain pillow. What fell apart every night was the bump and back support when she turned over to pee. So that was the only thing she paid for: two small wedges joined by a strap, with her old pillow still between her knees.
She sold the giant U to a neighbor. The first week she noticed she was turning without sitting up. On a Sunday morning Ryan came back to bed with coffee and actually had room to sit down next to her.
Frequently asked questions
Are cheap pregnancy pillows worth it?
They can be, if they support the one or two spots you need and the listing gives real dimensions, fill details, a care label and return terms. A cheap pillow with none of that is a guess.
What is the cheapest alternative to a pregnancy pillow?
Regular pillows you already own. Put one under your bump, one between your knees and one behind your back, then see what falls apart when you turn. Buy only for that spot.
Why did my cheap pregnancy pillow go flat?
Usually because there is not much filling for its size, or the fill compresses under a growing bump. Check the fill type and firmness on the next listing, not just the length.
Is a smaller pregnancy pillow cheaper?
Often, and it can support just as well if it covers the right spot. Smaller pillows also save bed space and cost less to send back if they do not work.
What should I never compromise on in a budget pregnancy pillow?
Dimensions in inches, fill type and firmness, the care label and the return terms. Those four decide whether a low price stays low.
Where the Relvay 3-Piece pillow fits in
The Relvay 3-Piece is the two-wedge set Dana ended up with. At $79.99 it is not the cheapest pillow you can buy, and if regular pillows already work for you, keep your money. It is built for one budget case: you only need bump and back support that stays joined, and you would rather pay once than twice.
1. The bump wedgeA crescent-shaped wedge that tucks under your bump, thin edge toward your belly button, so the weight is not pulling on your back.
2. The back wedgeThe same shape, snug against your lower back so it has something to rest against.
3. The strap and small cushionA flat strap runs under you and joins the two wedges, so they stay together instead of drifting apart. A small oval cushion sits on the strap between them. You can set the distance as the bump grows.
Each wedge is about 17 by 13 inches and about 4 inches thick at its outer edge, tapering thinner toward your body (supplier measurement). Opened out, the set is roughly as wide as your torso, so it stays on your half of the bed and you keep your normal head pillow. Soft ribbed pink fabric on top, white sides. It is small enough to pack for a trip.
What it does not do: it does not go between your knees. Keep a regular pillow there, the way the NHS suggests. That combination covers all three points without a giant pillow.
Probably not for you if
- Regular pillows stay put and you sleep well.
- You only need something between your knees. A regular pillow does that.
- Your budget is under $80 right now. Try the free setup first.
Made for you if
- Bump and back support fall apart every time you turn.
- You already bought a cheap pillow that went flat.
- You want 90 days to decide in your own bed.
Try it for 90 nights
Sleep on it through the weeks that matter. If it is not right for you, email us within 90 days of delivery and send it back for a refund. Return shipping is on you unless it arrived faulty.
$79.99
90-day money-back guarantee · Free US shipping over $70 · 3 pieces, one set
Check price and availabilityDana's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
