Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
A used pregnancy pillow can be fine if you can confirm its history, read its care label, and find the cover and inner pillow intact, dry and odor free. No check can promise it is germ free.
- Say yes: clean label, washable cover, sound inner.
- Ask first: how long it was used, and where it was stored.
- Stop: damp, smell, inner stains, split seams, leaking filling.
The 10-minute used pillow check
Do these seven steps in order, with the pillow in front of you or on a video call with the seller. If any step hits a stop sign, you can stop there.
- Ask its history. How many pregnancies, for how long, any pets or smoking in the home, and where it has been stored since. A damp basement or garage is a no.
- Find the label. Model name, materials and care instructions. No label means no care instructions, which makes everything after this a guess.
- Take the cover off. Check the zip runs, seams are closed, and look for holes, thin patches and stains. Smell it.
- Check the inner pillow. Look and smell for stains, damp, mildew, lumps and flat spots. Press along every seam.
- Check the filling. For bead or microbead pillows, look for beads escaping at seams or the zip. For fiber, feel for clumps.
- Check what can be replaced. Some makers sell replacement covers or refills. If the cover is the only problem, that can save it.
- Decide with the table below. Keep, fix or stop.
If you say yes, wash the cover exactly as its label says before you use it. Our guide how to wash a pregnancy pillow covers cover and insert separately.
Why the inner pillow matters more than the cover
Because a cover can usually be washed and replaced, and the inner pillow often cannot. Whatever happened to the inside stays with it.
Saturday, 4 p.m.
My cousin dropped off her pregnancy pillow in a big bag. "Used through two pregnancies," she said, "still great." I was 21 weeks and so happy to skip spending the money.
The cover looked fine. Then I unzipped it. The inner pillow had a yellowish stain the size of my hand along one side and a faint basement smell. It had been in her storage unit for two years. I sat on the floor with it for a while, feeling ungrateful, and then put the cover back on and called her.
Darcy did the right thing. She thanked her cousin, kept the cover, which was washable and in good shape, and did not keep the inner.
What to check on a second hand bbhugme
The maker describes the bbhugme as filled with ultra-fine EPS microbeads, with movable "Pebbles" to change firmness. Retailer listings say the cover is machine washable and the inner pillow is not, so a used inner relies on its history.
- Cover: retailer listings give a 40°C (104°F) wash and air drying. Check the label on the cover you are handed.
- Inner pillow: listings say wipe clean only. Any stain or smell on it is there to stay.
- Zip and seams on the inner: no beads escaping. Listings advise not to open the inner zip. Loose microbeads should be kept away from babies, small children and pets.
- Pebbles: all there, and the right number for the model.
- Size: pregnancy and nursing versions are sold separately. Confirm which one it is.
Resale prices for bbhugme pillows vary a lot. On one US resale site, a used pregnancy pillow was listed well below its new price, with stains noted. The same site says most manufacturer warranties do not carry over to items bought second hand.
Keep, fix or stop: what each finding means
Most cover problems can be fixed. Most inner pillow problems cannot. Use this table to decide.
| What you find | Decision | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clean label, washable cover, sound dry inner | Keep | Wash the cover per label before use. |
| Stained or torn cover, good inner | Fix | Replace or wash the cover if the maker sells one. |
| No label, unknown materials | Ask, then decide | Without care instructions, you cannot clean it properly. |
| Smell, damp or mildew anywhere | Stop | Many inner pillows cannot be washed, so you cannot count on getting it out. |
| Stains on the inner pillow | Stop | Many inners are spot clean only. |
| Split seams or leaking filling | Stop | Loose filling is a mess, and beads are a hazard for small children. |
| Flat, lumpy, no longer springs back | Stop | It will not hold your bump. |
Buying from a stranger? Private sales rarely include returns. Do the check before you pay, not after.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to use a second hand pregnancy pillow?
It can be, if you know its history, it has a care label, the cover can be washed and the inner pillow is clean, dry and free of smells and stains. If any of those fail, say no thanks.
Can you wash a used bbhugme?
Retailer listings say the cover can be machine washed at 40°C (104°F) and air dried, while the microbead inner pillow is wipe clean only. Always follow the label on the pillow you have.
How long does a pregnancy pillow last?
It depends on the filling and how it was used. A pillow that has gone flat, lumpy or no longer springs back has reached the end, whatever its age.
Should I buy a new cover for a used pregnancy pillow?
If the inner pillow is in good shape and the maker sells replacement covers, a new cover is a reasonable fix. It does not fix problems with the inner pillow itself.
Does the warranty transfer on a used pregnancy pillow?
Usually not. Check the maker's warranty terms. Most resale sites and private sellers do not offer returns either, so inspect before you pay.
If the used pillow fails the check
Relvay does not sell used pillows, and we do not make a long body pillow or a microbead pillow like the bbhugme. If a used one failed your check and what you really need is bump and back support on your half of the bed, the Relvay 3-Piece is the closest thing we make. It arrives new, with a removable cover, and you have 90 days to decide.
Two wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap, about as wide as your torso. Keep a regular pillow between your knees. $79.99, 90-day returns.
Probably not for you if
- The used pillow passed the check. Keep it.
- You want a long body pillow or a full wrap. We do not make one.
- You want a pillow that doubles as a nursing pillow.
Made for you if
- You want a new pillow with a known history.
- You need bump and back support that stays joined.
- You share a full or queen bed.
Darcy's story is a composite based on public posts and resale listings from pregnant parents. Names and details are changed.
